The concept of "one faith" in Ephesians 4:5 is essential for unity within the church. It encompasses both personal belief and the objective truth of the gospel, which together create a unified body of believers. This unity is not meant to be mysterious but is a profound reality that transcends cultural and personal differences. The Ephesians were encouraged to see beyond their individual perspectives and embrace a collective faith that binds them together. This unity is a testament to the power of the gospel to bring diverse people into one harmonious body. [07:12]
Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: Consider a relationship in your life where unity is lacking. How can you apply the concept of "one faith" to foster unity in that relationship today?
Day 2: The Dual Dimensions of Faith
Faith has both subjective and objective dimensions. Subjectively, it is the individual's personal trust in Jesus Christ, while objectively, it refers to the body of truth found in Scripture. Both are necessary for true unity within the church. Personal belief without the foundation of Scripture can lead to a fragmented faith, while doctrine without personal conviction can become lifeless. The balance of these dimensions is crucial for a vibrant and unified faith community. [09:16]
Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Reflection: Reflect on your personal faith journey. Are you leaning more towards subjective belief or objective truth? How can you bring balance to these dimensions in your daily walk with Christ?
Day 3: Unity of the Spirit
The unity of the Spirit is achieved when personal belief and the objective truth of the gospel meet. This unity transcends interpersonal conflicts and is rooted in the profound reality that all believers, regardless of background, are united in one body through faith in Christ. This was a revolutionary concept for Paul, who saw the barriers between Jews and Gentiles being broken down through the gospel. The church is called to reflect this unity, demonstrating the power of the gospel to unite diverse individuals. [14:20]
Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Think of a person from a different background or culture in your church. How can you reach out to them this week to demonstrate the unity of the Spirit?
Day 4: Faith That Justifies
The one faith that unites us is the faith that justifies us before God. It is centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was delivered for our trespasses and raised for our justification. This faith excludes boasting, cleanses the heart, and grants us access to the Father. It is a faith that is not based on our works but on the finished work of Christ. This understanding of faith is crucial for maintaining humility and gratitude in our relationship with God and others. [32:25]
Romans 4:24-25 (ESV): "It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you might be tempted to boast. How can you remind yourself that your justification comes solely through faith in Christ?
Day 5: The Faith of Abraham
The faith of Abraham, which is fully convinced of God's promises, is the model for the one faith that unites all believers. This faith is essential for justification and is the basis for our unity in Christ. Abraham's faith was not passive but active, trusting in God's promises even when circumstances seemed impossible. This kind of faith calls us to trust in God's promises and to live in a way that reflects that trust, uniting us with believers across time and space. [28:55]
Romans 4:20-22 (ESV): "No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was 'counted to him as righteousness.'"
Reflection: Identify a promise of God that you find difficult to believe. How can you take a step of faith today to trust in that promise like Abraham did?
Sermon Summary
In Ephesians 4:5, Paul speaks of "one faith," a concept that has sparked much debate among scholars and theologians. This faith is not meant to be mysterious to the Ephesians, but it has become a point of contention among commentators. Some argue that "one faith" refers to personal belief, while others see it as the body of doctrine that defines Christianity. The truth is, both interpretations are necessary for unity within the church. Personal belief and the objective truth of the gospel must come together to create a unified body of believers.
Faith, in its subjective form, is the individual's personal trust in Jesus Christ and the gospel. This is the faith that Jesus often referred to when he spoke of people having "little faith" or "great faith." It is the personal conviction and confidence in the truth of God's Word. On the other hand, faith in its objective form refers to the body of truth found in Scripture, the doctrine that has been delivered to the saints. This is the faith that Jude speaks of when he urges believers to "contend for the faith."
The unity of the Spirit, as Paul describes, is achieved when the subjective and objective aspects of faith meet. It is not enough for there to be a body of truth; believers must also personally embrace and contend for that truth. This unity is not just about resolving interpersonal conflicts within the church but is rooted in the profound reality that both Jews and Gentiles are united in one body through faith in Christ. This was a revolutionary concept for Paul, who came from a Jewish background where Gentiles were considered unclean.
The one faith that unites us is the faith that justifies us before God. It is the faith of Abraham, a faith that is fully convinced of God's promises and is counted as righteousness. This faith is centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was delivered for our trespasses and raised for our justification. It is a faith that excludes boasting, cleanses the heart, and grants us access to the Father. This is the faith that unites all believers, regardless of their background, into one body in Christ.
Key Takeaways
1. The concept of "one faith" in Ephesians 4:5 is not meant to be mysterious but is essential for unity within the church. It encompasses both personal belief and the objective truth of the gospel, which together create a unified body of believers. [07:12]
2. Faith has both subjective and objective dimensions. Subjectively, it is the individual's personal trust in Jesus Christ, while objectively, it refers to the body of truth found in Scripture. Both are necessary for true unity. [09:16]
3. The unity of the Spirit is achieved when personal belief and the objective truth of the gospel meet. This unity transcends interpersonal conflicts and is rooted in the profound reality that all believers, regardless of background, are united in one body through faith in Christ. [14:20]
4. The one faith that unites us is the faith that justifies us before God. It is centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was delivered for our trespasses and raised for our justification. This faith excludes boasting, cleanses the heart, and grants us access to the Father. [32:25]
5. The faith of Abraham, which is fully convinced of God's promises, is the model for the one faith that unites all believers. This faith is essential for justification and is the basis for our unity in Christ. [28:55] ** [28:55]
Bible Study Discussion Guide: One Faith in Ephesians 4:5
Bible Reading:
Ephesians 4:5 - "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
Romans 3:28-30 - "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith."
Galatians 3:22-28 - "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed."
Observation Questions:
What are the two primary interpretations of "one faith" as discussed in the sermon? How do these interpretations contribute to unity within the church? [02:22]
How does the sermon describe the subjective and objective aspects of faith? Provide examples from the sermon that illustrate these aspects. [04:32]
According to the sermon, what role does the resurrection of Jesus Christ play in the concept of "one faith"? [32:25]
How does the sermon explain the significance of Jew and Gentile unity in the context of "one faith"? [14:20]
Interpretation Questions:
How does the concept of "one faith" challenge the idea of personal boasting in one's spiritual achievements? What does this imply about the nature of faith? [48:09]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the unity of the Spirit transcends cultural and ethnic divisions within the church? How is this relevant to modern church communities? [14:20]
How does the sermon connect the faith of Abraham to the faith that unites all believers? What characteristics of Abraham's faith are highlighted as essential for justification? [28:55]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between personal belief and the objective truth of the gospel in achieving true unity among believers? [09:16]
Application Questions:
Reflect on your personal faith journey. How do you balance your subjective personal belief with the objective truths of the gospel? What steps can you take to strengthen this balance? [09:16]
Consider a time when you felt divided from other believers due to cultural or doctrinal differences. How can the concept of "one faith" help bridge these divides in your current church community? [14:20]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of the resurrection in our faith. How does the resurrection of Jesus Christ impact your daily life and spiritual practices? [32:25]
Think about a situation where you might have boasted about your spiritual achievements. How can you shift your focus to glorify God instead of yourself in similar situations in the future? [48:09]
Identify a person in your life who comes from a different cultural or ethnic background. How can you engage with them to promote unity and understanding through the shared faith in Christ? [14:20]
Reflect on the faith of Abraham as described in the sermon. What specific promises of God are you fully convinced of, and how does this conviction influence your actions and decisions? [28:55]
How can you actively contend for the faith in your community, ensuring that both personal belief and the objective truth of the gospel are upheld? What practical steps can you take this week? [09:16]
Sermon Clips
"Faith can mean different things and here's two of the things that can mean, and perhaps both of them lend something to what one faith might be. Well, think about this: on the one hand, faith means the act of believing. That's subjective, that has to do with me, the individual. Faith can be our own act of believing." [00:03:33]
"Faith is also used to refer to that. One of the classic texts where this comes across is found in Jude. But listen to this, listen to how Paul talks about himself in Galatians: 'They only were hearing it said, he who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.'" [00:05:34]
"Whatever one faith means, I think we can all agree with this: it is flowing out of the concept of the unity of the Spirit. All these items in verses four, five, and six are meant to unite us. The unity of the Spirit that we know, and so me subjectively, is that what this has to do with?" [00:07:31]
"Subjectively, my faith, my individual believing does not unite us unless objectively my faith is here and your faith is here. And you can look at it from the other side too. The objective truth and this book doesn't unite us unless you subjectively believe it and I subjectively believe it." [00:09:09]
"Faith must be your faith. The faith must be my faith. And when the faith is both of our faiths, that's what unites when we can contend for the same thing. How is it said in the Philippian letter that they were striving together shoulder to shoulder for this, we could say, faith or the gospel?" [00:10:20]
"Paul was astounded by the fact that both Jew and Gentile are in this thing together. Now look, I know you don't feel this, you don't get this. It doesn't really amaze us at all, this Jew-Gentile thing that seemed to be on Paul's mind all the time. It's not on our mind." [00:14:33]
"Faith is bringing these two people together. Romans chapter 3 verse 28: 'We hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also.' So you see, Jews and Gentiles, that's on the table." [00:21:29]
"One faith that unites us, you know full well, you know full well that there are true Christians that you are not united on every point in this book. But if you boil it down to the absolute minimum, you would have to say this: that one faith that unites is that which is essential to be believed." [00:30:41]
"Christ was delivered up for our trespasses, he died in our place, and then he was raised to prove to us that our sins were indeed paid for and that the Father was satisfied. The Father did this. This you must believe. You must believe in this God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead." [00:33:32]
"Faith one faith, and in so believing, it will be counted to us who believe it, the righteousness. We will be counted right. God counts us righteous by believing. This is that all. I mean, that's one thing that he sets here. You can't get away from it." [00:34:16]
"Faith is so powerful that simply to believe in him, to look not with these eyes, not to grab with this hand, not to eat physically, you can be blind, you can be deaf, you can be armless, and you can seize hold on this Christ. And what happens is by faith, it happens in the mind." [00:53:12]
"Faith in Jesus Christ, the nearness of God, the naf says, is my good. I have accessed through my faith, not because I'm better this week than I was last week. The whole point is that after the things I've done, God is willing to have me enter into his presence and be accepted." [00:57:49]