Essentials of Unity

Introduction

A. We think so much in terms of how a business is run that we have a difficult time understanding that business and the church are two different things. For instance, the business model of power starts at the top with a CEO or President and then moves through lines of authority and power including VP, senior level managers, managers and the workers. This same model seeps over into congregational life. We think of elders, deacons and ministers comprising the upper levels with members under. But this is not God’s model for his church. God’s model of power is inverted. One leads through serving. One is the greatest by being the least. One is first by being last. Upside down thinking reigns in God’s plan.

B. Why? Other than God is God and he can have it any way he wants, it appears that through the life of Jesus, God wanted to demonstrate that real authority is not in financial wealth or position of prestige, but in serving and sacrificing for others. The business model spills over too in terms of how we relate to each other and to congregational life. Business encourages a consumer mentality. This finds itself in congregations. We are consumers. We are the customer; thus, we are to be satisfied. Our preferences are to be discerned and given credence. Such thinking means then that congregations are formed around commonality. Congregations are filled with people who think the same way, have similar preferences, and desire similar outcomes. What happens when one’s preference is overlooked or when the consumer is not satisfied? The consumer moves on to another place looking for ways to have needs met.

C. These attitudes are at best difficult to overcome. But entrenched they quickly lead us to believe that this is the way things are to work. In our text, Paul quickly turns his attention from establishing the theological points about God’s intent for the church to demonstrating practically how God’s people are to live. Our text this morning speaks of unity given by God through the Spirit. The focus is on maintaining the unity God has given. The focus is not on preferences but on what God desires. Let’s be encouraged today.

The Text

A. Remember that Paul is writing to Jews and Gentiles who are having to learn to live together spiritually. From the beginning of this letter, Paul is interested in revealing God’s mystery (1:9)—that through Jesus, Jews and Gentiles would come together into one new body. This mystery having been revealed now demands that the church demonstrate God’s wisdom in carrying out his plan (3:10). This means that Jews and Gentiles will have to learn to live in unity when there is a desire to break apart.

B. Historically, we know that Jews and Gentiles were often at odds. Differences in foods eaten, special days observed, and rituals practiced often produced conflict rather than harmony. But Paul makes an impassioned plea that it is not only possible for Jews and Gentiles to live in unity but unity has already been granted. Now they must maintain that unity in order to reveal God’s wisdom. In our text, Paul highlights seven things which unify these people. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list but it is intended to demonstrate the similarities rather than differences. Recall that at the end of chapter 3 Paul prayed that the readers would be filled with Christ and by being filled with Christ would allow Christ to control their actions and attitudes. The basis of this control is the immeasurable love of God. If these readers would love as God loves then they would reveal the character of God.

C. So in 4:1, Paul transitions to a practical application. “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Live up to your calling. This isn’t a request; it is a impassioned imperative. They have been called by God to salvation (1:4-5) and into the church (2:16-18). So how are they to live up to this calling? With humility, gentleness, patience, and loving endurance. We do not appreciate what Paul is saying. The word humility did not exist before the New Testament. It is a word made up of two distinct words which means lowliness of mind. The word lowly used in classical language was always used in a derogatory sense. The word humility was coined in the Christian vernacular and is only found in ancient languages in Christian contexts. Whenever the word humility is used outside of the Christian context it is always used in a negative way.

i. Do you understand what Paul is commanding these Jews and Gentiles to do? That which is despised by the world, he is commanding that they do. One would not humble himself in Paul's world. It was dog eat dog; every person for themselves; but when it come to practicing one's unity, then humility is what is called for in order for that unity to survive.

ii. Unity is maintained when those who belong to Jesus take on his nature. Jesus used this same word to describe himself. So with humility, gentleness, patience, and loving endurance, unity is maintained.

D. Paul then turns to seven items which unify. This is not an exhaustive list but intended to demonstrate the points of commonality which will allow Jews and Gentiles to maintain their unity.

i. One body—the church. They were part of this one body

ii. One Spirit—the same Spirit with whom they had been sealed (1:13-14); the same Spirit who provides access to the Father (2:18)

iii. One hope—they shared with eager expectation God's plan being fulfilled. They were both without hope (2:12) but now through the work of Jesus their hope was firmly established.

iv. One Lord—the same Jesus had torn down the wall of hostility and both Jews and Gentiles named him as Lord

v. One faith—both Jews and Gentiles have the same faith. This is not a common body of belief but a common belief in the one Lord.

vi. One baptism—they had shared in the same baptism. This immersion in water had the same result for both Jews and Gentiles—entrance into God's kingdom.

vii. One God—they now were submitted to the same God. This same God permeates all of them and is through all of them.

viii. These seven items solidify their unity. Now they must maintain it.

Lessons

A. Same attitudes needed to maintain unity. Humility, gentleness, patience, and loving endurance are all needed to maintain unity. It isn’t about us and our preferences; it is about God. We do not exist for our own benefit. We exist so that God is seen. So that God looks good. The calling we have received is the same call that has gone out to millions before us. It is the call to live in such a way that God is seen. It is a call to live in such a way that people are impressed with God not with us. This is upside down thinking. It doesn’t fit our business model; it doesn’t fit the way our world looks at things. It doesn’t appeal to preferences.

i. Years ago, a former minister was trying to make this point. He said that when he visited people about becoming members at Park, he wanted to know what they had to offer to the ministries at Park. He was skeptical of those who kept asking what can you do for me.

ii. I think Phil Slate was right. Our world has it backwards and if we aren't careful we will slide into this world's thinking. What do we have to offer to the consumer is the wrong question. The right question is what are we doing to call people to live in such a way that God is seen rather than us.

B. Second, we must focus on what draws us together rather than what drives us apart. This is what Paul did. Seven items which focused on commonalities rather than differences. All of the items are things which cannot be provided from human resources. When we focus on human resources then we will degenerate into preferences. We focus too much on what we perceive is lacking rather than what God has done. This focus is because of our consumer mentality. We shop. We evaluate. We consume. But God has called us to see things differently. We practice humility, gentleness, patience and loving endurance so that the God who gives us our unity can be seen and praised. ILL. Unity: No competition. Invitation.

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