This section of the epistle describes the proper response to God's offer of salvation and the blessings attached to it, the first of which is to maintain the unity of The Spirit. (Eph. 4:1-16)
8. Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord,
implore you to walk in a manner worthy of
the calling with which you have been called,
- Ephesians 4:1
Unity Of The Church
9. 2 with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, showing tolerance for one
another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- Ephesians 4:2-3
Unity Of The Church
10. The threat of division at
Ephesus also carried the danger
of loss of unity with Christ.
Unity Of The Church
12. Unity Of The Church
1. The call to unity.
2. The basis for unity.
13. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also
you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and
Father of all who is over all and through all and
in all.
- Ephesians 4:4-6
Unity Of The Church
22. 1. The call to unity.
2. The basis for unity.
3. God helps us keep unity.
Unity Of The Church
23. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according
to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“ WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”
- Ephesians 4:7-8
Unity Of The Church
24. 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it
mean except that He also had descended into the
lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is
Himself also He who ascended far above all the
heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
- Ephesians 4:9-10
Unity Of The Church
25. Jesus is able to supply abundantly the
“gifts” necessary to maintain unity.
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26. 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as
prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as
pastors and teachers,
- Ephesians 4:11
Unity Of The Church
27. The gifts given are…
The Bible Today
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Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors/Teachers
28. 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work
of service, to the building up of the body of
Christ;
- Ephesians 4:12
The gifts given are…
29. 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature
man, to the measure of the stature which belongs
to the fullness of Christ.
- Ephesians 4:13
The gifts given are…
30. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery
of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
- Ephesians 4:14
Unity Of The Church
31. Unity Of The Church
1. The call to unity.
2. The basis for unity.
3. God helps us keep unity.
4. Results of unity.
32. 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to
grow up in all aspects into Him who is the
head, even Christ,
- Ephesians 4:15
Unity Of The Church
33. 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and
held together by what every joint supplies,
according to the proper working of each
individual part, causes the growth of the body
for the building up of itself in love.
- Ephesians 4:16
Unity Of The Church
34. The Results of Unity
- Firmly Planted in the Word.
- Speak the Truth in Love.
- Maturity
- Cooperation & Mutual Service
35. The goal is that the body grows to
the point of maturity that the
head has already reached.
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36. The Cost Of Unity Is
Discomfort!
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37. “Your love for one another will prove that you are
my disciples”
- John 13:35
Unity Of The Church
38. The greatest task we have as
Christians is to maintain that unity,
that oneness by loving one another
despite our differences.
Unity Of The Church