1. Ephesians Class Schedule
7/15/18 Eph 4:4-6 R. Henderson

2. The Unity of the Church* 4:1-6
1. The Guiding Principle 4:1
a. The Metaphor for Conduct
b. The Standard for Conduct
2. The Specific Items 4:2-6
a. That are Personal in Nature 4:2
b. That are Corporate in Nature 4:3-6
(1) The Requirement for Unity 4:3
(2) The Basis for Unity 4:4-6
(a) There is Unity in the Spirit 4:4
(b) There is Unity in the Son 4:5
(c) There is Unity in the Father 4:6
* McCalley

3. 1  Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 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. 4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

4. 3  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
to preserve the unity (oneness) of the Spirit in the bond of peace
note:
1. we are asked to preserve this unity (or oneness)
not to establish it or improve it
2. to reinforce his point Paul states seven elements of unity every believer has in Christ
Ours is rather to keep the unity which Christ has made, and in the bond of peace which that unity provides. Chafer
Seven elements of unity follow (in verses 4 to 6) that unite believers in the church Constable

5. 4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
one - heis - the first cardinal numeral, used - metaphorically, of a union or a single one to the exclusion of others – John 10:30, Rom 12:4-5, 1 Tim 2:5
body - used in Eph 1:23 of the church which is called Christ’s body (only one “true church” made up of all believers)
the word one is emphatic, signifying that there is but one body -every saved person is in this unity, and only those who are saved are included in it Chafer
more about this body in Eph 2:15-16; 3:6; 4:12-14; 5:30

6. 4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
There is one Spirit – speaking of the Holy Spirit
one Spirit – or the “same Spirit” in some verses
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. – see Eph 2:18, Phil 1:27
1 Cor 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. also see 1 Cor 12:8-9
Some of the Holy Spirit ministries are that He convicts (John 16:7-11), regenerates (John 3:5-6), indwells (1 Cor. 6:19), seals (Eph. 1:13), baptizes (1 Cor. 12:13), and fills (Eph. 5:18).
Thus it is revealed that the ministries He performs are all unifying to the utmost degree Chafer

7. 4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
just (even) as also
you were called - kaleō - with a personal object, to call
anyone, invite, summon - Eph 4:1, Gal 1:6
in one “hope of your calling” What does “hope” mean?
Eph 1:18  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
The hope belongs to the new sphere unto which the saints are called (Eph. 1:18).
It embraces all that God has promised of that eternal glory which is to be consummated at the coming of Christ.
--- the hope is one as to its provision for each and every believer alike, it becomes itself a unifying hope Chafer
7/15/18 Eph 4:4-6 R. Henderson

8. 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one Lord - 1 Cor 8: 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
see John 13:13, 1 Cor 1:2
one faith – also called “the faith” in Jude 1:3b…I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was “once for all”* handed down to the saints.
see Act 6:7
* hapax = “once for all” or “once with finality” (perpetually valid)
7/15/18 Eph 4:4-6 R. Henderson

9. 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one baptism – speaking of the baptism of the Spirit
baptism - baptizo - lit: to dip or to immerse
All believers have been (past completed action) baptized into Christ Jesus at the moment they put their faith and trust in Christ’s work on the cross:
• Immersed into Christ and never to be taken out
• Baptized into the person and work (death on the cross) of Christ
• Spirit Baptism is always in the passive voice (subject receives the
action)
• The Holy Spirit is acting upon the believer
• The believer does nothing in Spirit baptism
• Spirit baptism is one of many gracious gifts that the believer
receives at the moment of putting his faith and trust in Christ
There is only one Lord in whom we all believe and in whose name we are all baptized McCalley

10. 6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
all - pas - used without the article it means "every," every kind or variety. In the plural it signifies "the totality of the persons or things referred to."
who is over all - who is above all [sovereign over all]
--- focuses on the awesomeness of God in terms of the great distance that exists between Him and His creation.
McCalley
note: what the Father gave the Son
Eph1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, & Col 2:10

11. 6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
(who is) through all
This expresses God’s creative and sustaining activity. He is omnipotent for He works through all McCalley
Rom 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
also see Matt 19:26, Luke 1:37, Rev 19:6
(who is) in all
The personal presence of God in His creation and His personal relationship to man is focal. He is omnipresent for He is in all McCalley
in believers - Gal 2:20
omnipresent – Ps 139:7-8

12. 6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
The Apostle thus presents the strongest possible appeal for Christian unity, indicating as he does that it is grounded upon these seven eternal verities (truths).
It therefore becomes those who by grace have attained to heavenly positions to manifest that fact by unfeigned love to all who are in Christ Chafer