FREE PREVIEW: Ephesians 4:1-16: Unity in the Body
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Introduction
With a single word — “therefore” — Paul turns from the towering doctrine of the first three chapters to the practical living of the last three. Having shown us who we are in Christ, he now shows us how to walk. And the very first mark of a worthy walk is unity. In this rich passage, Paul calls us to preserve the unity the Spirit has given, grounds that unity in the great realities we all share, and shows how the diverse, gifted body of Christ grows up together into the full stature of its Head.
I. The CALLING to Unity — A Walk Worthy of Our Calling (vv. 1–3)
“I... beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3)
The worthy walk begins with unity, and unity is preserved by humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearing love. Paul does not tell us to create unity but to keep it — for the Spirit has already made us one. Our task is to guard that oneness diligently, in the daily work of bearing with one another.
II. The CREED of Unity — The Seven Ones That Bind Us (vv. 4–6)
“There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6)
Paul grounds our unity not in our agreement or personalities but in a sevenfold confession of shared realities — one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. Christian unity rests on objective facts rooted in the one Triune God, which is why division denies something already true.
III. The CONSTRUCTION of Unity — Gifts for Building Up the Body (vv. 7–16)
“He gave some to be apostles... for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ... we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11–12, 15)
Unity is not uniformity. The ascended Christ gives varied gifts, and He gives leaders to equip all the saints for the work of ministry. As each member does its part, speaking truth in love, the whole body grows up together into Christ its head, building itself up in love toward maturity.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.
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