“A Spiritual Foundation: The Unity of the Spirit”

The Appomattox Court House Presbyterian Church Pulpit
Rev. Cameron S. Smith
The Lord's Day, July 24, 2005
Ephesians 4:1-6

If you look closely at your money, you'll notice that there's a short, unassuming phrase that appears on most of our currency: e pluribus unum. This Latin phrase gives expression to one of the highest ideals of what it means to be American: Out of many, one. Early on in our nation's history, we were known as "the melting pot" due to the large influx of immigrants to our shores and especially their relative ease blending in to form a uniquely American identity. Truly, this country wouldn't be what it is today without the ever-increasing diversity of ethnic "flavor."

Perhaps the Church could be thought of as a "melting pot" of sorts? Surely, we could say that e pluribus unum fits us well. After all, at the end of time, the book of Revelation reminds us that unity will be an eternal reality:

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" (Rev. 7:9-10). Out of many, one!

As we have seen, Ephesians anticipates this future glory by revealing "the mystery" that the Gentiles (that's us!) are "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone" (Eph. 2:19-20). Through Jesus Christ, God's potential saving purposes open up wide to encompass all nations of the world.

As we come to Ephesians 4:1-16, the focus turns to life within the body of Christ (cf. Eph. 1:22-23). It is a common life that is characterized by: (1) its unity; (2) its giftedness; and (3) its maturity. Each individual part of "the body" functions with the aim of building each other up in Christ-likeness, and in due course, displays God's glory to the world. This is the reason for the Church's existence!

Over the course of the next several weeks, we will be looking at each one of these three characteristics in this passage, looking at unity this morning (4:1-6); giftedness next week (4:7-11); and the week after, maturity (4:12-16). And so this morning, we concern ourselves with the matter of unity, the unity we've been given in the body of Christ.

Hear the words of this portion of our passage, Eph. 4:1-6.

"I [Paul] therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 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."

There are several angles that I could take this morning in considering the unity we have in Christ. It is a hot topic in our Presbyterian circles these days. For one, considering the divisions that exist in this Church (PCUSA) over the issues of ordination and Biblical authority, some argue that the "unity" Paul is exhorting us to in Ephesians means that both sides -- "progressive" and "evangelical" -- should retain their own particular understandings of Scripture and live happily ever after with an irreconcilable tension because God has called us to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Afterall, they say, why does there have to be a winner?

I have much to say about that, but this will have to wait until the third installment, when we talk about maturity in Christ in a couple of weeks! But for now, I want to work a different angle on unity.

This morning, I want you to begin - if you haven't already -- to appreciate the significance and the beauty of this thing called the Church; this supernatural work of God; this humanly impossible unity that we have in and through Jesus Christ. Here's where people from incredibly diverse cultures and backgrounds are brought together in an intimate way that far transcends the anonymity of the American "melting pot."

Notice that Paul says "I…urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…." Your participation in this local church is a divine calling. Remember the predestination language in chapters one and two? You were called out of the world to be a part of the people of God.

However and unfortunately, in the face of this miraculous calling into the body of Christ, there seems to be a spirit of individualism run amok. Christian individualism usually divides between two extremes:

On one hand, the Church isn't necessary for spiritual growth in Christ, but they concede, it's nice every once and a while. This mindset's usually expressed in these words, "I can worship God anywhere." True enough, as far as it goes, but it misses the point badly. You can worship God anywhere, but God has provided the Church, the Sacraments and other believers especially for you, to encourage you and to hold you accountable as we all grow in grace together.

It's not an option, it's a command! The writer to the Hebrews drives this point home: "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Heb 10:24-25).

On the other hand, at the opposite extreme, are those who think the Church is actually a hindrance to spiritual growth! In this view, it's unnecessary and even harmful. Pastor and author, John Piper, once mused that this mindset was similar to a fish saying to water, "I don't need you!"

Some friends of ours in Florida seemed to exemplify this attitude perfectly. When you meet this couple, there's no doubt they're professing Christians. The wife is always talking about the Lord; what He's done in her life, how He provided for this or that need, etc. They've even painted Bible verses on the wallpaper borders in the master bedroom of their house. These folks are serious about God.

However, they don't seem inclined to join any church. They've visited various churches, but don't really think it's worth the effort. Their thinking seems to be that the "institutional" church isn't the real deal because it's boring and lifeless; they can "feed" themselves quite well without the baggage of the local church.

Now, I'm a great believer in personal Bible study, communing with God in nature and pursuing the various other spiritual disciplines quite independent of our formal family life here. But your primary formation, your source of strength, renewal and growth comes within the "body," our common life together.

Why else would Paul say, "walk in a manner worthy of the calling…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"? The Christian life is not a solo flight! There's an essential give and take on the road to holiness. More to the point, God has determined that His salvation is going to be displayed and mediated through this incredible collection of called out people called the Church! But, I recognize, and you recognize that the temptation to embrace individualism is hard to say no to because of the supreme value that our culture places on it.

To underscore the necessity of unity together in the body of Christ, Paul presents unity in seven descriptive phrases - seven, as those of you who participated in the Revelation Bible study will remember, being God's number of completeness -- one body; one Spirit; one hope; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; and one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

This, I want to strongly suggest to you this morning, is language of fellowship. This is family language. There's no hint of lone ranger theology here! We all have this seven-fold commonality in Christ, and this is the mission that we've been called to undertake, together, in unity.

Make no mistake about it; if Christ is your Savior, God has called you here to this fellowship. Now, you may not stay in this particular, local expression of the church. But your connection with the "body" is essential wherever you might find yourself living at a particular time in your life. You need to be connected to a local church!

As I conclude this morning, I don't want you to walk away from this service thinking that the only reason you come to church is for the sake of coming to church! A royal pain and bore when you could be doing other enjoyable things on a beautiful Sunday morning; or much, much less, for the sake of checking off an item on the holy to-do list.

Please understand that this unity that we exhorted to is for the express purpose of God's glory and the salvation of the world. As we grow together into our unity in Christ; as we increase together in Christ-likeness; as we learn together to love each other and others who aren't so loveable; as we together fully recover the image of God we were originally created in - the Kingdom of God is brought to bear on this world that needs Jesus Christ. That, my friends, is why unity is important. Let's pray for that unity. Let's strive for that unity, let's realize that unity.