The Unity of the Faith

The unity of the faith is a gift from God. A gift to receive and live in the fullness of all He has done and is doing. This unity of faith is not just a gift of future hope that will be evident in the final consummation of when Jesus returns. But it is also to be a present reality in every disciple through this life journey. So that through the spiritual growth of each other, individually and collectively, God’s transforming power is effectively working. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Also connect with us in discipleship, watch our videos, follow us on facebook or send us an email

Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

The unity of the faith is a gift from God. A gift to receive and live in the fullness of all He has done and is doing. This unity of faith is not just a gift of future hope that will be evident in the final consummation of when Jesus returns. But it is also to be a present reality in every disciple through this life journey. So that through the spiritual growth of each other, individually and collectively, God’s transforming power is effectively working.

This unity is a oneness with the will of the Father in heaven. Having received Jesus we have the Spirit of unity within. However it is a daily journey of continual surrender of everything, into the hands of the Father. Especially the surrender of thoughts, emotions, desires and will. 

In surrender to the Father, any blockages from receiving from Him are removed. One of the greatest blockages from receiving more of His transforming work within is not surrendering to the Father. That is a continual heart and mind condition of surrender. 

The more we surrender, the more the Spirit of unity can freely work within each individual. The more the unity of the faith is working within the individual, the more the unity of the faith is evident in the collective. The collective being every disciple of Jesus. Through the collective unity of the faith working in the collective, the love of God will be evident to the world. Then the world will know we are Jesus’ disciples. That is true revival.

For a greater revelation of true revival please listen to our podcast titled, ‘Always a Remnant to Receive Revival.’

Knowing the significance of the unity of the faith being an effective witness to the world and for every disciple of Jesus to live the victorious life, the Apostle Paul wrote letters about it. One such letter was the book title Ephesians. So let us go deeper into the heart of God and journey through the book of Ephesians.

Understanding the construction of Ephesians gives us an insight into the power of the gospel. In chapters 1-3, Paul reminds the recipients of what we have received in Jesus. The letter begins with a greeting that is rich in revelations and reverence. This is followed by the powerful truth of our identity being Jesus’ identity. As a result result of receiving Jesus, we are adopted and accepted into the intimate and most loved relationship of Jesus and God the Father. The Father in heaven becomes our Father in heaven. 

Having received Jesus, we also are redeemed and forgiven. We have an eternal inheritance that is personally guaranteed by God Himself. The inheritance of Jesus the Son of God.

Having laid the solid foundation of the gospel truth in the first half of Ephesians, the second half builds to living a victorious life. Chapters 4-6 reveal how through our surrender to God, His Spirit outworks the reality of the unity of the faith in our everyday lives. Regardless of our ethnicity, gender, age or status in this life, each one is equal in the unity of the faith.

So let us begin with Ephesians 4:7-16 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Verse 7 states that to each one of us, that is all who have received Jesus, received God and His right to rule and reign, have been given grace. In this context grace is a gift of underserved divine influence upon the heart that is reflected in this life and all eternity.

Jesus came in grace and truth. That is God’s good-will toward humanity in the gift of Himself. Jesus not only descended to earth from heaven, but He ascended back above all the heavens. For Jesus is the highest power and authority, above all kingdoms and powers. Yet God did it all so that He might fulfil all things which is to gather together in one all things in Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:9-10 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

God has made known the mystery of His will. This oneness is not only to be in the fullness of time, but in the heart, mind and will of every disciple of Jesus, as they journey through this life. For this life God gives us everything we need in Himself, to live in the reality of the unity of the faith. 

Let us read Ephesians chapter 4 and verses 11-16 again. 

Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Jesus gave all of Himself to humanity. Not only His identity, but His ministry. An apostle is one sent forth. An ambassador of the gospel. Jesus is the ultimate apostle who was sent forth from the heart of God the Father. From heaven above in the ultimate seat of power came down to earth as a vulnerable baby, to us. Jesus is the supreme messenger and embodiment of God in human form. Still fully God, Jesus became human and gave all of Himself to us. 

Jesus is the ultimate prophet. A prophet in the context of the New Testament is someone who is anointed by God to foretell of future events that particularly relate to the cause of God’s kingdom, that is bringing eternal salvation. Speaking for God the Father, with the power and authority as God the Son, Jesus’ words are above time itself. Jesus is the Eternal One who knows all things. He shared the heart of God the Father, concerning the kingdom and foretold of the end-times and His return.

Jesus is the ultimate evangelist. A messenger of the gospel of salvation. For He is the gospel of salvation. When Jesus walked the earth as a man, He declared His mission. He did it intimately and personally and publicly. To the man of Jewish lineage who came to Jesus in the dark of the night, He stated the reason why He had come. He had came to save the world. 

To an outcast woman all alone at a well in the heat of the day, Jesus stated that whoever receives, Him receives everlasting life. Yes Jesus not only personally and intimately journeyed with others but He also preached to the multitudes. 

Jesus is the ultimate pastor. A pastor in the kingdom of God is likened to a shepherd. Jesus  stated, ‘I am the good shepherd. That is the one who cares for His sheep. His sheep being all those who say yes to Him, yes to God. As our good shepherd, Jesus makes us feel safe and secure in God’s love. So that we can lie down and receive God’s rest. Where He restores our soul. He leads to paths of true justice of equality and respect. As the good shepherd, Jesus  reveals to us that being surrendered to the Father’s will brings restoration, refreshing and true freedom. 

Jesus is the ultimate teacher. He walked the earth as a man, He taught on the kingdom of God. Intimately and personally He journeyed with His disciples. Teaching them about God the Father and everything about His kingdom. In amongst their everyday, Jesus used various methods of teaching. From object lessons through to story telling, Jesus the Son of God who came in human form demonstrated how He was one with the Father. With the Spirit of the unity of the faith, in intimacy and oneness, Jesus and the Father taught the disciples and the multitudes. 

So as the text states, Jesus Himself gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and some to be teachers. These are gifts of God in Jesus Himself. They are not titles or positions or roles within the church. Instead, they are aspects of Jesus when He walked the earth as a man. They are all a reflection of Jesus, a reflection of God.

Solely for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. Ministry being Jesus’ ministry, that is His mission, God’s mission. Jesus never used His ultimate power for self gain. Instead when He became human, He surrendered His human will and lived in continual surrender of His human will, to that of the Father’s will. Everything God does is for the benefit of others. He gives all of Himself in Jesus. To be used to build up the entire spiritual body of Jesus, that is the church. The church being the collective of every disciple of Jesus. That is all those who have said yes to Jesus, yes to God.

These gifts, that is those aspects of Jesus continue to operate through the entire spiritual body of Jesus. So that in the end times when lies, deceptions and evil abounds, we shall be able to stand in the fullness of the truth. Empowered to speak the truth in love. Living in surrender of self will to that of the Father’s will. Where any blockages are continually being removed as we are receiving from God, all the time His transforming work within, each and every day. When we live in continual surrender of our selfish desires and differences, we keep the unity of the faith. For we have one Lord and God the Father of all.

The Apostle Paul explains it this way.  

Ephesians 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The Spirit of the unity of the faith, the Holy Spirit of God dwells within every disciple of Jesus. The breaking of the Spirit of unity is failure to surrender both the good and bad to God. Following self will, instead of surrendering to God’s will, brings conflict and disunity. 

Walking worthy of the calling with which we are called in Jesus is to surrender. In surrender, all His transforming power becomes evident in our everyday lives. Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

Praise His mighty name!

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!