WEBVTT 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:11.199 We're in a series called In Christ's Purpose. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:12.880 In Christ's Purpose. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:29.440 And he did an awesome job of tying the first half of the book of Ephesians, which is all about our identity in Christ, with the beginning of the second half, which begins to kind of take the identity in Christ piece and put it close on it and then begin to live it out. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:36.960 What does it look like at knowing our identity in Christ to live purposeful lives based in that reality? 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:46.719 And so he started that and he talks specifically about four attitudes that we need to maintain in order to have healthy relationships within the body of Christ. 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:50.079 Can you remember what those four were, or even one of them? 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:52.640 Yeah, patience. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:54.079 Somebody remembered patience. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:59.359 If you prayed for patience, you may have experienced turbulence as this week. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:00.560 That's okay. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:05.120 Turbulence and trouble can cause patience to grow. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:11.280 But he talked about humility, gentleness, patience, and enduring love. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:15.439 And these are all required for us to maintain healthy relationships. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:19.599 So I hope that we are applying those things by the grace of God in our lives. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:21.760 So this week we're going to take it from there. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:32.400 We're going to build upon that foundation as we talk about the grace gift of unity, unity, and how we are to be eager to maintain it. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.519 So the title of this message is One on Purpose. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:36.640 One on Purpose. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:43.760 If you turn to Ephesians chapter 4, and I'm going to reread just the first few verses and go on to verse six. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:02:03.439 So it says, I 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. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:21.199 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. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:22.319 Amen. 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:23.919 Let's pray together. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:26.080 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:35.039 It is rich, it is powerful, it is sharp, it cuts to the very soul and separates soul and spirit. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:52.800 We ask that you would help your word to give us the entrance of light and life that we need, illuminate the pathway in front of us, and give us the grace that we need to make the changes, Lord, so that we can follow your will and your way in Jesus' name. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:53.759 Amen. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:59.280 How many of you know it is the easiest thing in the world to live at odds with each other? 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:01.120 It's the easiest thing. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:04.800 We don't even really have to try very hard to do it. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:07.919 It can happen very organically. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:11.840 It can happen without us putting a lot of effort into it. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:13.599 It is very easy. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:21.919 And the culture of this world propagates or promotes division and disunity, right? 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:27.199 That's the climate that we find ourselves living in in 2026. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:28.400 Think about this. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:39.360 Think about families who this last holiday did not enjoy the time together because of the fact that one of the family members voted for a different person than the rest. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:47.680 Can you imagine that that would be a delineating factor within this culture and within this nation? 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:51.840 It has happened to many, many, many people, right? 00:03:52.479 --> 00:04:01.759 There are churches that I am aware of, that I have dealt with, that I have seen, that have divided over the color of the carpet. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:10.560 How's everybody feeling about the carpet this morning? 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:12.719 Are we okay? 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:17.439 It's new, it's new, and it's clean. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:25.120 Pastor Neil, and you've seen some things, haven't you? 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:33.199 Some ways that churches have decided to find themselves separating from one another based on things like that. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:49.680 We can easily feel pressure to be pushed into the proverbial corner of life based simply on how we feel about certain things, the way that we view issues of the day or what we consider to be the right lens to view the world through. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:51.040 It's very easy. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:56.399 Like I said, you don't have to fight hardly at all to enter into this realm. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:05.600 Disunity and division come to us naturally because we are part, we still live in a fallen world. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:16.560 And in this fallen world, sin still rules and reigns supreme, and our flesh, I don't even know our flesh, dies hard. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:33.920 Even though our spirits can be born again and our souls can come in line with our spirit, a lot of times our own desires, the desires of our flesh, can attempt to outrule or outweigh what we know God's best way is. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:36.720 Think about that. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:42.560 Not only that, but we have an enemy of our soul, Satan, who loves this. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:49.519 He loves disunity, he loves division, he loves tearing things apart. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:57.360 And he will use whatever tactic necessary to cause chaos, especially among God's people. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:05:58.959 And you know why that is? 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:01.279 Because Satan can't get to God. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.639 He can't get to God, he can't get to Jesus. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:06.399 He tried that, and what guess what? 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:07.920 Epic fail. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.240 He can't get to the Holy Spirit. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.160 And so what does he attempt to do? 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:19.600 He attempts to get to God's children and wreak havoc and chaos. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.560 And why does he do this? 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:29.040 Ultimately, is to stop the spread of genuine Christianity. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:40.000 If there's anything that Satan has in his heart, it is this stop the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ by any means necessary. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:47.120 Stop the excuse me, the effect of the gospel of Jesus Christ being spread. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:58.560 Too often you and I, if we're honest, allow somebody's personality to be the thing that determines whether we're going to walk in unity with them. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:09.120 I am, I, for one, and maybe you maybe you haven't gotten to this point yet, but I'm at this place in my life where I'm really thankful that I that all of you aren't just like me. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:12.959 Sometimes I get a little tired of me. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:20.079 I'm not saying that I'm down on myself or that I'm depressed or anything, but too many of me is too much. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:35.920 And so I need all of you, and I need all of your personalities, and I need all of the uniqueness and the way that God's made each of you to sharpen me, to help me, to encourage me, to make this life enjoyable. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:44.319 You know, there's something great about the fact that God has created us as individuals and He's given us uniqueness. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:58.399 But how many of you realize that that uniqueness, if not guarded, can become a stumbling block in the way that we choose to walk with one another or not to walk with one another. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:02.319 And then also we have differences of opinion on things. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:15.439 And so we believe most of the time who's right. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:22.560 So my opinion is not just an opinion, it is a statement of fact. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:29.680 And so a lot of times we can rub each other the wrong way based on differences of opinion, right? 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:37.759 So personality conflicts, differences of opinion, and these things can dictate whether or not we can walk in unity with other believers. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:44.480 But how many of you know, according to God's word and according to his way, these things should not be? 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:56.159 We should not allow personality conflicts, we should not allow differing opinions to dictate to us whether or not we can walk in unity with each other. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:01.279 So it's time for us to lift up our eyes a little higher. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:04.559 It's time for us to use a different set of scales. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:08.879 It's time for us to gauge things based on God's way. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:10.960 Can we do that together? 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:11.919 Amen. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.320 I'm taking by the three amens that the rest of your thinking. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:17.120 That's okay. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:18.559 Take some time to think about it. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:24.720 By the end of this message, I would like for you to agree that you want to do things God's way. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:28.720 So let me say as succinctly as I can just to give you an overview. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:35.919 Christians should refuse to be divided over things that don't really matter in the long run. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:38.480 Come on. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:52.960 Christians should refuse to be divided over the things that don't really matter in the long run, and instead choose to be united around what truly matters for eternity. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:55.120 In other words, forever. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.480 Those are the things that are important. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.000 There's an old song, Jack, right? 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:09.440 The things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace, face, grace. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.039 It's the truth, isn't it? 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:19.039 Christians should be united about what matters for eternity. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:23.919 And that's what this passage is giving us sort of a window into seeing those things. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:25.519 And we're going to talk about that this morning. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:33.600 So, first of all, Paul in this book, in this chapter, emphasizes the fact that unity is a gift to be maintained. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:36.559 Unity is a gift to be maintained. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:38.960 He says that we should be eager. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:41.200 What does it mean to be eager? 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.559 Passionate. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:45.120 You want to know what eager looks like? 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.080 Eager looks like a two-year-old that wants a snack. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:54.320 And I can say that because I have some of those in my life, grandchildren in my life. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:56.720 And they are eager, they desire it. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:59.039 It's something that's very important to them. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:02.000 And the timing of it is important as well, isn't it? 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:04.799 For those of you who are living within that world. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.039 Unity is a gift to be maintained. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:12.159 We should be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:19.679 The Holy Spirit causes every true believer in Jesus Christ to find their place of agreement where? 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:22.000 In a church building? 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:29.360 At the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.919 Your affiliation doesn't matter. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:39.120 Your status, it doesn't matter your economy, it doesn't matter your race. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.679 There's nothing that matters. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:47.039 It's the greatest equalizing place in all of history. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.360 At the foot of the cross. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:54.879 There is only unity found at the foot of the cross. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:12:00.480 Because every person who finds themselves there has to acknowledge their need. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:23.919 Sometimes I fear that the longer that we're in the Lord and the further we're removed from that moment in our lives, we forget the lessons of it. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:33.120 We should often view the cross as a means of reminding ourselves of our desperate need. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:45.759 The same spirit that causes mankind to understand their need for redemption causes us to be united to one another in spite of our differences. 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.720 The same Holy Spirit does that. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:52.720 It's not a work of the flesh, it's not something that we muster up. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:55.039 It is a work of the Spirit of God. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:58.159 Unity is a gift from God. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.879 And that's good news. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:12.559 It is precious and it is one of the only places, and you know this if you've read through the book of Psalms, it's one of the only places where there's a commanded blessing from God. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.399 Do you remember Psalm 133? 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:16.399 Let's read it together again. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:22.799 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwelt in unity. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:31.360 It is like the precious oil on the head running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:42.399 It is like the dew of Hermon which falls on the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:51.360 How good and how pleasant it is for us as believers in Christ to dwell together in unity. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.720 It is a place of blessing. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.080 So, how do we do this? 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:00.399 What is our part in this effort? 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:05.279 Paul goes on to say that peace is the means of maintaining unity. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:09.200 Peace is the means of maintaining unity. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:22.720 There's a peace pattern that scripture teaches us that enables us to apply peace like super glue in our lives and in our relationships in order to maintain proper unity among other believers. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.600 So let's look at these three peace factors. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.919 The first one is peace with God. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:29.840 Peace with God. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:37.360 We cannot apply peace in the area of unity unless we first have experienced peace with God. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:42.399 We as people, all of us, have been born in sin. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:47.039 And therefore we were not at peace with God. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:53.440 That's the way that we were born into this world because of Adam and his sin in the garden. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.399 All of us have been born in sin. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:04.320 And also, you might say, well, that's not fair, but it goes on to say in Romans that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:09.039 So not only were we born that way, we continued in that way. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:15.200 In fact, we deserved the wrath of God. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:21.919 A lot of times we feel entitled to the things that we receive from God. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:27.519 Let's remember first, and this is what makes salvation so grand, my friends. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.159 We deserved punishment. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:36.799 We deserved to die for the sins that we committed. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:44.080 Not only to die, but to be separated from an Almighty holy God forever and ever. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:48.720 That is what we earned, and that is what we deserved. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:58.320 But God sent his son Jesus to this earth as God's Prince of Peace. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:24.000 And he made a way for us to be reconciled to the Father by living a perfect life, the life that we couldn't live, by taking upon himself the sins of the world, the sins that you and I committed, by being willing to be nailed to the cross that you and I deserve to be nailed to, and by breathing out, Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing, and it is finished. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:26.080 Excuse me. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.600 That's what Jesus did. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:37.440 He was he died and he was buried for three days, and on the third day he rose again. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:50.240 And he was seen by his followers, and he ascended into heaven, was given the name above every other name, and he sent the Holy Spirit to not only be with us, but to dwell in us. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:55.440 This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:06.319 Romans 5, 1 says this, therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.799 This is good news. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:13.599 In order to experience peace with God, there are a few things that we must do. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:19.519 We must respond, we must uh accept this grace that is freely given. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.680 We must acknowledge our need. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:26.000 I am a sinner in need of God's grace and forgiveness. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:18:01.200 And if you've never done this, I pray, and we've been praying for you that this would be the day that you acknowledge your need for a savior, that you uh that you repent, which is the next things, that you repent of your sins, that you turn away from your old way of living, that you acknowledge that your lifestyle has been sinful before God, your thoughts, your attitudes, your deeds, your actions, your words, and that you desire by his grace to turn away from your old way of living and to turn toward God, and that you would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:12.640 Believe that he is who he says that he is, and that he did what that he said that he would do to provide for us a way to be reconciled to God. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:18.640 And if you've done all of those things, I have one last question for you and for me. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:21.039 Has your life changed? 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.640 Praying a prayer is not enough. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:31.759 The truest sign of conversion is a changed life. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:37.200 We should live a transformed life by God's grace. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:44.720 This doesn't happen all of a sudden, it doesn't happen all at once, although it begins suddenly and the change begins to happen. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:53.279 But over time, there's the process of sanctification where the Holy Spirit causes things to come to the surface that we realize that we need to deal with God about. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:59.119 And we confess those sins to the Lord, and He cleanses us and He changes our heart. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:04.880 And we can cry out like David did, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:09.920 And the proof of that is the change within our behavior. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:16.880 We should bear fruit of repentance that proves out our salvation. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:22.720 You see, unless you have peace with God first, there's no other peace to be found. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:28.400 You can't apply something that you haven't, that hasn't been applied to your life yet. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:32.319 But you can, by God's grace, receive peace with God. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:34.240 The second one is peace of God. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:41.839 Not only did Jesus' sacrifice orchestrate peace with God, but how many of you know it went much further than that? 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:45.599 He also came to give us the peace of God. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:58.720 And this peace is not based upon circumstances, it's not based upon situations, it's not based upon your bank account, your work status, what's going on in your family life, your health or lack of it. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:03.599 This peace is a peace that passes all understanding. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:10.960 It's a peace that's uncommon, it's a peace that gives us calm in the middle of the storm. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:14.000 It's a peace that doesn't make any sense. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:20.720 And if you have been a believer in Christ for any length of time, you have experienced this peace. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:26.240 And if you haven't yet, you've seen other people who are experiencing it. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.440 I remember when I was in the hospital five years ago and almost dying. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:36.400 I tuned into the live stream, and I want to welcome those who are watching via live stream this morning. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:40.799 Thank you for being a part of the service, and we hope to see you here very soon. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:47.279 But I was listening to the live stream and I was barely able to think straight. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:49.440 I was just cloudy, you know. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.119 Couldn't get out of bed. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:58.160 I was laying there and I was listening to Brooke sing a song in worship. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:02.559 And all of a sudden, the presence of God filled that hospital room. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:18.559 And I didn't I knew something was going on, but I began to recognize nurses just popping in to the room one by one, and they weren't really even checking on me that I remember. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.680 Maybe they were. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:25.039 But I asked one lady because I heard them out in the hallway saying, You need to go in there. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:31.920 And I asked one lady that came in, What why did you why did you come in to my room? 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.960 What's going on? 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.319 Something wrong? 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:36.640 That's my where my faith was. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:40.400 Oh, they said, No, nothing's wrong. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:44.960 We just have never experienced peace like this in this hospital. 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:55.759 And I said, That's the prayers of thousands, and that at at the time around the world there were thousands of people praying for me and for my recovery. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:59.759 And obviously, by the grace of God, I stand before you today. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.200 Healed and made whole. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.880 So I'm thankful for that. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:13.440 But Philippians 4, 7 says, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:16.880 So there's peace with God, and there's the peace of God. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:20.640 And then the third one is the spiritual fruit of peace. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:31.279 All of us know Galatians 5.22, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such things. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:33.119 There is no law. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:43.359 Can you imagine, imagine with me the upgrade in your family experience if everyone chose by God's grace to live peaceably with each other? 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:48.480 Can you imagine the volume levels changing in your home? 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:55.039 Can you imagine how the car rides to church might sound a little different than what they do right now? 00:22:55.359 --> 00:23:05.839 Can you imagine how your workplace could be affected by living this way, the fruit of the spirit of peace that's living in us and operating through us? 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.759 How about a Christian community? 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:14.240 How would a Christian community be perceived differently if we modeled this kind of peace? 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:18.960 If we chose, again, peace instead of our own way. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:30.960 We must, by God's grace, exercise the Spirit, develop fruit of peace in our lives toward other believers so that we can walk in unity around the essentials of this Christian life. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:34.720 This is absolutely important. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:39.839 Peace shouldn't be the result of blind agreement on everything. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.119 That's not what I'm saying. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:44.720 I'm not saying we all sit around a circle and sing kumbaya. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:49.039 I'm not saying that we have to agree on all points of eschatology. 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:53.519 I don't mean that we have to agree on if everybody should speak in tongues or not. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:24:08.640 I'm not talking about all of those kind of second-tier questions, but as far as the core beliefs of the Christian faith, we should be able to come to a point of agreement with each other and walk in unity together. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:16.480 And how much effect could that kind of unity have on a world that is filled with disunity? 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:26.400 The one thing that they're having in common more and more recently is their hatred for the church of Jesus Christ and for Christians. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.400 Romans 12, 28 gives us this instruction. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:39.039 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:43.920 You cannot control what your wife does. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:45.039 How many of you, husbands? 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.640 No, don't raise your hands. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:50.319 Wives, no, I can't say it like that either. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:53.680 You cannot control what your spouse chooses. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:58.160 Hopefully, if you've been married more than five minutes, you've learned that, right? 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.599 You can't control that. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:09.119 But how many of you know by the grace of God you can choose what you do, how you act, how you react, how you respond. 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:11.359 And that's what the scripture is teaching us. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:22.000 As much as it is on us, as much as it is our responsibility, as much as we have the opportunity, let's live at peace with all. 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:30.640 Unity is a responsibility to us as believers and is to be pursued earnestly. 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:39.440 Church unity needs to be rooted in a shared commitment to the essentials of the faith, lived out in a peaceable way. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:42.559 So let's look at these. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:44.000 Listen to this phrase. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.960 I love this phrase. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:53.119 The spiritual reaction is this in essentials, in other words, the things that are eternally important, we should have unity. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:26:00.000 In non-essentials, those are the second-tier issues that are important, but they don't have eternal value necessarily. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:05.599 In other words, they inform the way that we live in this life, but they don't necessarily inform eternity. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.039 We should have what? 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.079 Liberty. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:15.200 We should be able to be free with each other and allow other people to have differences of thought or opinion in those areas. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:17.839 But in all things, charity. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.799 In all things, we should walk in love one toward another. 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:34.400 There's enough of the flesh in every one of us to wreck any family, to wreck any local church or any other work of God. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:40.640 Therefore, we must do what? 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:53.839 Submerge our own petty personal whims and attitudes and work together in peace for the glory of God and for the common blessing that He promises to those who walk in unity. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:27:01.119 So let's look at seven eternal truths from this scripture quickly that every believer should agree upon. 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:15.200 It says there's 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. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:19.599 And some references say you all or y'all. 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:23.200 Paul is from southern Israel, I believe, but anyway. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.039 And in all. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.519 So there is one body. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:32.799 One body depicts the church as a single, visible community. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:39.359 God has called every believer, and Derek says this every week, to be a part of the body of Christ. 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:45.200 Every single one of us are called to live that way as a part of the body of Christ. 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.079 There is one body. 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:52.960 Doesn't matter if you're at Trinity Community Church or any other church that's preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:56.720 It's not simply a mystical concept. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:05.279 It's unity is recognizable in that Jews and Gentiles are now seen to be reconciled in Christ as one new man. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:08.000 Do you remember this in Ephesians chapter 2? 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:15.039 God has called all of us as believers in Jesus Christ to live as one new man. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:18.559 Christians are all members of the same body. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:25.359 Neil and I recently came back from Puerto Rico, and I bring you greetings from your brothers and sisters from down south. 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:32.960 They speak a different language, but they have the same passion in their hearts and same love for Jesus Christ. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:34.799 And they're praying for us. 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:37.519 They love us and they're praying for us. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:43.440 How many of you know that Satan tries everything he can to divide the body of Christ? 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.039 Every day. 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.160 Every day. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:49.440 Think about the explosion of denominations. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:54.960 And I'm not saying that God can't use denominational churches, he absolutely does. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:59.599 But the denominations were created one after the other based on what? 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:02.640 Not being able to walk together in unity. 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.240 Right? 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:07.599 So one body, the next is one spirit. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:11.680 The Holy Spirit has made all true believers one in Christ. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:13.119 That's the reality. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:15.759 The body is indwelt by one spirit. 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:18.720 There is one spirit, there is one body. 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:22.240 This is a basic unity that cannot be destroyed. 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:24.079 Nothing can destroy this. 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:28.000 He graciously ministers to and through every believer. 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:37.440 How many of you realize that the Spirit of God is one of the most contested parts of fact or truth within the body of Christ? 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:45.039 Many of you grew up in churches that said that you were not supposed to focus on the Holy Spirit. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:49.359 That the work of the Holy Spirit was finished with the apostles. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:57.119 What a shame that we can't all agree, at least upon the fact that the Spirit of God indwells us. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:01.440 He's the part of the Godhead that is still in the earth today, right? 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.680 The next is one hope. 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:06.640 All believers in Jesus share a common hope. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:08.000 And what is it? 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:24.720 It is that one day the same Jesus that ascended into heaven will split the clouds and will return again, this time, not as a baby in a manger, this time not as a crucified lamb on a cross. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:29.359 This time he will return as King of kings and Lord of Lords. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:42.240 And he will cause all of those who are believers in true believers in Jesus Christ to be reconciled to him, and he will rule and reign forever and ever and ever. 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.400 This is our hope. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:47.680 This is our hope. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.240 But how many of you know churches divide over how this is going to happen? 00:30:53.279 --> 00:31:05.759 Three and a half years of this, seven years of that, false prophets, false priests, abominations, antichrists, calendars, news, prophecies. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:10.160 Can we all just please agree on the fact that he's going to return? 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:13.279 Can we make that the main thing? 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.680 He's going to return to this planet. 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:19.599 And when he does, he's going to make all things new. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:23.200 That's what I know, and that's what I'm holding on to. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:33.519 Titus 3 says, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:36.880 Jesus Christ is coming soon. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:41.680 We go on to see that there's one Lord. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:50.160 Jesus Christ is still, and I know this isn't popular, but he is still the way, the truth, and the life. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:53.920 And no man comes to the Father except by Him. 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:57.519 He is ruler of all. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:32:00.079 He is the divine authority. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:04.559 And here's the reality: you and I did not make Jesus Lord. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:06.480 God made Jesus Lord. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.799 We can't change it. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:10.480 We can't take it back. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:13.279 He's the one who made him Lord. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:17.119 He's the sole head of his body, the church of Jesus Christ. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:20.400 And he deserves our undying allegiance. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:25.759 How many of you know in this world new gods are spawned every minute? 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:34.960 The gods of fame and fortune and entertainment and podcast, and I could go on and on and on. 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:38.400 Whatever gods this world wants to promote or provide. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:42.319 But how many of you know there's only one true Lord? 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.480 And his name is Jesus. 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:46.880 Next is one faith. 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:52.559 One faith, the faith that looks to Christ as the only means of salvation. 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:55.599 This is the faith that we can agree upon. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:58.079 This is the faith that we must walk in. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:00.160 It is by grace that we are saved. 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.960 What? 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.960 Through faith. 00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:11.359 It requires a personal commitment to Christ based on the fact that He is the Son of God and Savior of the world. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:12.880 Do you believe? 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.160 Amen. 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:17.119 Do those who you're discipling believe? 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:28.160 I don't even know if we took these seven principles and helped other other people that we're working with to understand these seven things, how great their foundation would be. 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:31.119 It's almost like God knew what he was doing. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.160 When he wrote this book. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.799 Yep. 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:35.920 One baptism. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.759 Now we could get into the weeds on this. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:40.160 There's three baptisms at least. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:42.640 Again, think eternal. 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:45.839 What is the baptism that counts for eternity? 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:53.680 It is the fact that the Holy Spirit causes us to be baptized into the body of Christ. 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:58.400 What a beautiful thing that God does in the work of the Spirit. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:02.319 Now, is water baptism essential if you're going to live on this planet? 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.359 Absolutely. 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:06.799 And we encourage it in huge ways. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:09.840 If you haven't yet been baptized, please let us know. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:19.519 We would love to set up the tank right up front on this new carpet and put you in that tank and let you acknowledge the fact that you are a believer in Jesus Christ. 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:26.239 We also know that the Holy Spirit has come to fill us and to give us every gift that comes from God. 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:28.639 And we don't want to downplay that as well. 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:34.639 But how many of you know when we see Jesus, when we're with them, we're going to know everything that we need to know? 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:40.719 And that particular work of the Spirit isn't going to be necessary any longer at that point. 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:45.760 But the fact that we are part of the body of Christ is eternal, forever. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:48.719 And we can look at this in 1 Corinthians 12, 13. 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:59.760 For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and were all made to drink of one spirit. 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.719 Amen. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:05.519 Next and last, one God and Father of all. 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:28.559 All true believers in Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile, American or Mexican, Russian or Ukrainian, all true believers, whether Republican or Democrat, have the same God and Heavenly Father. 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:34.559 True believers have the same God and Heavenly Father. 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:38.480 Aren't you glad that we have a father that's perfect? 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:49.119 All of us in this human world, in this human life, even though we many of us had good dads, but our dads were not able to be God. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:51.119 They were not able to be perfect. 00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:57.119 And even us in our fatherhood, and with our children, we've not been perfect. 00:35:57.440 --> 00:36:00.159 But our heavenly Father is perfect. 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:07.920 And it says of him that he is over all, he is the supreme sovereign of the universe. 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:12.719 It says that he is through all, he uses everything, including us. 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:18.000 Can you imagine that God would choose us to accomplish his purposes? 00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:19.360 He does. 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:21.760 He works through us. 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:24.159 And he is in all. 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:12.559 Kmart's no longer a thing. 00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:16.000 But you you guys remember the blue light specials, right? 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:18.239 Okay, anyway, certain crowd here. 00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:22.960