"Being Worthy in Our Unity"- Ephesians 4:1-6

Pastor Brian leads us through Ephesians 4:1-6.

Transcript

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Ephesians 4, verses 1 to 6. Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as also you were called in the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

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What a joy it is. Let's pray. Father, we thank you again for drawing us to worship in such a way. We realize that whenever your word is open, we are in worship. And so we ask you that you would lead and guide our time, that you would guard my mouth, that I would only speak and say that which you would have from your word, edifying, challenging, whatever it is, Father, that you would be leading and guiding, that by your spirit we would all be changed, that by your truth we would be impacted, that not one soul here would be able to walk away without encountering the risen Christ and in through the word and the joy of what you've given us. We pray all this in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Well, uh, again, I'm excited. We're we're back in the book of Ephesians. Um we had about a month or so in a few of the Psalms, and I pray that our short time in the Psalms was edifying to you as we saw the beauty of the Lord's comfort and the challenge that we all need to find our comfort and our solace in Him alone. He's the only place to go when times are challenging. Whether that's difficulties from without or from outside of us or difficulties within us. Whatever it is, whatever we may be facing, he is the one and only solace there is. I love this book. Here once again we find ourselves diving into a passage of scripture from this book that speaks of something awesome. It speaks of this, the beauty of this newly unified church of Jesus the Christ. It is so necessary for any Christian to be attached to the people of God. And it is shown in and through local churches, local families like ours here at Prairie Baptist. Now, if you can recall, from about a month or so ago, we see that Paul has been teaching, back when we were in Ephesians, uh, over the course of the last chapter, that there is one people of God. Just one. Jew and Gentile alike. There are not two brides of Jesus Christ who came and died on the cross. There is but one. And so in this, Paul prays more than once on their behalf, knowing it's not going to be easy for this new unified work to play itself out before a fallen and even hateful world, oftentimes. But Paul is overjoyed with this work that Christ has done, and so he's just eagerly teaching on its beauty and what it accomplishes. Well, for today, in light of this fact that there is a new work and a new people of God being formed in in light of the salvation, it's for all nations, we will see what our calling is in light of this united people of God. What do we do with that? So I said at the beginning of our study through the book of Ephesians that we're going to see in the first three chapters, the indicatives, or what that means, is what God has done. Now we shall begin to mostly see the imperatives or what we are to do in light of what God has done as we dive into chapter four. That's why it was a pretty good place to break to go to the Psalms for a bit. But now we're back and we're going to see, okay, here's who God is, here's what He's done. Now we're, what do we do? What do we do in light of that? And now, today, we begin to mostly see this theme of unity begin to play itself out. He's going to teach us what it looks like to function day by day and week by week as the people of God right here in Praise City. Help us in this. Before we look at these pieces of our text, I want us to do something. I want us to turn to Acts chapter 2 for just a few moments. I think this passage in Acts 2 helps set the stage for us in many ways today. While you're turning there, I'll say this. Early in the church, right after Pentecost, the church is just getting going. It's the inauguration of the church, and the Holy Spirit comes in a unique way to the apostles, like we don't see today, because that was a unique inauguration of the church. And in that we see probably the best, or I would say the most glorious depiction of what it looked like to be a part of the first century church as it gets going. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 38, we see that the people who are hearing Peter and the other apostles that are speaking in their own hometown native languages, we see all these people just cut to the heart. And they say, What do we do to be saved? And if we keep reading, we find in verse 41 it tells us 3,000 of them were added that day. Think about that. I think, if I can recall rightly, there's only somewhere around 7,000-ish people that live in our pretty good-sized county geographically. I think about 3,000 people in one day from one sermon time come to the faith. Amazing. It also tells us they were all soon after, baptized in the Lord, and then in verse 42 in Acts 2, it tells us what it looked like to be a part of this early church. It tells us what they did after they came to the faith by the sovereign and gracious calling of God. Verse 42, it says they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship and the breaking of bread and prayer. That's what they did. Isn't that wonderful? They met together and were all eager to receive the proclaim and taught word of God. They just couldn't wait. Remember I called the worship passage? I need your nourishment. I need to be satisfied. I feel parched. That's where they were until they received the word. They were devoted to this teaching, it says. They didn't just come here. They were devoted. Pins and needles. They're insatiably hungry to hear and accept the preaching and the teaching of the Word of God. And it says that they were also daily desiring to fellowship together and to break bread. You see what this is describing for us here? They love to gather together, to partake of the breaking of bread here is most definitely the Lord's Supper, is the main push there. They love to hear the word preached. They love to gather this fellowship around the word to study it. They love to pray together, it says, devoted to it, desiring it. Remember, this is right on the heels of them getting saved and being baptized. They just dive right in. This is describing for us what it looks like to gather as a church, isn't it? It's what we are to be about as a church on Sunday mornings when we gather. It's beautiful. More to be said on that one day. Moving on in Acts 2, verse 43 speaks of this special work of this newly inaugurated church and what happened in that time. Verses 44 and 45 speak of their countenances toward one another and even toward worldly things. And just giving freely. And then in verse 46 and 47, we see something absolutely wonderful. We see how incredibly dedicated they were to each other and to their Lord together. Day by day it says, day by day, continuing in one mind. Continuing in one mind. Philippians 2 says, one purpose in the same vein. One gospel mindset is the point. Setting aside all other things so as to promote the Lord's glory and his work. That's who they were. You know, in that time it even indicates this that they went from house to house. Every day, if you will, a different saint would open their home so they could break bread together and worship. And they did with this with gladness and sincerity of heart. They praise God together, and the Lord is blessing them with more and more people who would come to repent and believe. It is just wonderful. During the Reformation, when people recaptured the Word of God, for what it said, as it had literally been under chains before that, they would gather every single morning for sermons. At four. Just so excited for the Word. Now, why do I go into all that? Why do I spend so much time in Acts 2 when I'm preaching through Ephesians 4? Because I think it helps us set the stage for what Paul's teaching on here in Ephesians. To go back and search the biblical account to see what Paul is saying here in chapter 4, it gives us the beautiful display of God's glory in and through the church. People who are just devoted to the Lord's word. People who are captivated by his grace and the community of the saints. People who are just so overwhelmed by their salvation that it causes them to want nothing more than to just be around like-minded people who are also overwhelmed by God's grace day by day. That's the point. It's not about, you know, okay, well, the reformers did it, so we better be together every Monday morning, every Tuesday morning, you know, at 4 a.m. That's not the point. The point is who are we and what do we do? Are we devoted to God together and are we devoted to each other? That's where Paul's going. That's what he's attempting to teach them here. And he wants to show them how it's done. He's already told them, remember, he's already told them, you're now one united people, which threw them for a loop. He's already made mention of living this way in his prayers. Well, now he's going to explain to them, and of course, us here today, what this looks like daily in the church. As we saw in the example in Ephesians 2. So let's look at those points that you have in your bulletin. Let's look at the first one: how do we live this Christian life together? What does it look like to walk in a manner worthy in light of our calling? As we study this, I think it's important for us, as he says that in verse 1 there in Ephesians 4, back in Ephesians 4.1, in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. What is that? What's the calling? Well, flip back a page or two to Ephesians 1. It's really helpful to understand, and therefore we can connect what Paul is basically reminding them of in the first verse here today. In verse 1, chapter 1, here in Ephesians, Paul speaks of his apostleship that is accomplished by the will of God, giving his authority to write. Verse 4, in chapter 1, Paul says, Those who are in Christ have been chosen for this, and this is amazing. We talked about this from before the foundations of the world. But before the world was created, God chose him. God chose his people. It's amazing. Verse 5 says, it goes on from there, God predestined us to this wonderful inheritance we get. Verse 7 reminds us that it is in him that we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. It's his work, it's his grace. He's done it. Verse 9, he makes the knowledge of this mystery known to us according to his purposes. Are you getting the calling here? Verse 13 says, those who have been Christ have been sealed with him in the Holy Spirit. He's done it all. Chapter 2, first 10 verses, first nine verses says that in spite of all we have been, is what he says is dead, dead sinners. In spite of all that, Christ decided to make us alive together with him by his grace. And on and on and on, the beautiful working of God goes toward his people. It's amazing. What a calling. So that's the calling that Paul is speaking of here. That's the calling. So he says, I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling which you have been called. So in light of that, therefore, lest we take that for granted, and I would say even abuse his gracious calling on our lives, we have got to heed what Paul says in regards to how we are to act as a church who has been called by a sovereign grace. You see, the Bible is absolutely full of, I mean, just chock full of passages that speak of what it looks like to walk in a worthy manner in light of our calling. It's not just that Paul says this here, and we're like, okay, let's talk about that. This is a theme in the Bible. The Christian is called to walk with the Lord and not the world. Huge difference, you know. Let's look at just a few. Book of Galatians. I'm just going to kind of rapid fire, so unless you're super fast, I don't know. We'll see. But uh you can flip there. Galatians 2.20. We see maybe the most famous passage that teaches us the need for walking in a manner worthy of our calling. Paul teaches us we're no longer our own. You know that? If you're in Christ, it's not about you. You're no longer your own, in fact. You're Christ. And if we're in Christ, then it's Him living in us. He rules us. Praise God. Whatever we do, whatever we say, think, act upon, or not, it is to be done according to His word and will. I am now Christ. Praise God, I'm no longer on my own. Therefore, the calling is to walk in a manner worthy of that gracious gift and calling. Philippians 1.20. For me to live as Christ, and to die is gain. Oh, to die is gain. Pretty clear statement on what it looks to live as a Christian in light of our calling by his grace. If you still have breath, if you're breathing right now, which I hope you all are, if we're still alive, then Christ. That's the thrust of the Greek. To live, Christ. There's no is there. Just to live, it's just Christ. No questions, no hesitations, no other possible way for the Christian. To live is Christ. And oh, to die, what gain. Colossians 2, 6 and 7, therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus as the Lord, so walk in him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed and overflowing with gratitude. Remember, these aren't suggestions. 1 Thessalonians 2.12, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 1 Peter 1.16, taken straight from the book of Leviticus in the Old Testament, states this for us. It says, Because it is written, again, Leviticus, you shall be holy, for I am holy. That's easy, right? Not at all. Only God in us. Walk in a manner worthy of the calling, dear saint of the Lord. Don't let this pass us by. It's not a suggestion from Paul. He's not encouraging us. He's not giving us seven principles to be better by Friday. You know, it'd be great if you lived it out. You don't have to, but it's good. No, it's by the authority of the Lord of hosts. Paul is saying, I command you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling of the Lord on your life. And this is especially true in regards to the church itself together. That's why he just goes on into the unity of the church right after that. Let me just read one more just to help set the table a little bit in Revelation 3.22, just to make sure we're tracking with Paul. Even though Jesus in Revelation 3 is speaking to the churches there, the principle still remains, since this is the Lord's word. Jesus says there something he says often, he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says of the churches. If you right now have the ability to hear, if you right now have the ability to learn, to understand, then hear and do what the Spirit of the Lord teaches us, namely what is found in his word. And Paul says, walk in a manner worthy of your calling. And do it together. Do it together. Hear and do the word. Given that we're commanded like this to walk worthily. What does that mean? What does that look like? How do we do this? Second point. Second point, what does it look like to walk worthy before the Lord together? We're gonna see a bunch in verses two and three here. Let's take each one of these characteristics one by one as we study today. I think it's so helpful. Kind of like fruits of the Spirit here. Look again at verse 2 with me. What's the first word he says there? With all humility. Humility. It doesn't say a little bit. It doesn't say each one of you have some. It says all. All humility. Well we find, I think, in the church, and I think this is something that you would probably give a hearty amen to, is humility is really the beauty and the glue of the church. Humility is essential. I'll say a church can't be a church if it's a bunch of prideful people. And a pattern. Now we all stumble into pride, right? So what's a humble Christian? Simply, a humble Christian is somebody who thinks of Christ and others above themselves. He or she yields all of themselves to the lordship of Christ, desiring that their life would ascribe glory to God and at the same time care more for the good of others than themselves. They are the people who are so overwhelmed by the grace of God in Christ, they've been captured and captivated by the gospel message, and their lives are lived in accordance to that new work, a new heart. As Philippians 2 states, it is truly to regard others as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2, verse 3, second part. Regard others, count others in the church as more worthy than you are. Doesn't say wait till they're more important. Doesn't say live this out in that one area when they're worthy of it or when they're deemed respectable. Then see them as more important. No, no, no. It says, regard in that passage in Philippians 2, regard one another as more important than yourselves, no qualifier. Regard them as worthy no matter who they are. You don't see yourself as worthy. You instead see that you are dead to selfishness, dead to self, alive to Christ. Therefore, you see others worthy, even if they're not by God's standards. Just like how Christ sees us. We can never look at each other and wait for the other to be worthy in our own eyes, because it won't happen. We look to the Father's proclamation over each other through Christ, and we say with great and gifted humility of heart, how can I love and serve them more? That's humility. Because the gospel says that the person next to you, if they're in Christ, it says they've been declared righteous. They're saints. They're gonna sin. I have many sins and issues. We may disagree on some secondary things, but oh, do I love them? I get to spend an eternity with them, not have to, get to. So I'm gonna live right now for their best interests in our unity. And so as we interact with one another in the Church, we've got to be able to treat one another as though each other is the utmost important in our lives. The humility of the church needs to be an example for the world to see. Our humility will speak volumes to each other and the world at large because when that happens, is that what happens when this takes place? When we live in humility, is the people around us, especially in the church, we become a people that love to serve. And people take notice of that. They take notice because the world says, I'm gonna live next to you as long as I can get what I want from you. The church says, How do I serve you? And we're just showing the world. And so this is a shift in thinking and living humbly. That's a big difference in worldly living and godly living. And the result is that we're then actually just doing what we're told and living out the second greatest commandment. Loving one another as ourselves as Christ has loved us. Humility. Maybe you're here this morning and you're not a Christian, and you're asking yourself, yeah, why is it that Christians live this way? It's weird. Why would I want to do all that stuff? Why would I waste my life by humbly submitting to and serving one another? That is not what I grew up hearing. Why do Christians feel the need to serve so often? Why is it they just can't help to, or can't seem to help themselves from living this way? Well, the answer is not something in us on ourselves, it is the gospel. That's the answer. You see, when a Christian genuinely reflects on the beauty and majesty of their God, when a Christian reflects on who they've been in their own depravity, when a Christian looks at the great Redeemer and what he has done, when they reflect on how Christ has regarded them as more important than himself and his own life as God, when they think of the fact that Christ owed us nothing, I mean nothing, and yet he gives us everything. When we reflect on that, there's only one response. Humility. No matter what somebody else does, whether those in the church deserve it or not, it doesn't matter. It didn't matter to Christ when he suffered and died for me. So why would I withhold? Why would I withhold serving others with kindness and respect out of humility that God grants? That's why the life of the Christian has to look so much different from the one of the world and its goals and aspirations. If you're here this morning and you are a Christian, maybe you're in that spot in life. I've been there. Maybe you're in that spot in life where you're just having a really hard time acting in humility in the church. And with certain people, maybe counting them as more important than yourself. Then I just want us to remember what Christ did for us. Remember that he counted and regarded you as worth it. Remember that his humility allows for your salvation. That is a great preventative against pride, isn't it? Oh, the joy of humility. Beg for it. You can't conjure it up on your own. You need God to give it. Next, Paul tells us to be gentle. Some translations may say meek. Gentle toward one another. I want you to note that these two character traits, Paul is intentionally and inseparably linking them together: humility and gentleness. Humble and gentle. Now, here's the thing that's interesting, okay? At this time, humility and gentleness are not character traits that are looked very highly upon. Especially for men in that day, a couple thousand years ago. Because there's been this heavy, heavy influence of the Greek world, the ancient Greek world, Stoics and others. In fact, here's what's interesting: the Romans nor the Greeks even had a word for humility. And they pretty much would have never applied the word gentle to a man. Ever. Their world was further, but somewhat similar to our culture not all that long ago. Where we have this idea of rugged individualism, especially for men. Being humble and gentle is for the weak and soft. Wild West taught us that, right? And again, I'm speaking stereotypically, generally. Being humble and gentle will get you killed. Or maybe it'll stop you from being so prosperous, as the theme goes. Now, while there is something to be said about a man being a man and a woman being a woman, there's plenty of room in the Christian life for both humility and gentleness for both. Women typically have an easier time of being gentle, generally speaking. But humility, I think, is tough for all of us. But I want to encourage for the men in here, please understand that being humble and gentle as you hold tightly to your God-given manhood just means that you're strong enough in him to be able to control that strength. That's true humility and especially gentleness for the man of God. Being able to harness the strength and the power of the provider-protector instinct that God has given you. Being able to do that in such a way that you become humble and gentle. That's great godliness. I love what Calvin, when commenting on this verse, he says, it is essential that fierceness, and he's characterizing that in a good way, fierceness must be subdued so that mildness can be acquired. If it's all fierceness, what do you get? You don't want to go that road. And if it's all mildness, what do you get? It's both. Again, Calvin goes on to say that humility leads to gentleness and meekness or meekness which disposes us, this is what he says, it disposes us to bear with our brethren and thus to preserve the unity which would otherwise be broken a hundred times in a day if we weren't gentle. Gentleness, of course, is a fruit of the spirit-filled Christian. It's a trait that shows humility of heart, and it resides deeply in the person who has been truly affected by the gospel. Gentleness is the opposite of wrathful anger from pride. It is that which is instead calm. It's a calm and steadfast resolution to live out the truth no matter what. It's not a passive or weak soft-handedness. It is instead strength and resolve that wins people to their cause, namely the gospel. It trusts in the Lord and trusts in his vengeance, not their own. It doesn't seek to get its way and assert influence for personal or preferential gain. Being gentle, therefore, wins hearts, evil hearts. And just as the gospel itself does, gentleness melts the hardened heart and then helps to fashion and shape it into Christ's likeness. And this doesn't mean that the gentle man doesn't stand firm for the truth and even show forth righteous anger when appropriate. This doesn't mean that the gentlewoman doesn't stand up and fight for righteousness when needed. But it does mean they do it with a resolute countenance that refuses to stir up dissension unnecessarily. But rather stirs up right thinking and right living with conviction. Again, I love what Calvin once famously said. He says, a dog barks when his master is attacked. I'd be a coward if God's truth is attacked, and yet I would remain silent. So goes the humble and gentle Christian who stands resolute for the truth. The problem comes when the Christian is bullying for their gain, angry for their way, or easily agitated for something that is not, thus saith the Lord. That is not the gentle and humble Christian. So humility and gentleness are huge for the unity of the church. Next, Paul speaks of something that may be the most trying in our day and age. Whoo, patience. How are we doing? I've been told to never pray for it. Maybe a nugget of wisdom, depending. But this is a very difficult thing for us in our have it now and get it fast culture, isn't it? I mean, we get frustrated. No, maybe I'm just speaking for myself here. When we're in a hurry and we go to the fast food restaurant, uh, we don't really have those anymore here, but we go to the fast food restaurant and we get parked. And we've got to wait a few extra minutes. We get angry when it takes a couple weeks longer to close on our home purchase. We demand the people around us do what we like and especially when we like it done, right? You ever found yourself in that position? We live in a culture of now. And if it doesn't take place, we become unable to cope without responding in unchristian ways. Do you remember that old timey saying, patience is a virtue? That's not just an old-fashioned way of thinking, it's biblical. So if we're going to be a united people of God, walking in a manner worthy of our calling, as Paul talks about, we've got to be patient with one another as God is patient with us. Can you imagine if God wasn't patient with us? Whew. Now that doesn't mean that we just simply tolerate somebody's sin. No, we are called to lovingly, gently come alongside of one another and call them to repentance. But that we would patiently endure differences and even slow growth. It's according to the Lord's table. Think of God's great patience in this when observing man before the flood. When you're having a tough time being patient with somebody else in the church, think of God's patience toward us. Think of God's great patience when watching his people reject him time and time again all throughout the Old Testament. Long suffering is a word that comes to mind. Think of God's great patience with Jonah. You ever been like Jonah before? Think of God's great patience with Elijah, who runs, or David, who sins grievously, or Abraham, who lets his wife go, or Moses, or all the saints of the old. Think of it with Saul or Paul, the author of this letter. What did his life used to look like? Think of it with Peter and his rejection. Think of it with me. Think of it with you. And so we are to be Christ-like in our patient endurance for one another for the purpose of walking in a manner worthy of our calling in unity. Next, Paul tells us to have loving tolerance with one another or bearing with one another, forbearance. You ever seen those bumper stickers that either say something like coexist or tolerance and they have the symbols of the religions of the world on them? First of all, it is complete nonsense because somebody's gotta be right. I know we live in a postmodern world that says all people can be right all at the same time, which actually becomes a definition of insanity. But also, if you speak with the people who have those stickers, they will eventually tell you, I've done this multiple times. They will tell you their mindset really is as long as you believe the way I do, then I'll be tolerant. That's the world. That's normal. That's not what Paul's saying here. To show tolerance or forbearance here is speaking of loving one another in such a way that we refuse to cease striving in that love for one another. In fact, it's way more than just being tolerant of one another in the way we think of it today. Like walking to the church, oh, it's you. Okay. It's instead the idea of seeking to promote each other so as to assist each other in our walk with Christ. Big difference. It is to prod each other in grace and seek the best for the person next to you. To overlook their idiosyncrasies and quirks and to love them beyond anything in this life. Tolerance in the world is really just selfishness under a mask. Their idea of loving tolerance is a contradiction in terms because they can't even love without Christ in them. So it's up to us, isn't it? It's up to us to show the world what loving forbearance looks like as preferences are set aside so as to promote the good of the church and the glory of Christ. And when this is done, when we walk in humility, when we're gentle with each other, when we are patient in speech and in action, when we really truly love one another, we are doing what Paul says in verse 3. We are then actually working hard. Blood, sweat, and tears, to preserve the unity of the Holy Spirit and the bond of peace. That statement should be stamped on every church constitution. It's right here in the Word, of course. Every business meeting, every interaction. We should be seeking to preserve the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. Notice it doesn't say get unity. It doesn't say go figure out how to have unity. It says it's already there if you're in Christ. Your job is to preserve it. Our job is to preserve it. We are to be urgent peacemakers in the strength of the Spirit. We must labor with all blood, sweat, and tears, whatever may come, to make sure to ensure that the unity of the Spirit is constant in the church. We've got to be a peaceful people. Whether that means that you or I need to overlook an offense, whether that means that we need to set aside preferences and traditions, whether that means we just are always continually putting others first, or whether that means that we conduct church discipline as needed for the unrepentant sinner. That's seeking peace with God. And therefore each other. The Prince of Peace down to us. And so we've got to fight. It's kind of a weird statement to say we've got to fight for peace. But that's what we do. We fight and fight hard to keep unity and peace in the church. And what this means is that tongues are bridled. Hearts are softened by the gospel daily. Our actions are filtered, our words are filtered through the screen of God's word. Not that we don't lovingly challenge one another. No, we gotta do that. We do that because we love each other. But it does mean we do it according to thus saith the Lord. And we do all of this, all of this under the umbrella of what we see in the third point here. Where does our unity come from? What's a great example? Paul says there, there's one body, one church in verse 4, as he's already spoken of. He says, there's one spirit, one Holy Spirit is what he means, one hope, one calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father who is over all and in all and through all. So what's the umbrella? Where do we see perfect unity? Where's the great and perfect example for us? It's God. Our triune God. Looking into those verses, verses four to six. Verse four, there is but one body. What he means, one church through the Spirit. It's by the power of the Spirit that there is one church. Yes, it is daily and weekly manifested in the context of local churches like ours, but we're all in the same spirit. It's the spirit that regenerates the people of God unto the church. That's why we're a family here. There's one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. See, the Son Jesus Christ provides the one and only hope that there is for humanity. Through his perfect life, his perfect death, and his perfect resurrection, there is now one hope for this one church. True and lasting hope through Christ. That's the thrust of the gospel to those who repent and believe. And he and he alone has accomplished all this. There's but one Lord of heaven and earth, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ. There's one faith. There's not many. All those aforementioned bumper stickers, all of the symbols on those, other than the cross, they all lead down the same road, and it's straight to hell. Christ and Christ alone leads to heaven. There is but one faith. One baptism, even, into the same God. This reminds me again, I've mentioned the Reformation just for a minute, but it reminds me of a statement that came out, if you will, of the Reformation that pushed back against Roman Catholic heresies. The statement is now a distinctive from many churches as it was hundreds of years ago. What I'm speaking of is the five solas. Without going into them in great detail, we've done that before, but to say that the reformers and the Puritans said that there are five only's. Five solas, five only's. And that is Scripture alone. That's how we know anything about God. Christ alone, the one Savior, grace alone, his grace alone, faith alone that he gives, and it's all to the glory of God alone. It's not about us. So that's the thrust of the Reformation. We'll talk about that more. But that's what Paul is really speaking of here in regards to Christ and his brides. There's just one. There's just one. Then look at verse 6. It says, one God and Father of all. Now, as we've been looking at, as Paul has prayed for them, as we've seen in the unity of the church, all is under the headship of the one Father in heaven. One Father who's over all things, who's in all things, and through all things. Praise God. Whether we like it or not, you and I, we all have the same Father. Now we're going to look different and act different in all kinds of ways, but we have the same Father. We even have the same Savior and the same Spirit uniting us together. We're a family. And this is all under the perfect relationship found in our triune God. You see, what I'm getting at is in the triune relationship, in the Godhead, we find perfect humility, don't we? Perfect meekness or gentleness, perfect patience, perfect love, perfect unity and harmony, perfect peace. And so in all of our relationships, we are to seek to emulate the Father, Son, and the Spirit in the Godhead and how they treat one another. They seek to glorify and honor each other. As the plan of salvation unfolded in eternity past is the greatest thing that could ever happen, not because humans even before the fall were so wonderful, but through what was to happen in redemptive history, God's going to be glorified. And so, as Jesus is readying himself to condescend, to come to the earth, he did it with perfect humility, didn't he? He did it with perfect patience and love and harmony of mind with his Father. Why? Because what Jesus was about to go accomplish would bring immense glory to God. And that's true in perfect love and unity. That's thinking outside of yourself. That's why Paul mentions these things here. He wants us to emulate what we see in our triune God. One God, yet three persons, equal in power, importance, and divine qualities, yet unique in role and responsibility. One God in three persons seeking to glorify each other. And so it's on that truth that our demanded unity rests. That's the call. That's the importance. That's the command. That's the imperative for us here today. And so I just want to say to you again: walk worthily, brothers and sisters. Walk humbly. Walk gently. Walk patiently. Walk forbearingly. Walk diligently. Walk wholly in light of your holy triangle. Because if you do, you will be a blessing to your church and a faithful servant of the Most High God. One final thing I want to mention this morning. What we do and who we are now as a church, Prairie Baptist Church. We're a family now. Sure, we may have extended family members out there, but we're the family, we're the in-house family. All that we do right now, and especially in how we treat each other in our unity, it's all prep for heaven. It's heaven prep. Our fellowship now is a fellowship within the Triune God, and it is a picture or a foreshadowing of what is to come for eternity. And this is also true of our fellowship together as saints in the Lord. Our interactions, our sacrifices, our commonalities, our time spent together, it's all heaven prep. This isn't what it's about. We're just getting ready for heaven. I mean, yeah, it may be tainted now with sin and death. But it's still there as we strive for one another's good with one another in mind each day. But as that day dawns and Christ decides to take us home, this is what we're preparing for: perfect relationship in heaven. Perfect humility, righteousness, patience, love, joy with each other. Why? Because we will forever be in the presence of the embodiment of all of these things as we gaze upon his glory together. You will never be lonely in heaven. Because you will always be with your family looking to Christ with all of your heavenly tuned senses aimed at adoring heaven's son. What a joy we get to look forward to. So let's practice this, huh? Let's practice this joyful communal living now as we await its perfect fulfillment then. Be worthy of your calling as you walk, as you serve, and as you worship together in unity. It is the most joyful and rewarding life you will ever live. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for our salvation. We thank you for the grace of our King and Savior Christ. And we also thank you that you so chose to plant us in a family. You didn't save us and leave us and tell us to figure it out, nor are we alone. We have one another. Oh, you're so gracious, so merciful. I thank you for this church. I thank you for Prairie Baptist Church and the joy that we get to live out day by day as brothers and sisters in light of your grace, in light of the gift of life that you've given us. Eternal life, eternal hope. Let us practice with joy these things now. We pray in Christ's name. Amen.