We Are One In Christ - August 9th

Ephesians: United in Christ

Message Notes from Pastor Ewings on his sermon based on Ephesians 4:1-7

Over the past three weeks as we’ve looked at the Book of Ephesians, we’ve sought out some elusive qualities together.  In the first sermon on the Book, God spoke to us about how He chose us in Christ before the creation of the world—He predestined us—by grace to be a part of His family.  Two weeks ago we heard how He gives one of the greatest gifts to the Church in Christ: peace, which not only comes to us through Christ but truly is Christ.  Last week our God spoke to us about another immense gift that is ours in Christ: love that is so big we cannot calculate its breadth, measure its length, surmise its height or sound its depth; love that is big enough for you.  Our God has given us His grace, His peace and His love in Christ.

Today our God wants to continue pouring out His blessings upon us and, in like fashion, He gives us something so elusive that we can rightly say it can only come from Heaven.  While politicians promise it, generals demand it and marketing firms crave it, it’s simply too rare to exist among a people as diverse as we are.  Today, the Lord graciously gives us unity and all the many blessings that come with it. 

We live in an age which values diversity and welcomes differences.  Like many, we may embrace the mindset which “agrees to disagree.”  This text, however, is a reminder of the true unity we posses in Christ through the Holy Spirit.  It is a oneness that He produces by means of the teachings of God’s Word.  Christians in doctrinal unity express this fellowship and lean on this strength. 

The Church of God is united, yet it is still diverse.  While God has given grace to each one of us in the very same measure, we are not free to choose which consequences of the Gospel we would like for our lives.  As a part of the Church of Christ, we can expect that God will use each of us individually and all of us corporately to achieve His purpose. In this, we are united; we are one in Christ. 

First Lesson:  Exodus 24:3-11

Second Lesson:  Ephesians 4:1-7

Gospel:  John 6:1-15