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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 2/9/03 Radio Program

Question:

Discuss Ephesians 4:5.

Answer:

Ephesians 4:5 says: "One Lord, one faith, one baptism". Please understand though, that Ephesians 4:5 has a context. This context is seen when we read the first 6 verses of Ephesians chapter 4.

"1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Here, Paul is encouraging these brethren to be united. In fact, verses 4-6 are often called the "platform of unity" wherein we read of seven "ones" which make up the foundation of unity. For instance,

One body = unity in relationship (The one body is the church, Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24) One spirit = unity in revelation (The Spirit revealed God's word to men, II Pet. 1:20-21)

One hope = unity in aim/purpose (We must all strive for the same goal, Phil. 3:13-14; I Pet. 1:3-4)

One Lord = unity in authority (Christ is our ruler/king, Matt. 7:21; I Tim. 6:15)

One faith = unity in doctrine (Here, "faith" has reference to the will/doctrine of God, Jude 3)

One baptism = unity in entrance requirements (If we are to be "in" the Lord's body, we must be baptized, Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16)

One God = unity in object of worship (To be united, we must be worshipping the God of Heaven, and none other, John 4:24)

Sometimes, people (mis)use Ephesians 4:5 in an effort to say that there is only one in the Godhead (Jesus only). Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, a casual reading of this text declares there is: "One Spirit" (v. 4), "One Lord" (v. 5), and "One Father" (v. 6). I am no mathematician, but I know that 1 + 1 + 1 = 3!

The unity called for in this text is also called for in such passages as I Corinthians 1:10, wherein Paul told those brethren, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." They (and we) are expected to speak the same thing, to be united (joined together), having one purpose and one goal. Our conduct ought to be in a way befitting the gospel (Phil. 1:27). In all things, those who are interested in serving God will strive for unity in Christ. Ephesians 4:5 is just one place where unity is described, and where Christians are encouraged to have it. When we are interested in building our lives on that "platform of unity" (Eph. 4:4-6), we will have it!

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