Our Common Faith

Ephesians 4:1-6

“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.”

What is it that all true children of God have in common?

1.) We have in common the calling of God unto salvation, v. 1: The Word of God is clear. Our LORD Jesus Christ declared in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The LORD Jesus is the Way to God the Father, not only by the Father’s decree, but by His righteous life and obedience unto death on behalf of those that Father has given Him from eternity. He is the Truth in that, by His faithful work in accomplishing the salvation of His people, He has finished the work to the honor and glory of His Father, and therefore He is trustworthy, and His work trustworthy. He is also the Life of God Himself. He grants Life to those for whom He lived that perfect life and died in their place. They are born into the world Spiritually dead, being sons of Adam and under the condemnation of death, and yet, when the LORD Jesus died and rose again, it was for those sinners that the Father gave Him from eternity, therefore, His resurrection is their resurrection, and His Spirit, granted them in time to bring them to Christ as their Life. This Life given to His chosen and redeemed ones is that irresistible call of them to Christ. Therefore, Paul exhorts all such to walk in a manner worthy of that calling. How?

2.) We have in common the same Grace that humbles us as sinners before the LORD Jesus, and one another, v. 2: It is for this reason that we walk in humility and lowliness of mind before God and with others who are the LORD’s redeemed ones. This humility is the fruit of Christ’s work for us and in us by His Spirit, keeping us low at His feet, and before one another.

3.) We have the same God (Father, Son and Spirit) by Whom we are reconciled to Him and with one another,vv. 3-4: The unity of which scriptures speak, the peace with God and one another is the fruit of the work of the LORD Jesus Christ, in making full satisfaction before God the Father. He reconciled each one of those sinners eternally chosen by Him, by the blood and righteousness of Christ. When the Spirit draws each one of the redeemed ones to HIM, he causes their eyes to look to their LORD and Savior and not at one another. To keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is to look to Christ alone and to be forbearing with one another in the love of God, knowing we are objects of God’s Grace alone.

The entire Godhead is the Fountain and Source of our salvation. The Spirit (v. 4) brings each one chosen of the Father and redeemed and justified by the Son into One Body. Christ is made to be their Only Hope. The LORD Jesus (v. 5) is the Sole Object of Faith. The one baptism is that of His death whereby He paid the sin debt of God’s children, once for all. It was in that ‘baptism of fire’ that they were redeemed, justified, and sanctified once for all, Hebrews 10:14. God the Father receives them as One and receives all the glory because of the LORD Jesus and His work accomplished on their behalf. All the glory is due unto Him Who is above all, through all, and in each of His children by His Spirit of Grace.