Christian Oneness

Eph. 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

In Sunday school this week, we were talking about Christian unity. The first three verses of Ephesians four explain how to have unity—being lowly, gentle, longsuffering, and loving—and in the next three verses Paul reminds us why we should have unity: because we ARE one, and God is one. 

Our "homework assignment" was to look up verses that back up each phrase of verses 4-6, and since I enjoyed the mini-study this turned into, I wanted to share it. I'll try not to add much commentary, lest this post should become unmanageable, but...no promises. I put some of the words in bold to highlight how they support the original phrase.

One body: This is a favorite idea of Paul's, so it was quite easy to think of many verses! I picked just a few:

Rom. 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

1 Cor. 12:12-13 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Cor 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

Col. 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

One Spirit: 

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Eph. 2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Phil. 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

One hope of our calling: 

For this one, I focused more on finding verses that explained what this "hope" of our calling is exactly. Our calling, of course, is become more like Christ and preach the gospel. But what are we "expecting and desiring to happen" that makes us follow this calling?

Tit. 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

Tit. 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Col. 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Eph. 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

One Lord:

Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!

1Cor. 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

1Cor. 12:5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

One faith:

2Cor. 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

Phil. 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Gal. 3:7-8 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”

Eph. 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

One baptism:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1Cor. 1:12-13 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Rom. 6:4-5 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

One God and Father of all:

Matt. 23:9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

1Cor. 8:4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

Gal. 3:20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

1Tim. 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

• who is above all: 
• 1 Chron. 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all.

• Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.

• Eph 1:20-22 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

• through all:
• Rom. 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

• and in you all:

• 2Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

• Col. 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

• 1Pet. 5:14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. ¶ Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

• 1John 4:13-15 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.