One In Seven, And Seven In One

Ephesians 4:1-16

This passage is about unity, and especially the unity of the One Body of Christ. It has been suggested that it represented at least an outline of an early “statement of faith”, organized under seven headings (vv 4-6):

  1. One body
  2. One Spirit
  3. One hope
  4. One Lord
  5. One faith
  6. One baptism
  7. One God and Father

The passage is presented below, from the New International Version. This presentation is intended to highlight certain features of the passage, e.g., how the whole passage (vv 1-16) revolves around, and explains and amplifies, the seven-fold “unity” of the One Faith (vv 4-6). These seven “unities” provide the ‘first principles’ which define the members of that Body, or — to put it another way — the foundation upon which the One Body of Christ, like a tabernacle or temple, is constructed.

Taking note of the highlighting, as we read and reread the passage, helps us to keep in mind how intricately connected the Word of God is. We learn how helpful it can be, as we read the Bible, to think of context, and to seek out the threads holding together words and ideas. If the Bible is the Word of God, which alone gives life, then it deserves every bit of careful attention we can muster:

  • Verses 4-6 give the briefer outline of the seven unities. These verses are shown below in all capitals, with the key word or words in each item shown also in italics, bold, and numbered 1-7 — e.g., ONE BODY (#1).
  • In the rest of the text (vv 1-3 and 7-16), the parenthetical numbers (#s 1-7) link the preceding word or words to the relevant number of the seven “unities” in verses 4-6. For example, in verse 1: Lord (#4) points out that “the Lord” is a verbal link to #4 of the seven “unities” (“one Lord”, in verse 5).
  • Throughout the text, the asterisks (*) highlight phrases that emphasize the oneness or unity itself, e.g., “bond” (v 3), “fill (finish or complete) all things” (v 10), and “joined” and “held together” (v 16).

Paul seems to give the passage two separate titles; they are found within the text itself. They are also shown in all capitals, italics, and bold: THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT (v 3), and UNITY IN THE FAITH (v 13).

  1. As a prisoner for the LORD (#4), then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the CALLING (#3) you have received.
  2. Be COMPLETELY (in all, altogether) (#7) humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
  3. Make every effort to keep THE UNITY* OF THE SPIRIT (#2) through the bond* of peace.
  4. THERE IS ONE* BODY ~#1) AND ONE* SPIRIT (#2) — JUST AS YOU WERE CALLED TO ONE* HOPE WHEN YOU WERE CALLED (#3) ­
  5. ONE* LORD (#4), ONE* FAITH (#5), ONE* BAPTISM (#6);
  6. ONE* GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS OVER ALL AND THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL (#7).
  7. But to each one of us GRACE (#2) has been given as CHRIST (#4) apportioned it.
  8. This is why GOD (#7) says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and GAVE GIFTS (#2) to men” [Psa 68:18].
  9. (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the depths of the earth?
  10. He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to FILL* [finish, complete] all things.) (#7)
  11. It was he who GAVE (#2) some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
  12. to prepare GOD’S (#7) people for works of service, so that the BODY (#1) of CHRIST (4) may be built* up
  13. until we all (#7) reach UNITY* IN THE FAITH (#5) and in the knowledge of the SON OF GOD (#s 4,7) and become mature* (complete, perfect), attaining to the whole measure of the FULLNESS (#7) of CHRIST (#4).
  14. Then we will no longer be INFANTS (#7), tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
  15. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in ALL THINGS (#7) grow up into him who is the HEAD (#4), that is, CHRIST (#4).
  16. From him the whole BODY (#1), joined* and held together* by every supporting ligament, grows and builds* itself up in love, as each part does its work.

We shall now consider certain features of the seven “unities” of verses 4-6. We begin by taking, together, the first two.

The One Body (#1) and the One Spirit (#2)

Notice the word “bond” in verse 3; this means, literally, joint (or ligament: cp v 16). Two concepts exist here, side by side:

  1. First of all, a body (like the One Body of Christ: 1Cor 12, etc.), held together by joints and ligaments and muscles, receiving oxygen and food by the intricate working together of its various parts, and receiving outside stimuli from eyes, ears, nose, etc. — in short, every part joined together and working together for the good of the whole. Also, in Ephesians 4:13,14, the “body” of believers is spoken of as “growing up”, i.e., from the “infant” stage to a maturity of stature and judgment and strength.
  2. Then there is a building (cp Eph 2:11-22), also held together by “joints”: Jews and Gentiles “joined together” or “framed together” (2:21) as a “temple” in which God will dwell. This concept is revisited here in Ephesians 4: notice the “building up” in verses 12,16. A building has a lot in common with a human body. It has an outer frame which holds the structure together, gives it unity, and protects vital elements inside. As one example of this simile, Ecclesiastes 12 describes a human body as it ages, and compares it to a house deteriorating.

Notice also, in the outline, that “body” comes first (the One Body being the first of the seven unities), and that “one body” is immediately followed by “one Spirit”. What does this remind us of?

“The LORD God formed the man [Adam] from the dust of the ground [adamah] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Gen 2:7).

The first Adam was made of dust, and that’s what he would have remained: a lifeless body if the LORD had not breathed into him the spirit, or breath, of life! This is a picture of the giving of life, and a prophetic picture of the resurrection of the dead.

For us, right now, it is also a picture of a spiritual renewal of life. A person, or even a collection of people, is nothing more than a “body”, without spiritual life, until and unless the Spirit of God is breathed upon (and into) them. The Body is dead without the Spirit! What does this mean? Does it mean, as others might say, that we must have the Holy Spirit “gifts” before we are truly alive in Christ? Of course not. But it does mean that we must have God’s Spirit before we can live spiritually. And that’s a key thought in this section of Ephesians 4.

In another New Testament letter it is written: “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works (or deeds, or actions) is dead” (James 2:26).

James says that we are not saved by faith alone. Our “actions” must work together with “faith” to make the “faith” complete (James 2:22). A primary example in James 2 is Abraham: he believes and then God considers, or reckons, him to be righteous because of his faith in what God has promised. But even Abraham was called upon to do certain things: he had to leave his nation and family, and follow God’s leading to a strange land. And he had to be prepared even to offer his own special son when God requested it. So: “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (v 24).

This explains what is happening here in Ephesians 4. The “one body” means nothing as a ideal all by itself. It is given unity, and purpose, when the parts of the One Body, its various members, join together and work together to “build up” one another as the body (or the Temple) of God’s Son.

Thus, in the first century, the “unity” of the Body was achieved by God’s Spirit working among the believers. How did this actually work?

  • God’s Spirit, through Christ, was the means of conferring “grace” (signifying a “gift”) upon believers (v 7).
  • The “gifts” were given (v 11), including the power and ability to be apostles, prophets, preachers, counselors and/or teachers.
  • By this means, God’s people would be “prepared” for “works of service” (v 12).
  • The only purpose of such service was to “build up” the whole body of Christ, in all its fullness (vv 12,13).

Now that sounds like the Holy Spirit gifts were really required before the Body could be brought together. And in some sense, they were required in the beginning. The Holy Spirit oversaw the writing and the preserving of the Bible itself, and demonstrated that it was a divine production. That was essential at the beginning.

But what about us? We plainly don’t have the Holy Spirit gifts among us in the same way today. However, we do have the results of the Holy Spirit, in what those gifts produced. We have the Bible, able to make us wise unto salvation, and able to encourage us by its teachings, stories, and personal examples, so that we may live lives of faith today. This is something never to be disparaged.

More than that: Even the Holy Spirit gifts, by themselves, did not guarantee that the Body of Christ would automatically grow and develop and produce fruit to God’s glory. It required faith and commitment and sacrifice by individuals, as well as the “gifts” themselves, in order for the Body to grow.

So that’s the point today: we don’t have Holy Spirit gifts of preaching and healing and prophesying. But we still have the Bible today, the most important result of those first-century “gifts”. In addition, we do have — all of us have! — other “gifts”, talents, abilities, interests and inclinations. These we may voluntarily use to serve God, and to build up the Body of Christ, the Temple of God. The question is: Do we have the faith and desire to put them to use?

The exhortation of verses 7-13 is that we achieve all the unities, and we build up the One Body, by identifying the gifts we each have, and by putting them to use. We might well ask, ‘What gifts do I have?’ Let’s think for a moment, shall we? Every one of us has at least some of the abilities to be:

  • Bible students, speakers, counselors, and Sunday school teachers;
  • Gospel preachers, writers, and organizers;
  • Accountants, musicians, singers and artists;
  • Cooks, builders, maintenance people, maids, and janitors;
  • Kitchen workers, sound recording engineers, and secretaries;
  • Chauffeurs, listeners, caregivers, friends, visitors, hosts and hostesses;
  • Contributors of money and other material resources; and
  • Messengers and letter writers.

The list goes on and on.

Like the various parts of the human body, the parts of the Body of Christ can each play a role in helping the whole Body. That’s the object.

That’s why we start with the One Body (#1 in the text above), and then go immediately to One Spirit (#2). It isn’t just about God’s Spirit endowing us with abilities; it’s about our “spirits”, responsive to the call of God’s Spirit, putting our abilities to use to help others.

The opening thought of unity led directly to #s 1 and 2 on our list of seven. Now we go to #3.

One Hope (#3)

Verse 1 urges the Ephesians to “live a life worthy of your calling”, and (note the verbal connections) verse 4 tells them that their “calling” was to embrace the “one hope”.

“One hope” encompasses much of what Christadelphians, particularly and uniquely, believe. We have only to think of the Book of Acts, where “the hope” is variously defined as:

  • the “good news of the kingdom of God” (8:12),
  • the “hope in the resurrection of the dead” (23:6), and
  • the “hope of Israel” (28:20).

A true, or Biblical, “hope” needs, at the very least, to take into account these three items (resurrection, the kingdom, and Israel). If one’s “hope” doesn’t deal with these things, it can scarcely be the one hope.

And if we find ourselves, in this life, “hoping” too much for some thing, money, a gift, a job, a relationship, some “pleasure”, more than for God’s Kingdom, then we may have to stop and ask ourselves, ‘What is my one hope?’

One Lord (#4)

We notice that Paul speaks of himself as “the prisoner of the Lord” (v 1), and this ties in well with the Psalm 68 quotation about “captives” in verse 8. Those who are “captured” by the Lord Jesus Christ become his slaves, or servants. But this is no burden; it is a blessing. As his servants, they receive “gifts” to enable them to carry out his will. This includes the “grace” of sins forgiven (v 7). Who would not gladly become a prisoner and a captive so that he or she might receive the forgiveness of sins?

In the first century, the “grace” or “gift” may have included special Holy Spirit powers that enabled the Lord’s servants to perform wonders and miracles. And for us, the talents and abilities (and material resources) we have been given are the Lord’s blessings upon us, and the means by which we can show our gratitude to him for those blessings.

Interestingly, #s 3 and 4 on our list are actually another way of saying “the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12):

Using the gifts that the Lord Jesus, and his Father, have given each of us, we can do his work in the ecclesia and in the world. The purpose of this work is to help the One Body of Christ, in all its members, to grow together in faith and knowledge of the one hope and the one Lord. By this means, the “One Body”, of which Christ is the head (vv 15,16), grows to a full maturity (v 13).

One Faith (#5)

The “one faith” is a belief, or faith, in that which is real: the kingdom of God and the work of Jesus Christ. But it is more than some kind of vague, nebulous “faith” (or reluctant consent) to what is real. It is, especially, a real faith! It is this sort of faith that will save us — not just knowing what is right, but a loving commitment to do what is right: a faith made perfect in deeds and actions. A “faith” which does nothing is no faith at all! All by itself, this passage, Ephesians 4, makes this plain:

  • Those who have been “captured” by the Lord must live lives worthy of the eternal glory to which they have been called (v 1).
  • They must, in love (the crucial ingredient), demonstrate humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance (v 2).
  • They must make every effort to maintain the “unity of their spirits” focusing on the final goal (v 3).
  • They must use all their gifts in “works of service”, to “build up”, and not to tear down, the body of Christ (vv 11,12).
  • They must grow in faith and knowledge, and endeavor to become “mature”, and to help others to become “mature”, in Christ (v 13).
  • They must “speak the truth in love”, and grow up into “the Head, who is Christ” (v 15). If there is no real resemblance between themselves and the Lord they profess to serve, then how can they be said to truly belong to him?
  • Once again, all their effort must be directed to “build up” the whole body “in love”, “as each part does its work” (v 16).

One Baptism (#6)

The “one baptism” must relate to the method of “baptism”, which is by total immersion and not by sprinkling. Furthermore, it must be undertaken by those who are old enough, and mature enough, to know why they are doing it. And old enough and mature enough to make a real commitment, and to carry it out.

One key feature of baptism, explained by Paul in Romans 6, is that the act itself symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In this simple ceremony, there is an enacted parable, in at least these three different ways:

  • A parable of a new birth (which suggests a new life and a new commitment);
  • A picture of the ongoing, day-to-day life of the “prisoner of the Lord”, making an effort to put to death the old man, and bring to life the new man in Christ; and
  • A prophecy of the future resurrection itself, when Christ returns.

All this, and more, is comprehended in the “one baptism”?

Sam Houston was a drunk and a carouser; he was also a fascinating orator, a brilliant politician and a great general — he led the fight for Texas independence and then worked to bring Texas into the United States. He was also a man of tremendous courage, and great wit and self-deprecating humor. When, late in life, he was baptized (into the Baptist Church), he remarked first of all that, if his sins were indeed all washed away, he feared for all the fish downstream when the huge numbers of sins reached them! Thereafter, and for the last years of his life, he devoted a large portion of his income to charitable purposes, telling anyone who asked that, when he was baptized, his wallet was baptized also. It is surely a worthwhile exhortation: When we are baptized, we should remember that our wallet or checkbook has been baptized also!

One God and Father (#7)

Our first question is: ‘Why didn’t this statement come first, instead of last?’ The BASF and other equivalent Christadelphian statements of faith start with “God”, and then go on to explain, step by step, what God’s plan for the world and man is.

The answer finally came to me, as I read this passage over and over: This seven-part statement is written, not from God’s perspective, so much as from man’s perspective. In short, Paul’s statement to the Ephesians does not start with God; rather, it starts with the body of believers, and progresses until that Body grows up into its Head (v 15) and becomes, in its maturity and fullness (v 13), the true children of the “one God and Father of all” (v 6). So even the order of Paul’s seven “unities” is significant:

  1. The “one body” — all of us — is only a collection of people, all sorts of people, until
  2. The “one Spirit” is breathed upon us.
  3. Then we become a living organism, with “one hope” in the future.
  4. The “one Lord” becomes our Head, and
  5. We develop and nurture our “one faith” in him and his kingdom.
  6. The “one baptism” has set us upon a servant path: we have been blessed by God so that we can be a means of blessing others.
  7. We spend a lifetime growing up in this divine family of the “one God and Father”, who will ultimately, through us, be “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28).

If the seven unities describe a process, how do we ever know when we are finally finished?

The story is told of an old man, an accomplished artist, who was applying the finishing touches to a bronze sculpture. Occasionally a truck would come from the art gallery in the city to pick up his latest work. Meanwhile he just kept filing, scraping and polishing every little surface of his masterpiece. “How do you knows when it’s done?” asked an observer. “I don’t,” came the reply. “I just keep working and working until they come and take it away.”

This last statement is the longest of the seven “unity” statements:

“One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” It expresses two basic facts:

  1. There is only One God; this is obviously fundamental: (a) Jesus Christ is not a second god, and (b) the Holy Spirit is not a third god.
  2. The One God has condescended to become the One Father, first of a Son, born in the flesh of human nature, and then through him the prospective Father of a whole race of human beings, who have been lost in sin. By this means alone, and the path described (in this passage and others), the One God and Father has worked, and will work, to bring together in one family all those who believe in Him.

How do we achieve this? By embracing the gift offered to us, truly believing in the One God, and loving Him with all our mind and strength and substance. And then, by loving our neighbors as ourselves:

  • If there is only One God and Father, then He has only one family, and that family must be completely (in all, or altogether) humble and gentle, patient, and bearing one another’s burdens in love (v 2).
  • They must work in His family to fill (finish, or complete) all of the Father’s work in this world. It is not up to them alone, because the Father will work with them. But they must never give up on that work (v 10).
  • Tragically, there are those who are “born” into the Family of God, but who never grow beyond the “infant” stage (v 14).
  • Those who are sons and daughters of the heavenly Father will always be seeking to “grow up” in His Family, to become more like the Head of that Family, and the Head of their Body, Christ (v 15).

“From him (Christ) the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (v 16).