Walking in Unity. (Ephesians 4 4-16)

This Podcast is part of a 10-year project to complete an in-depth, daily study of the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 

Episode Notes:  Walking in Unity. (Ephesians 4  4-16) 

Unity…. It’s one of the most beautiful words in the Christian vocabulary — and one of the hardest to maintain.

 How do we keep good relationships?

How do we preserve unity in our families, in our churches, and even across the worldwide body of Christ?

  Because division is a disease. Division drains strength from a family. Division weakens a church that should be strong. Division distracts a fellowship from its mission and forces it to turn inward, tending its wounds instead of reaching the world. .... And if division goes untreated long enough, it can even become terminal.

 So, how do we create unity among such a wide diversity of people who all call themselves followers of Jesus?

 I believe the answers are found right here in Ephesians chapter 4….

Transcript

Walking in Unity: (Ephesians 4: 4-16)

 Transcript: 

Opening & Introduction:

Unity….

It’s one of the most beautiful words in the Christian vocabulary — and one of the hardest to maintain.

How do we keep good relationships?

How do we preserve unity in our families, in our churches, and even across the worldwide body of Christ?

Because division is a disease.

Division drains strength from a family.

Division weakens a church that should be strong.

Division distracts a fellowship from its mission and forces it to turn inward, tending its wounds instead of reaching the world.

And if division goes untreated long enough, it can even become terminal.

So, the question is: 

How do we maintain unity?  

How do we protect it?

How do we restore it when it’s damaged?

And how do we create unity among such a wide diversity of people who all call themselves followers of Jesus?

I believe the answers are found right here in Ephesians chapter 4….

This passage is like a packed train carriage, every seat taken, every aisle full, every corner occupied with important and weighty ideas.

But despite its density, the message is still wonderfully clear.

Because it tells us that unity is possible, unity is necessary, unity is God‑given, and unity must be maintained.

Paul begins by showing us the unity we already share as believers, then he moves on to describe the diversity God has built into the church, and finally, he shows us the purpose of unity and diversity

working together in harmony.

Firstly, it shows us the unity we already have.

 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

(Ephesians 4:4–6)

Paul starts with the simple but profound truth that unity already exists among God’s people.  We don’t create it; our job is to preserve it.

Why?

Because we were all called by one Spirit, into one hope, through one faith, under one Lord. Baptised by one Spirit, into one body, worshipping one God and Father of all.

This is the natural unity of the Christian family. It is not organisational unity; it is a spiritual unity. It is the unity of shared salvation, shared identity, and shared destiny.

Our hope — our expectation — is the same future together with Christ.

Our Lord is the same Jesus. 

Our baptism into His body is the same Spirit‑given reality.

Our Father is the same God who is over all, through all, and in all. 

Which is why it says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.”

We don’t manufacture unity.

We are called to maintain it, protect it and we honour it because unity is already ours in Christ.

The Beauty of Diversity

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

‘When he ascended on high, he took many captives
     and gave gifts to his people.’

9 (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 

(Ephesians 4:7–10)

But unity is not uniformity.

Beginning here, the focus shifts.

Unity does not erase diversity, it celebrates it. Christ has “apportioned” gifts to His people. Not the same gifts or identical abilities, but a rich, varied, Spirit‑given diversity.

Paul quotes Psalm 68 to show that God gives gifts not for us to hoard.

But for us to pass on and to use for the good of others, especially within the community of faith.

And then, in verses 9 and 10, it pauses to explain the quotation, a rare moment where he interprets Scripture for us.

In the Old Covenant, God received offerings from His people.

In the New Covenant, Christ descends to us and gives gifts to His people.

The direction of travel has changed. Grace flows downward. Blessing flows outward. Gifts flow from Christ into His church.

This is the difference between law and grace. Between demand and gift and between obligation and empowerment.

And this is where biblical diversity shines.

Modern culture often tries defines diversity through identity politics —

race, gender, ideology, and so on. But Scripture defines diversity

through God‑given gifts and the unique ways each believer contributes

to the life of the body.

Diversity in the Bible is not about categories of identity but about the Spirit’s creativity.

Because unity and diversity brought together in one community create a, “Living Body”.

Paul’s picture is not of a bucket of body parts but of a living, breathing organism.

The church is the Body of Christ and every part is different. But every part is necessary and every part has a function. Because every part contributes to the whole.

You may feel you don’t have much to offer but if you belong to Christ and you have been gifted by Christ. Your gift may not look like someone else’s. But it isn’t meant to. There is unity in the body, but there is also glorious diversity. And when unity and diversity work together, the church becomes healthy, strong, and effective.

So, why did Christ give His gifts to the church.

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

(Ephesians 4:11–16)

If unity is the foundation of the Christian life, and diversity is the  beauty of the Christian community, then the next question is obvious:

What is the purpose of this diverse range of spiritual gifts? Why has Christ given such different abilities to His people? Paul answers that question in this section. And he says that, in fact, Christ gives people as Gifts to His church. (v.11)

Paul writes: 

“And He gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers…”

(KJV)

Notice something important here. Paul does not say God merely gave gifts; it says God gave people.

Apostles.

Prophets.

Evangelists.

Pastors‑and‑teachers.

These individuals are the gifts Christ gives to His church for a specific purpose. And notice the grammar: Paul does not say “pastors, and teachers” as if they were two separate roles. He says “pastors‑and‑teachers” as one combined office. It is difficult to see in English, but Bible experts say it is clear in the original Greek.

A person may be a teacher without being a pastor; Romans 12 makes that clear. But a pastor cannot fulfil his calling without also being a teacher of the Word. The Greek word for pastor is ‘poimēn’, a shepherd. A shepherd feeds the flock, guides the flock, protects the flock, and leads the flock.

And how does a pastor do that? Primarily by teaching the Word of God.

The purpose of these gifts is then disclosed. “…for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”  (v. 11 KJV)

The word “perfecting” means repairing, mending, and setting right. 

In secular Greek, it was used to describe the setting of a broken bone, the repairing of a torn fishing net or even fixing the rigging on a ship before sailing

In other words, Pastors and teachers are given to the church to equip believers so that believers can do the work of ministry.

The pastor’s job is not to do all the ministry. The pastor’s job is to equip you to do the ministry God has called you to do.

The church is not an audience watching one person at work. The church is a body and every part active, every part contributing, every part serving.

 Paul told Timothy that, “All Scripture… is profitable… and that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

The Word equips us.

The Spirit empowers us.

And the just pastor guides us.

But the ministry belongs to all of us, and every believer has a ministry

There are countless needs in the world and countless opportunities for service in whatever place God has put you.

Every believer is called.

Every believer is gifted.

Every believer is empowered.

And every believer is needed.

Your gift may not look like someone else’s, —

And that’s the point.

Unity does not erase diversity.

Unity celebrates diversity.

The church is healthiest when every believer is expressing the unique gifting God has given them. And the result is stability, maturity, and discernment’ 

It also tells us that one of the great benefits of using our gifts in service: 

“…that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine…”  (KJV)

When believers are equipped, when believers serve, when believers grow, something wonderful happens. We stop being spiritual infants. 

We stop being tossed around by every new idea, every trendy ideology, every spiritual fad, and every persuasive personality.

Immature believers are easily swayed. Which means they are easily deceived, discouraged, and most significantly, easily destabilised.

They become like spiritual driftwood carried by the currents of culture and washed up on the beaches of life.

But when we grow in the Word, serve in our gifting, and walk in unity, we become stable, mature, discerning.

We become rooted. Grounded, steady, and strong. And we grow up becoming more and more Christlike,

But there are further benefits to this Holy Spirit-empowered maturity,

which brings us to the heart of it: 

“…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect, the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:15)

Christlike maturity is not simply about knowing the truth. It is about speaking the truth, and speaking it in love.

And here we must pause, because there is another side to this coin.

Some Christians hear the phrase “speak the truth in love” and interpret it as a licence to go around telling people what to do, and what to stop doing. Or even what they think is wrong with them.

But truth without love is not Christian truth…. It is just noise.

Even if God gives you deep spiritual insight, if you cannot express it in love, then it is better to say nothing at all.

Sometimes the most powerful expression of truth is not spoken — it is demonstrated.

Love lived out is often the clearest revelation of the truth of God…. Last verse.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

(Ephesians 4: 16)

Paul began this passage with love, and now he ends it with love.

The goal of unity, the purpose of diversity, the fruit of spiritual maturity.

All of it is meant to be expressed in love.

Love is the air that helps the body of Christ breathe and grows.

Love is the glue that holds the body together.

Love is the energy that drives the body forward.

Without love, unity collapses. Gifts become competitive. Knowledge becomes arrogant, and ministry becomes mechanical.

But with love, the whole body grows up into Christ.

So how do we actually do this?

How do we walk in unity and avoid the disease of division?

Today’s passage has given us three clear steps.

1. Know your gifting — and use it in your local church.

Every believer has a spiritual gift. Not some believers —every believer. And those gifts are meant to be exercised primarily within the local church family.

The church is God’s idea. The local fellowship is God’s design, and He has placed you in it with a purpose.

Your gift is needed. Your presence matters, and your contribution strengthens the whole body.

And let me say this gently: In today’s world, a good listener is often harder to find than a good speaker. Listening is a ministry. Encouragement is also a ministry….

Prayer is a ministry.

Hospitality is a ministry.

Faithfulness is a ministry.

Every gift matters.

2. Every church needs a pastor who is a bible teacher — and should never settle for less.

Paul is clear: Christ gave pastors‑and‑teachers to equip the saints.

A worship leader is a blessing.

A counsellor is a blessing.

A pastoral carer is a blessing.

All of them are real roles and real blessings to a community of faith, but none of these roles replace the calling of a pastor‑teacher.

The pastor’s primary task is to teach the Word of God and shepherd the flock through it.

The church today needs two things:

Leaders who teach Scripture faithfully,

And believers who actively serve in their gifting.

When those two things come together, the church becomes healthy,

strong, and fruitful.

3. Celebrate diversity and strive for unity.

There should be a great deal of diversity in every church.

Different gifts.

Different backgrounds.

Different personalities.

Different approaches.

Different expressions of the gospel.

But in all that diversity, we must strive together to. “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.

We are one body, friends.

Called by one Spirit.

To one hope.

Under one Lord.

In one faith.

Baptised by one Spirit.

Worshipping one God and Father of all.

Unity is not uniformity.

Unity is harmony.

And the goal of that unity is spiritual maturity expressed in love.

Outro:

Thank you for joining me today as we explored what it really means

to walk in unity. 

Next time, we’ll continue our journey through Ephesians 4 as Paul begins to show us what it looks like to walk in righteousness.

To put off the old self and put on the new and live a life shaped by the truth of Christ.

Until then, may the Lord help you use your gifts and love your church,

and walk in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.