Learn to Live as Part of the Body

Ephesians 4:1-16

Pastor Miles

1. Live to protect the unity of the body.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)

4 qualities to preserve the unity of the Body through peace:

1. Humility
2. Gentleness
3. Patience - the reluctance to avenge wrongs
4. Bearing with one another through love

4 things that unite us:

1. One body - We are in an organic unity
2. One hope
3. One faith
4. One baptism

In Essentials unity, nonessentials charity, in all things Christ is the center.

2. You were given a special grace to use as part of the body.

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,
"When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men."
(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:7-12 ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10, 11 ESV)

3. Grow up to maturity as part of the Body.

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:12-16 ESV)

The goal of being built up is maturity (v. 13): to measure up to the stature of Christ.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29 ESV)

We need to learn to speak the TRUTH in LOVE. (v. 15)
We need to grow up in maturity, but also to help others to grow in maturity.
We need to grow, but also to serve.

Daily Prayer

Father, Thank you for making me part of the Body of Christ.

May my attitudes and actions protect the Unity of the Body through the bond of peace.

Thank you for the special grace You have given me as part of the Body.

Help me to find a place to grow and a place to serve in Your Body as we grow up in maturity together.

Amen.