Seven Unities of Spiritual Life
Eph. 4:4 – 6
Introduction
Last Sunday we were talking about the Virtues needed for Christian unity. Now we talk about the
Seven unities of Spiritual life. The Holy Spirit at this portion of the Scriptures uses human body as a
simple illustration to clarify His point and to make us understand His will as we walk our Christian
life. The centre of these unities is the Trinity.
I. Seven Unities
A. One Body
1. This speaks of the body of Christ which is the church as written in Eph. 1:22-23.
2. The head of the body (church) is Christ.
3. Those who have placed their faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ are
members of the Church, members of His Body, members of God’s family.
4. It is not the universal invisible church as modern evangelicals say.
5. The body of Christ, which is the church must be visible.
6. The bride of Christ which is the church must also be visible, not invisible bride.
7. Church is an “assembly of believers” so it must be visible and local.
8. It is called “one” with relation to Jews and Gentiles, who are of the same body,
and are reconciled in one body by Christ, and are baptized into it by the Spirit;
9. Though there are several particular congregations, yet there is but one church of
the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven; and saints of different ages,
places, states, and conditions, are all one in Christ Jesus, who is the one, and
only head of this body
B. One Spirit
1. One Spirit is specifically pointing to the Holy Spirit
2. The Holy Spirit is mentioned several times in this Epistle, and His ministry in our
lives includes:
a. Convicting unbelievers of sin, righteousness and judgment: Jn. 16:8-11.
b. Regeneration or causes us to become believers: Jn. 3:1-8; Titus 3:5, I Pet.
1:23-25; Jas 1:18.
c. He indwells and baptizes the believer: I Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9; Jn. 14:16; I Cor.
12:13.
d. He seals us: Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30.
e. He imparts gifts: I Cor. 12:7-11.
f. He fills the believer: Eph. 5:15-21; Gal. 5:16.
g. He causes us to bear fruit: Gal. 5:22-23.
3. The Holy Spirit does many things for the believer at the time of salvation, and
forever afterwards during this life and on throughout eternity.
C. One hope of your calling
1. Hope here means “expectation; confidence; prospect”
2. There is one hope of eternal life.
3. We (real Christians) will all be in heaven.
4. Our rewards will not be the same but we will all be with Jesus, and for me that’s
all that matters.
5. We have this hope because we have all been called by the preaching of the
gospel.
Illustration: No Pagan “God of Hope”
The Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many
gods—gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities, gods of towns, and various
others. But in all of paganism’s galaxy of gods, there never was one called “god of hope.”
That is scarcely surprising. For in that ancient world, hope had become a despised delusion, long
before our Lord was born in Bethlehem. The fact is, there is no hope for this sin-cursed world apart
from the true God, the God of Christians. “Now the God of hope….” (Romans 15:13)
Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.
D. One Lord
1. This refers to Jesus Christ of course. He is Lord of all believers.
2. There is no better way of promoting unity among Christians than by reminding
them that they have the same Saviour.
3. He redeemed us and purchased us with His own blood.
4. In the book of Revelations, He is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
E. One Faith
1. This is the body of truth, “the faith” which Jude has written “once for all
delivered to the saints”.
2. There is only one Saving faith and is described in Rom. 4:9-25 and Heb. 11.
3. Faith comes through hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).
4. Truths such as creation and salvation must be received by faith (Heb. 11:2).
5. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).
Illustration: Definition of Faith
Relying on what God has done rather than on one’s own efforts. In the Old Testament, faith is rarely
mentioned. The word trust is used frequently, and verbs like believe and rely are used to express the
right attitude to God. The classic example is Abraham, whose faith was reckoned as righteousness
(Gen. 15:6). At the heart of the Christian message is the story of the cross: Christ’s dying to bring
salvation. Faith is an attitude of trust in which a believer receives God’s good gift of salvation (Acts
16:30-31) and lives in that awareness thereafter (Gal. 2:20; cf. Heb. 11:1).
F. One Baptism
1. This refers to the water baptism which is commanded by Jesus after salvation
(Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-16).
2. Water baptism is a picture and public testimony of spiritual realities.
3. It is called a “figure” in 1 Pet. 3:21.
a. Baptism is a public testimony of repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 8:34-
38; 16:30-34; 2:37-38).
b. Baptism identifies one with Christ and depicts salvation-dying with Christ
and being raised to eternal life with Him (Ro 6:3-6). Baptism shows the
Gospel-the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4. Baptism can never save and can never wash away sins.
G. One God and Father of all
1. God is revealed as Father in two ways:
a. As the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jn. 5:17, Jn. 1:14)
b. As the Father of those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Jn. 1:12).
2. God is the creator of all but not the father of all for in Jn.
8:44 it is written “Ye are of your father the devil”. This is a clear verse that
refutes the erroneous universal fatherhood of God teaching.
3. The term “of all” refers to all members of the royal family, the Body of Christ.
This stresses positional location and authority. God the Father is sovereign in
authority.
4. God actually indwells every member of His family
II. Conclusion:
As children of God or members of God’s family, we share the same unities of Spiritual
life. To some degree, we do not have the same spiritual growth, as well as functions just
as our natural body. The crucial thing is, are you part of God’s family? If so will you be
united with your fellow Christian in sharing Christ?
