One of Jesus last prayers on earth is found in John 17. One of the focuses of that prayer is that the church would be one just as He and the Father are one. Then the whole world would believe in Jesus just by our unity.
Paul is not defining that unity and what it entails.
1. Enslaved and Called.
Paul already stated that he is a bond servant to Jesus. He says that Jesus has named us (called)
- A people
- Light in a dark world.
- Holy and Blameless
- Eternal Being
- Friend of God.
These are names that Jesus sees us as today.
Now because of our position in Jesus, we are able to advance His kingdom through our interactions with others.
Matthew 13: 45 “Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it.
Merchant = traveling wholesale trader who makes their living by evaluating costly pearls for their quality and worth.
When the merchant found the pearl, they sold everything to possess it.
Jesus is the pearl, but who would sell such a priceless item?
God is the seller and the price was the precious blood of Jesus (See 1 Peter 1: 19)
The question for us is what value do we place on Jesus?
Matthew 11: 29 Take my yoke upon you and let me teach you for I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls.
This is a clue to how we can buy the pearl. We can’t do enough spiritual STUFF to earn salvation, we just come to Jesus and He teaches us.
2. God uses others to refine us.
Ephesians 4: 2 Always be humble and gentle (by being yoked to Jesus we ae able to be like Him)
Patient = not easily provoked
Allowance = bear with them, put up with each other.
God is putting up with how little I value the pearl of great price so I can put up with others.
3. Sell all to obtain.
Vs 3 Make every effort
- Do your best
- Keep a watchful eye
- Make haste don’t delay.
make relationships with each other work.
Vs 3 United in the Spirit.
1. Not a powerful ecumenical movement.
2. See Jesus in others and others in Jesus.
One body = One church which is His body
One Spirit = The Holy Spirit
Hope = before the world began we were in God’s mind to be adopted and brought into His family
Faith = Trust in Jesus as the one way to enter eternal life
Baptism = Baptized into Jesus. Not talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is a different Baptism
God is in control of this diversity.
Next Week, How God gives individual gifts to the church to bring about this unity.