One Body, One Spirit, One Hope
Ephesians 4:1-6

Introduction:
• Imagine a church divided over something as small as a wooden peg. In the late 1800s, a congregation split because one deacon placed a peg on the wall for the Pastor’s hat without consulting the other. The church became known as the Anti-Peg Baptist Church. It sounds absurd, but it illustrates how easily believers can fracture over pride, preference, and personal territory.
• Paul writes Ephesians 4:1-6 from prison, urging the church to live differently. He begins with the word “Therefore” a hinge between doctrine and duty. Chapters 1-3 describe our riches in Christ; chapters 4-6 describe our responsibility to walk in Christ. Here, Paul pleads with believers to walk worthy of the calling they have received.
• That worthy walk is marked by humility, gentleness, patience, and making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. It is not optional; it is the visible evidence of the gospel. Paul emphasizes that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Unity is not something we create; it is something we preserve, because God Himself has already made us one.
• So, the introduction sets the stage:
o Unity is essential: without it, our witness collapses.
o Unity is spiritual: rooted in the Spirit, not in human effort.
o Unity is practical: lived out in humility, patience, and love.
• This passage challenges us: Are we walking in a way that reflects the gospel we proclaim?