Unity In The Faith Of Jesus Christ?
UNITY IN THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST:
Apostle James R Winfree Sr, We Share Only The Father's Good News, The Gospel Of Our Blessed Savior Jesus Christ, That Is Changing And Transforming Lives Forever!!!
( One Body, One Spirit, One Lord Jesus, One Faith, One Baptism, One God & Father Of Us All )
( Ephesians 4:4-6 )
The word “One” appears seven times in Ephesians 4:4–6. Oneness and unity are important themes in Ephesians and in Apostle Paul’s writings. Apostle Paul constantly preached about unity and prayed for unity among Church members ( Romans 12:5;) ( 1 Corinthians 1:10; ) (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Most churches today are grouped (classified) by “denominations,” which came about from men having various disagreements over the interpretation of the Word of God. This is troubling because Jesus put His Apostles and Prophets in charge of the Church ( Mat 16:18-19; ) ( John 17:20 ) and they preached the same unity of doctrine which Jesus had given them ( John 7:16-17;) ( 2John 9-10 ). The gospel message, which they were commanded to take to all the world, was the same to everyone everywhere. People were not taught different gospels and then given a choice. There was only One gospel plan for All ( Romans 1:16;) ( Galatians 1:7-8 ).
The Apostle Paul put it like this:
“There is One body, One spirit … One Lord, One faith, One baptism” ( Ephesians. 4:4–5 )
It is this portion of passage that will be the primary focus of our attention.
One Body: In Christ Jesus
The One Body is in reference to the Body of Christ, ( Ephesians 2:6, 5:30;) ( Romans 12:5; ) ( 1 Cor 10:17, 12:12, 20;) ( Col 3:15 )
One Spirit: That only sent in Jesus Name!
The One Spirit is in reference to the Spirit of God ( the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost ); (1 Cor 12:4, 6-7, 11, 13;) ( Ephesians 2:18, 22)
One Lord:
Concerning the New Testament, there are some who say that the only Lord in Jesus was the Lord God. In other words, Jesus isn’t Lord within Himself, but only on the basis that God, being the only Lord, entered Him. However, according to scripture, this position is actually a denial that it was God who made Jesus Lord ( 1Tim 1:1,) ( Acts 2:36 ) (See also: Acts 20:21;) ( Rom 1:3, 5:1, 11, 21).
( Acts 2:36 ) “Therefore let All the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made this same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Note: One must understand the differences between the Hebrew and Greek translation/transliteration of our English word Lord and how it is used in the Bible). The LORD God (Yahweh Elohim) possessed the title of Lord (Adonai) from ancient times. Adonai is applied exclusively to Yahweh (the LORD God ). The title applied to the Messiah in Psalms 110:1 is “Adoni” (my lord). While Adonai (Lord) is exclusively Jesus Christ Title, Adoni is used of God. It is always used in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ now.
The Hebrew language is much more thorough than the Greek language. There is only one main word used for ‘lord’ in Greek and that is “Kurios” Strong’s G2962. The New Testament uses the title Lord (Kurios) interchangeably, sometimes referring to the One God, other times referring to Christ. However, to the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians, the context would show which ‘lord’ is being referred to, whether it be God, the Man Christ Jesus.
It was God who exalted Jesus to this position as Lord over the church. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is our LORD according to Psalms 110:1, Acts 2:32-36. He is Adonai (Lord). Jesus Christ alone is Adonai. Jesus was not made Adonai, but Adon.
The references to Psalms 110:1 in the N.T. affirm the Father is the Supreme Lord God and the Messiah and His Name. is Jesus The Majesty on high, of which Jesus is sat down at the right Power of God Himself. Jesus is our Majesty.
( Hebrews 1:3 ) Who being the brightness of His God’s glory, and the express image of God's person, and upholding all things by the word of the Father's power, when Christ had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
( Acts 5:31 ) He has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. If you note God calls Himself Savior also both in the Old Testament and New Testament.
( Philippians 2:9 ) Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above Every Name: 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. All of our heavenly Father God Names Is In The Name Of Jesus.
One Faith:
One faith is in Jesus Christ. Whether people obey or disobey God is a matter of their regard or disregard for the word of God. The only possible way for us to be united as Christians are to follow the plan of God as contained in the Bible, that is speaking where the Bible speaks and by remaining silent where the Bible is silent ( 1 Peter 4:11 ). No one in the Bible was ever asked, “Are you Protestant or Catholic?” for such did not exist. No one asked, “To which faith do you belong?” for there was only One faith in Christ Jesus ( Ephesians. 4:5 ).
This “one faith” is the message of the gospel or the Lord Jesus Christ. The “one faith” is in Jesus ( Ephesians 4:15; ) ( Titus 1:4;) ( 2 Peter 1:1). In other words, this “one faith” is the very heart of the gospel, for it is the power of God to them that believe ( Romans 1:16-17 ). All and Everything is in Jesus Christ.
This faith proclaims what Jesus has done for humanity. It reveals both God’s grace in Jesus sacrifice.
The “gospel” and the “one faith” are actually equivalent terms that pertain to the same person. Apostle Paul makes this known to the Romans, he writes in Romans:
( Romans 10:8-9 ) But what does it say? “The word is near you; in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 .that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Only Jesus Saves!!!!
One Baptism: Acts 2:36-38
What we have to understand, and be aware of, is the fact that when speaking of baptism (or being baptized) it can mean one thing in one passage and mean something totally different in another passage. The difference usually means water and Spirit following the word baptized.
Baptized in the Name of The Father, The Son, The Holy Ghost which is Jesus.
Normally this phrase indicates the authority of, or by whose authority something is being done. Apostle Peter baptized in the Name of by the authority of Jesus, ( Acts 2:38 ) and that authority Jesus had come from God ( Mat 28:18;) ( John 12:49-50; ) ( 1Cor 1:12-13)
The baptism spoken of in this passage ( Ephesians 4:5 ) is in reference to those individuals who are said to have been baptized into Christ ( Gal 3:27;) ( Rom 6:3-4 ) Our Lord and Master ( Acts 20:21;) ( Rom 1:3, 5:1, 11, 21) which is a phrase reflective of only those who are obedient followers of Christ ( John 14:15-17, 21; ) ( 1John 3:22-24 ) .
What the Word of God usually means by “Spirit baptism” is what the Scripture calls “baptize with the Holy Ghost” or “the Holy Spirit.”
The Apostle Peter refers to this promise later, when he preached to the household of Cornelius, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ( Acts 11:15-16 ).
Only Christ could baptize with the Holy Spirit. No other man had authority to do that. Jesus sent his Apostles out and the Apostles continued baptizing people in the water, including Jesus ( Acts 8:36 10:47;) ( I Peter 3:20,21).
Note: to be baptized with (is to be filled with or receive) the Holy Ghost, which was a promise, not a command (Acts 2:38). However, the baptism administered by the Apostles was a command ( Acts 10:47 ). The baptism with the Holy Spirit was for all people, but only those who were obedient ( Acts 5:32 ).
You can be baptized and still not receive the Holy Ghost. The act of water baptism can be performed but all of the Acts 2:38 conditions must be met in order to receive the Holy Ghost in Jesus Name.
The purpose of this “one baptism” (the baptism of Christ), which ( Ephesians 4:5 ) speaks of, was to empower people, as Jesus told the Apostles, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” ( Acts 1:8 ). The outpouring of the Holy Ghost, on that day of Pentecost, came as a result of what Christ accomplished, through the baptism of Christ ( Luke 3: 21-22.)
This “One baptism” puts you as one with Christ “into Jesus Christ” Romans 6:3, it is when we are in this position condition in life that it saves us from our past sins, as “unto the remission of sins” ( Acts 2:38 ) and “into the death of Christ” ( Romans 6:3 ). When one obeys Christ today, he or she is considered baptized into Christ because we have “earnestly” repented of our sins, baptized in water (normally, but not always in this order) we receive the Holy Ghost (have been baptized with the Holy Ghost), as is the promise, thus we are considered saved ( Mark 16:16 ). Follow and do just as Jesus did, He was water and Spirit baptized. Amen His Church.
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