Ephesians 4:5-6 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
These verses continue the list of things that unite believers together. This is our shared heritage, experience, and hope. The Lord, referring to Jesus Christ, is the one who brings us together and is the central confession of our faith: “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3). This is an acknowledge of Jesus’ sovereignty. Putting Jesus first as Lord of one’s life is the key requirement of the sanctified life, about which Paul writes in this letter. Crucial to being the church is acknowledging Jesus as the head of body, and each person within this body being united with Jesus in fellowship and relationship.
One faith likely refers to the central confession of Jesus as Lord. Paul articulates this faith in his letters. This letter has given the key points of this faith in the first three chapters. This faith is the belief that we are saved by the grace of God show through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We trust in what Jesus has done for us on the cross and acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves by our own efforts. This requires a reprioritizing of our lives by replacing our selfish ambitions with the desire to do what pleases God. We show that we believe by living in obedience and following where God leads and doing what God has prepared for us to do.
One baptism is representative of the confession of faith we share. Baptism is the visible indicator of the faith we have in Jesus. Believers are baptized into the name of Jesus and take on his loving nature. Baptism also signals that we are uniting with other believers into the church universal. There is one baptism for all believers, though it may be administered differently. It is the sign for those who believe and trust in what Jesus has done for us by giving himself for our sins. We identify with Jesus’ death by putting off our old selves. We raise to new life that is empowered by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. This power gives us victory over sin and temptation and helps us live in holiness and righteousness.
The final component of this list is one God and Father of all. This expresses the sovereignty of God as creator and sustainer. Every person is God’s creation but not every person is a child of God. Only those who have been adopted into God’s family can call God “Father.” Adoption happens only when we trust in God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul’s final statement is broad and inclusive of all of God’s power and grace to do everything God has promised. Our heavenly Father is over all in his sovereignty and power. What God has promised as the way of salvation for us, God will provide for those who believe in this promise. Our Father is also through all. We can see his work in every aspect of our lives as we learn to trust and love more (Romans 8:28). God will sustain us through trials and suffering as we learn to trust in his care and will more. Finally, our Father is in all. This should not be taken as universalism or as some physics “god particle” but as a statement of sovereignty and power. God sustains all that exists. Everything that exists points to a wise creator.
This list calls believers back to essentials of our faith and to renewed relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the bond that unites each individual who has committed him or herself to Jesus Christ. The closer we each get to Christ and know his love within us, the closer we will also get to one another. They key to a united church is the love of God in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
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