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As Christians we are often asked to explain Ephesians 4:4-6. Consider the words of Paul, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
In this section of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul discusses the unity of the body of Christ. In his conversation he reveals three different characteristics of the “one God and Father.” Paul declares in verse six that there is one God and that He is the Father “of all.” Seeing that there is unity within the Godhood; it makes perfect sense that there must be unity among those that follow God. That is the conclusion that Paul comes to in his discourse to the Romans. Paul said, “Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith” (Rom 3:29-30 KJV). So, we see there is to be unity among all people of the world.
Next, we can notice that the one God of all is above all. In other words, God is supreme in all things. We often hear it said that he is King of kings and Lord of lords. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus reminds us that this supreme being, God, is “in heaven.” In fact, while instructing the disciples concerning how one should pray, Jesus said, “Our father which art in heaven …”. Next, we can notice that God is “through all, and in you all.” Paul said, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Co 8:6 KJV). In this statement we can see that God dwells in mankind. This is accomplished in the lives of men who come to God through Jesus.
It is easy to see that God exists by observing the world He created. According to Psalm 19:1-6, the objects in the heavens declare a message that any person can hear, regardless of the language he speaks. This universal message is that God created these heavenly bodies. The evidence for God’s existence is so overwhelming that David said, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (Psa 14:1 KJV).
To know the nature of God, to understand His will and receive His blessings we must turn to His revealed Word. In the 23rd Psalm, David listed 12 special blessings he enjoyed as a result of knowing God as his shepherd. Also, in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Solomon showed how fearing God and keeping His commandments are of utmost importance because everyone will one day face God in judgment. Then we learn in Acts 17:22-31, that Paul taught there is one true God. Furthermore, Paul showed that God cannot be compared to any image, and that He requires everyone to repent. Ultimately, we are required to repent if we are to avoid the wrath of God. Jesus taught the importance of repentance in (Luke 15:7, 10, 20-24).
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul shows there is “one faith,” and he shows what that “one faith” demands of people. That faith reveals that the “one God and Father” wants all of us to believe that the “one Lord” is His only begotten Son, and He wants us to submit to the “one baptism.” Of great importance is what we learn in Acts 2:47; there we find that God adds to the Church those that have been baptized. The same that was true on the day of Pentecost can be true for anyone today if they are willing to submit to God. Upon rendering obedience to God, we are added to the “one body,” as a result we have the “one hope” of eternal life, and we gain access to the blessings provided by the “one Spirit.”
(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)