Things That Unite — One God and Father
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Textual Sermon OutlinesDate written: May 28th, 2005
Scripture ref: Ephesians 4:1-6
SUBJECT: Unity, God the Father
TITLE: Things That Unite – One God and Father
PROPOSITION: The God of unity is 1) a Particular God, 2) a Paternal God, 3) a Present God.
Objectives: That everyone understand how having One God and Father who is ever present compels unity in the body.
Aim: To teach that unity may be achieved because we have one God.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Ephesians 4:1-6
2. About the Text:
1) We’ve been discussing this text on and off over the course of the past year.
2) We’ve discussed how we are united because we have one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism.
3) We’ve noted that unity is something for which we must endeavor to have.
4) It should be noted now, however, that this seventh item is the foundation for all others.
5) The unity of God is a subject that transcends the pages of the Bible from the very first page of the Old Testament to the very last of the New.
6) Even Jesus and the Holy Spirit recognize the primacy of God the Father.
a. John 8:29 “And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.”
b. John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.”
7) One day all things will return to the Father under His direct authority according to 1 Corinthians 15:28.
8) What ought we to understand from this last point, that there is one God and Father?
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: The God of unity is…
I. A Particular God – “One God”
1. In contrast to the polytheism of ancient and modern pagan cultures, the Bible declares God to be one.
1) Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”.
2) Isaiah 44:6 “Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.”
3) 1 Corinthians 8:5,6 state, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.”
2. How could a religion have unity with multiple gods acting each according to their own ways and manners?
1) If Paul’s experience at Athens meant anything, it teaches us that belief in polytheism simply leads to confusion.
2) Read Acts 17:16-31
3. Because God is one God He can expect to be worshipped and Him alone.
1) Read Exodus 20:1-7
2) Each of these items centers around the fact that there is only one God.
3) Revelation 22:9 “Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”
4. We have but One God and He is a particular God with a personal character.
5. Because we have one God we have a single uniting Source of truth.
II. A Paternal God – “One Father”
1. We see in the one Father a loving God.
1) We may think from understanding the oneness of God that God simply wants drive us into submission.
2) But we know from 1 John that God is love.
3) 1 John 4:8 says, ” He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
4) 1 John 4:16 states, “And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.”
5) Because God is love, God is our Father and because He is our Father, He is love.
2. We see in the one Father a personal God/Father.
1) From thinking about the oneness of God one might think that God is unapproachable.
2) But God wants us to understand Him as a son His Father.
3) Galatians 4:6 states, “And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
4) And Romans 8:15 “For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
3. We see in the one Father a loving, but one who disciplines.
1) Our Father may discipline through teaching and instruction (Matthew 28:18-20).
2) Or, he may use other means for our learning.
3) Regardless the means, he does it because he loves us.
4) Read Hebrews 12:5-10
4. We have but One Father and He is a loving, personal, but disciplining Father.
5. Because God is one Father, we have a single uniting Source of care and authority.
III. A Present God – “Who is over all and through all and in all.”
1. We see in the One God a God who is over and above all.
1) According to Isaiah 57:15, God inhabits eternity.
2) He is a God who is above all things.
3) Psalm 50:10 states, “For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills.”
4) Psalm 148:13 says, “Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For his name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and the heavens.”
5) Isaiah 55:9 declares, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
6) Read Jeremiah 10:10-13.
7) God is above it all.
2. We see in the One God a God who is through all.
1) We may think that since God is above all that we would never see Him in His creation.
2) But we see Him in every thing.
3) Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork.”
4) Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse”.
5) Romans 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.”
3. We see in the One God a God who is in you all.
1) But we man might think that since God is above it all that he is never with us.
2) But he is always with us.
3) John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
4) 2 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
5) Read 1 John 4:12-15
4. We have but one God and he is the God who is ever present and with us always.
5. Because God is one God we have a single Source of constant companionship.
CONCLUSION:
1. The God of unity is…
1) A Particular God
2) A Paternal God
3) A Present God
2. Invitation