United in “One Hope”

United – Week 3 – “One Hope”

Ephesians 4:4-6

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—

⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Connected To be to one another

Held To be up or supported by one another

United To be with one another

Reminded To be of God’s greatness through worship

Challenged To be by the preached word

Helped To be to help others

Empowering us with Supernatural

Empowering us with Supernatural

“United in One ”

Ephesians 4:4

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—

Hope is mentioned three times throughout Ephesians (1:18; 2:12; 4:4)

1. What is the we are called to?
2. What are the of being “United” in “One Hope”?

What is this “One” Hope we are called to?

Colossians 1:1-5

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

² To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints

⁵ because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel

Hope =

What is the Gospel?

Colossians 1:13-22

¹³ He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

¹⁴ In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
¹⁶ For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
¹⁷ He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
¹⁸ He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
²⁰ and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.

²² But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—

What Are the Signs of Being “United” in “One Hope”?

Sign 1

“Our Church Should Be Filled with People Who Have and to the Gospel.”

Colossians 1:4-6

⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints

⁵ because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel

⁶ that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.

Sign 2

“Our Church Should Be Filled with People in the Truth of the Gospel, False Teachings.”

Colossians 1:23a

²³ if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard…

“shifted away.” means “to move away from”

Here are some examples:

The Gospel of Moralism

• Example: The idea that simply being a good person or following ethical guidelines is enough to earn God’s favor and eternal life, without the need for faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
• Scripture: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24)
• Issue: This false gospel reduces Christianity to a set of moral principles, ignoring the need for repentance and faith in Christ’s sacrifice for sin.

The Gospel of Self-Reliance (Humanism)

• Example: The belief that humans are capable of achieving salvation, enlightenment, or fulfillment through their own strength, intellect, or inner power.
• Scripture: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Issue: This message elevates human abilities and wisdom, placing salvation in our own hands, and neglects the fundamental need for God’s grace and Christ’s redeeming work.

The Gospel of Cultural Conformity

• Example: The idea that the Gospel must adapt to cultural trends and moral relativism, often compromising biblical truths to fit contemporary social values (e.g., redefining marriage, gender, or sin).
• Scripture: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
• Issue: This false gospel compromises the authority of Scripture to accommodate popular opinion, distorting the truth of God’s Word to fit societal standards rather than God’s standards.

The Gospel of Self-Improvement

• Example: The focus on using Christianity primarily as a means of self-betterment, personal success, or psychological well-being, rather than as a call to repentance and submission to Christ.
• Scripture: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” (Matthew 16:24)
• Issue: This message centers on human potential and individual happiness rather than the transformation that comes through surrender to Christ and following His will.

The Gospel of Political Ideology

• Example: The tendency to align the Christian faith with a specific political movement or party, suggesting that salvation or true Christianity can only be found in following a particular political agenda.
• Scripture: “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36)
• Issue: This reduces the Gospel to a political ideology, shifting the focus from Christ’s spiritual kingdom and mission to human political power and influence.

Sign 3

“Our Church Should be Filled with People Who, Having Heard, Responded to, and Experienced the Gospel, are to it With Others.”

Colossians 1:27-28

²⁷ God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

²⁸ We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Colossians 1:7

⁷ You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

A church united in one hope shares the Gospel with others.

Romans 10:14-15

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

Conversations that lead toConversations

Paul put himself in everyday situations.

So that he could look for opportunities to share the Gospel in the context of where someone was at.

1 Corinthians 9:19-22

¹⁹ Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people.

²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law^[d]—to win those under the law.

²¹ To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law.

²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.

Where are your everyday places where you can share the Gospel?

“Our Church Should Be Filled with People Who Have Heard and Responded to the Gospel.”

• Today, you have heard the Hope of the Gospel, and maybe you have not yet responded to it. Today is the day of Salvation! Will you respond?

“Our Church Should Be Filled With People Grounded in the Truth of the Gospel, Avoiding False Teachings.”

• What is the next step you need to take to begin being discipled so that you can have a solid Gospel Foundation?

Our Church Should be Filled with People Who, Having Heard, Responded to, and Experienced the Gospel, are Eager to Share it With Others.

• Who is God asking you to go and share the Gospel With?