Ephesians 4:5-6

4:5

one Lord – I’ve already considered the theme of “one”. “Lord” – This word has been so spiritualized that it generally lacks significance any more. For me, a very functional equivalent is “boss.” The church, the fellowship of believers has one Boss. Having said this, I think back to some of the church bosses I have encountered—whose toes (in lieu of a harsher term) I refused to kiss. It might do a lot of people and a lot of churches a lot of good to start seeing Jesus as the “Boss” of our lives as well as “Boss” of the church.

one faith – Belief, credo, confession, trust. We tend to think of faith as a passive concept—a mental process or commitment. But I see faith as an action word. Faith without works is dead. So unless I demonstrate my faith—take some risks for the Boss—unless I take those risks, I may not really have faith. But in this context, Paul may actually be thinking of a common creed. The superficial divisions in the Christian movement accomplish at least two terrible things: (1) They give a bad witness to the world—a picture of disharmony and strife instead of unity; and (2) They misrepresent the truth. The fact is that among the myriad Protestant groups we agree on about 95% of our creed. And even between Protestant and Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, the agreement rate is about 90%.

But back to Paul’s point: One faith means we enjoy a unifying belief system. Our common belief in the deity/humanity of Jesus Christ, in the triune Godhead, in the virgin birth, in the atoning sacrificial death, in the resurrection both of Jesus in the past and believers in the future, ascension and hoped for return of Christ: This common body of belief makes us “one.” So regardless of the denominational label (or its absence), as long as we hold these common beliefs, there is a sense in which we are “one” faith.

one baptism – Paul thinks of baptism as more than an outward testimony to what God has done inside. In Romans 6, he describes baptism as being “baptized into his death.” When we go into the water, we die to the life of sin, we join Christ in dying to sin. When we are raised out of the water, we rise to a new life free from sin. We join Christ in living a life characterized by victory over sin. I’m not saying that the baptism event saves us. But it is more than just a symbol. It is death to the old life and resurrection to a new life. Believers in regions where Christianity is the persecuted minority understand this very well. In such places, all who are baptized have been set apart from the root of society. Being set apart gives these believers their own identity. In that context it becomes crucial for them to act as one body because of one baptism, regardless of different denominational labels.

4:6

one God – Ultimate, Supreme, Holy, Love, Justice, Gentleness, Faithfulness, etc.

and Father – other religions recognize that God lives, or that gods live. One of the unique offerings of Christian faith involves introducing God as Father. Jewish Scripture used the term, but in a more abstract sense. Christian faith moves this notion to the level of intimacy—“Abba, Father”. (LDS takes that to extreme.) Granted, given the kinds of earthly fathers some have known, this may not be a helpful image. But when we see a healthy father relationship, we get a glimpse of our heavenly Father. Psalm 103, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”

of all – Paul already introduced the notion that God is Father to us (3:14 – 15). There God’s Fatherhood is portrayed in a restrictive sense, as applying only to those who trust in Him through faith in Christ Jesus. Here, in 4:6, it appears to apply in a broader sense. On the one hand, Paul talks about us believers as being “one” in the family of God. At the same time, he describes God as Father of all. Somehow I must keep mindful that God looks on all humankind from a fatherly perspective. He cares for all; He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Still, there is a sense in which God is chooses to act as Father—i.e., to father—those who have been adopted into His family.

who is – present tense, still true

over all – authority, supremacy

and through all – present and actively accomplishing His purpose in consequence of the acts of everyone. So that even the evil intents of a deliberate God-hater become a means by which God achieves His purposes

and in all – whispering to and pursuing even the most determined rebel