Read: Ephesians 4:4-6
Watch: BibleProject: Elohim / The One True God
The Seven Elements of Oneness
“We are one in the bond of love.” This classic hymn perfectly echoes the unity of the Body of Christ. After challenging the church in Ephesus to make every effort to be united in the Spirit and bound together in peace, Paul lists seven non-negotiable elements of our “one-ness.”
1. One Body There is only one Bride, one Church. In Christ, our Head, we are united with everyone who has ever called upon the Name of Jesus for salvation.
- We are a multi-lingual choir, singing His praises in every tongue!
- We are a multi-national army, marching against the gates of hell!
- We are a multi-generational people, proclaiming “Jesus is Lord” to all who will hear.
2. One Spirit There is one Holy Spirit of God. One Comforter, one Counselor, one Convictor, and one Guide. He is our one abiding source of power—the One who intercedes when our words fail and the one Giver of all spiritual gifts.
3. One Glorious Hope We share one future: to forever abide with Jesus in the place He has prepared for us. One Heaven, one home, one eternal place of rest. And we don’t have to wait! My hope is build on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Our hope is abiding, remaining, being In Christ now! We have hope every day!
4. One Lord Jesus Christ is Lord. We have been invited into a perfect Trinitarian unity. Remember: you are the apple of your Father’s eye. Jesus would have come and died even if you were the only one!
5. One Faith We share one faith in the victorious work of God—His wonderful plan to bring us to salvation through Jesus Christ, the only Way, Truth, and Life.
6. One Baptism There is one baptism by which we joined Jesus in dying to self and were raised to walk in newness of life. This was our first step of obedience to His commands.
7. One God and Father We have no other gods before Him. He is the One True God, our Sovereign Creator, Provider, Healer, Protector, and King. He is Yahweh, the Great I AM! For from Him and to Him and through Him are all things. To Him be the glory and honor and praise!
Pray:
Dear Father, You are my one and only God. I honor You as my one Lord and one Spirit. Thank You for Your one Body and the one glorious hope I have through one faith in You. Thank You for baptizing me into Your Kingdom. Allow me to truly know You, the Holy One. Amen.
Reflection Question
Of these “Seven Ones,” which one gives you the most comfort during times of division or personal struggle? How and why? Which one do you struggle with? How and Why?
Bonus:
The “One-ness” Weekly Challenge
Goal: To move from being a collection of individuals to a unified “One Body.”
1. The “One Spirit” Prayer Partner
The Action: Pair up with one person in your group. The Challenge: Commit to sending a short text prayer to that person every morning this week. Don’t just ask for their needs; ask the One Spirit to fill them with power and peace for the specific tasks they have that day.
2. The “One Body” Multi-Lingual Moment
The Action: Research how to say “Jesus is Lord” or “God is Love” in a language other than your own (perhaps a language represented in IBC Madrid or your local neighborhood). The Challenge: Share that phrase in your group’s WhatsApp or Telegram chat. It’s a small reminder that our One Body is a beautiful, multi-lingual choir that spans the globe.
3. The “One Hope” Future-Focus
The Action: Identify one person in your life (a neighbor, coworker, or friend) who seems to be struggling with “hopelessness” or anxiety about the future. The Challenge: Without being “preachy,” find a way to offer them a word of One Hope. Share a reason why you have peace about the future, and offer to pray for them.
4. The “One Baptism” Story Swap
The Action: Record a 60-second voice note or write a paragraph about your baptism (or the moment you decided to follow Christ). The Challenge: Post it in your group chat. Hearing the different ways the One Lord brought everyone to the One Faith is one of the fastest ways to build a bond of love.
5. The “One Father” Service Act
The Action: Since we have One Father, we are all siblings. The Challenge: Perform one “anonymous” act of service for a “sibling” in your small group this week. It could be dropping off a coffee, running an errand, or leaving an encouraging note on a windshield.
Group Discussion: The Mid-Week Check-in
“Which of the ‘Seven Ones’ felt the most ‘real’ to you while doing these challenges? Did you feel a shift from just attending a group to being the Body?”