God is the Father of All

1. Read: Ephesians 4:3-6

2. About the Text:

1) The book of Ephesians is about God’s plan for reconciling people in the church.

2) To maintain that reconciliation, there are seven key truths upon which our unity is founded: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One Father.

3) The Father is described as “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

4) The church is God’s dream; it is His great purpose.

5) It is only in the body of Christ that His purposes can be satisfied.

6) This means that for everyone, whoever, they may be, these seven truths are what unite.

7) This morning, we will focus on “One God and Father of All.”

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The design of humanity is “in the image of God.”

1) “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

2) From the beginning, God designed humanity after His likeness.

3) He designed human beings with . . .

a. A Spirit – personal existence beyond the physical.

b. Free-Will – the ability to make decisions and be accountable.

c. Morality – a fundamental sense of right and wrong.

d. A Conscience – to tell us when we think we have done right or wrong.

e. Intellect – the ability to come to correct conclusions

f. Emotions – the ability to feel our own and others true desires.

g. Language – to communicate our thoughts and desires.

h. Personhood – a state that permits interaction with others.

i. Perhaps there are more qualities.

4) All who share these qualities are humans and worthy of respect by virtue of creation.

2. God also created each individual person in His image.

1) “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

2) “The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him” (Zechariah 12:1).

3) “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

3. “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12:9).

1) God is the “Father of spirits.”

2) He creates each of our spirits individually.

3) Each spirit is also unique.

1. Jesus gave his life for everyone.

1) “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

2) “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

3) “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

2. Jesus died for everyone because He loved everyone.

1) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

2) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:9).

3. Jesus died for everyone to be the savior of everyone.

1) “Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.’” (John 4:42).

2) “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14).

1. Originally, God intended to protect the poor.

1) “‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:15).

2) “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality” (James 2:1).

2. This is also commanded to prevent bribes.

1) “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous” (Deuteronomy 16:19).

2) “To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress” (Proverbs 28:21).

3. The principle is also applied to race and nationality.

1) “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35).

2) “…but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:10-11).

1. God is the Father of All Because . . .

1) All are Created in His Image

2) Jesus Died for Everyone

3) He is No Respecter of Persons

2. Invitation