“One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in us all. But to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Christ. Wherefore He says, Having ascended up on high, He has led captivity captive, and has given gifts to men. But that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same who has also ascended up above all the heavens, that He might fill all things; and He has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints; with a view to the work of the ministry; with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ” (verses 5-12, JND).
The subject of the unity that belongs to the saints of God in Christ now, is still before us. The fourth verse is one character of unity; the fifth another, and the sixth a third. They form concentric unities which enlarge respectively. Nobody enters the first except those who are born and sealed of the Holy Spirit, but in verse 5 we have a more outside unity, and area of profession, larger than that of real spiritual power. Here “the Lord” is made prominent. I recall from childhood hearing a young woman, who at the time had a position in our household, saying something about “our Lord,” and heard my mother’s quick but kindly expressed response, “Is He truly your Lord and Saviour, Harriet?” The Bible tells us that in the day of judgment many who are unsaved will say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?” And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23)). (See also Matt. 25:11-4211Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: (Matthew 25:11‑42)).
In like manner, we read here of “one faith,” —the common faith that all Christians profess; thus we distinguish it from the religion of the Jews, and the idol worship of the heathen. This is not the faith that receives Christ and is saved.
“One baptism” follows because that is a mark of Christian profession. Thus verse 5 tells us of just that—the Christian profession, the unity of it, not necessarily a real, holy and eternal thing, since there is much that is unreal, profession and not possession, in it.
And now we reach the sixth verse, giving the last unfolding of unity in and around Christ our Lord. We acknowledge “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all;” a personal God, and not a number of divinities, as the Gentiles did, and many still acknowledge. As it is said, the bulk of men have gone on with their idols, in spite of Old Testament law or New Testament gospel. The Christian revelation shows God in an infinitely larger character and for us far more intimately known than as the Jew knew Him. “In us all” speaks of the Father’s special relationship to the Christian.
The Holy Spirit next turns to the consideration of the special ways in which the Lord calls upon the various members of His body to serve Him, for “to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” All of us have a common position as belonging to Him, but what is now brought out here is what is peculiar in privilege and responsibility on the part of each individual member of Christ.
It should be noted that there is a plain distinction in the point of view in which the Spirit presents Christian ministry in Ephesians and in the Corinthian epistles. Of course, Christ is seen above all His servants in every case, and as Head and Lord He gives certain gifts. In Corinthians, the Holy Spirit is more prominent than Christ, but in Ephesians the reverse is true. Both aspects are necessary to God’s glory, and equally perfect in their place.
But we must leave further consideration of this most interesting subject to another occasion, if the Lord will.