エフェソの信徒への手紙4:4-6 Ephesians 4:4-6,
体は一つ、霊は一つです。それは、あなたがたが、一つの希望にあずかるようにと招かれているのと同じです。（エフェソ4:4）
「体は一つ」とはキリストの体である教会が一つということです。そして、この場合の教会とは、先ほどお話した「天にある聖徒と地にある聖徒の総体であり、普遍的な、永遠にわたって存在する共同体」（『日本キリスト教会大信仰問答』138問の答え）である「見えざる教会」のことです。地上のキリスト教会は、さまざまな教派にわかれています。しかし、天国にあるクリスチャンと地上にあるクリスチャンをあわせた「見えざる教会」は、教派や民族や時代を超えた一つの共同体なのです。
それでは、「見えざる教会」が、一つの共同体であると言えるのはなぜでしょうか？それは、教派や民族や時代が違っても、信じる人に信仰を与えてくださる聖霊なる神様はお一人だからです。それが「霊は一つ」ということです。この手紙の3章17節には、「信仰によってあなたがたの心の内にキリストを住まわせ」てくださると記されていました。これは、父なる神様が信じる人の心にキリストの霊である聖霊を送って住まわせてくださるということです。信じる人の心の中に住んでくださる聖霊なる神様はお一人ですから、教派や民族や時代によって教会のありさまは違って見えるかもしれませんが、教会は本質的には一つの共同体であると言えるのです。新約聖書の時代のエフェソの人々は、ギリシア神話の神々の霊の力を信じていましたが、クリスチャンはそのような神々の霊の力から解放されて、お一人の聖霊なる神様によって守られ導かれて生きるのです。
教派や民族や時代を超える一つの共同体である「見えざる教会」に属する人は、この世の人々とは違った特徴をもっています。それは、4節の後半に記されている「一つの希望にあずかるようにと招かれている」ということです。この手紙の1章18節で、パウロは「神の招きによってどのような希望が与えられているか、聖なる者たちの受け継ぐものがどれほど豊かな栄光に輝いているか悟らせてくださるように」という祈りを記していました。父なる神様のその招きを受け入れて、キリストを信じてキリストと結ばれた人は、神の子つまり神様の養子になることができます。そして、神様の養子になった人は、永遠に変わることのない祝福を受ける確かな希望をもつことができます。その希望が「豊かな栄光に輝いている」天国の財産を受け継ぐという希望です。「聖なる者たちの受け継ぐもの」とは、天国の財産である永遠の命を指しています。「見えざる教会」に属するまことのクリスチャンは、天国の財産である永遠の命という希望をもって生きます。 （5月25日の説教より）
It goes without saying that each of us is a unique individual. We all have different personalities, ways of thinking, values, lifestyles, strengths, and weaknesses. Although we may occasionally meet people who have similar personalities to ourselves, no two people are exactly alike. However, even though we are all different, we can still interact with one another. And we can build communities and live together.
However, human communities are not always stable. Consider, for example, the community of a nation. A nation has the power to govern its people and territory. Therefore, it appears to be a stable and strong community. However, the power to govern changes with the times. In Japan today, the power to govern is vested in the people themselves, as stipulated in the Constitution of Japan. However, before Japan’s defeat in World War II and the enactment of the Constitution of Japan, it was said that the Emperor held governing power based on the Constitution of the Empire of Japan. Japan’s defeat in World War II brought about significant changes in the nature of the community of Japan.
Moreover, the community of the nation is subject to prosperity and decline. In Isaiah 40:15 of the Old Testament, it is written, “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.” “The nations” here refer to great empires such as Assyria and Babylon that existed in the ancient Middle East. Assyria was a country located in the northern part of Mesopotamia, which conquered and ruled many other countries. However, Assyria was eventually destroyed by Babylon, which was located in the southern part of Mesopotamia. Babylon was originally a country under Assyrian rule, but it gradually grew in power, rebelled against the Assyrian Empire, and ultimately destroyed it. However, the Babylonian Empire was also conquered by the Persian Empire, which was located in what is now Iran. From the perspective of humans, these “nations” may seem powerful, but the Bible states that from God’s perspective, they are no more than “a drop from a bucket” or “the dust on the scales.” The term “coastlands” refers to the small nations that flourished along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. These likely refer to the Phoenician nations that flourished through maritime trade. To God, these nations were “like fine dust.”
What about the Christian church as a community? From a human perspective, the Christian church does not appear to be a stable community. For example, small mission stations may struggle to continue worship services and eventually dissolve. Even larger churches may experience conflicts among their members, making it difficult to carry out evangelistic work or develop the church. Denominations, which are organisations that unite individual churches, may split or merge. In world history, the Reformation in the 16th century, when the Protestant churches separated from the Catholic Church, was a major event. Today, the Catholic Church and Protestant churches are striving to walk together in fellowship, but this journey has not yet reached complete reconciliation. Furthermore, Protestant churches exist in various denominations.
Therefore, if we look only at the church on this earth, we cannot help but conclude that the church is also an unstable entity, just like other communities. And we might come to think that the church is not something we can trust. However, the Christian church is not only the visible entity that exists on this earth. The Larger Catechism of the Church of Christ in Japan teaches the following in Question 137 and its answer.
Question 137: What is the scope of what is included in the church?
Answer: The church includes all the saints who have been called together from the beginning of the world to its end, who are in the election of Jesus Christ’s grace.
（Translated by MIYOSHI Akira. The same applies below.）
The saints are those who have been chosen by God, believe in Jesus Christ, and have been saved and given eternal life. And in the following question 138 and its answer, it is taught that the church is not only the visible entity on earth, but also includes those who have already been called to heaven.
Question 138: Then, is the church not only the church on earth?
Answer: Exactly. The church is the totality of the saints in heaven and on earth, a universal and eternal community, which is called “the holy catholic Church.” This catholic Church exists as the invisible church and also as the visible church on earth.
That is, the Christian church is not only communities that exist on earth as the visible church, but also the eternal community that transcends time as “the invisible church.” Understanding this, even Christians who belong to a small church or mission station can have confidence in the church, knowing that they belong to “the invisible church,” “the holy catholic Church.” In other words, even if their church or mission station faces great difficulties, as Christians belonging to the “holy catholic Church,” they can live firmly believing in Christ’s salvation.
In 4:1-3 before today’s Bible passage, Paul gives the following advice on how to live a life of faith to the believers of the church in Ephesus.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
In chapters 1 through 3 of this letter, Paul teaches about the misery of human beings and their salvation from that misery. From chapter 4, he moves on to teachings how those who have been saved should live. The Christian way of life that Paul recommends is found in the second half of verse 1: since we have been called by God to salvation, we should “walk in a manner worthy of the calling.” What kind of life does it mean to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling” of God? This is taught in the first half of verse 2: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience.” Furthermore, from the second half of verse 2 through verse 3, we are taught to “bear with one another in love” and to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” And these things are not achieved by the strength of Christians themselves, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, as it says, “maintain the unity of the Spirit.”
After writing these things, Paul writes in verse 4 of today’s passage, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.” “One body” refers to the church, which is the body of Christ. In this context, the church refers to “the invisible church,” which is the totality of saints in heaven and on earth, a universal and eternal community. The Christian church on earth is divided into various denominations. However, “the invisible church,” which includes Christians in heaven and on earth, is one community that transcends denominations, ethnicities, and eras.
Why, then, can we say that “the invisible church” is one community? It is because, despite differences in denomination, ethnicity, and era, the Holy Spirit, who is God, is the one who grants faith to those who believe. This is what it means to say “one Spirit.” In 3:17 of this letter, Paul writes, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” This means that the Father sends the Holy Spirit, who is also the Spirit of Christ, to dwell in the hearts of believers. Since the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the hearts of believers, is one, even though the appearance of the church may vary depending on denomination, ethnicity, or era, the church is essentially one community. The people of Ephesus in the New Testament era believed in the power of the spirits of the gods of Greek mythology, but Christians were freed from the power of such spirits and live protected and guided by the one Holy Spirit.
Those who belong to “the invisible church,” which is the community that transcends denominations, ethnicities, and eras, have characteristics that are different from those of the people of this world. This is what is written in the latter half of verse 4: “you were called to the one hope.” In 1:18 of this letter, Paul wrote a prayer “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Those who accept the Father’s call, believe in Christ, and are united with Christ become children of God, that is, adopted children of God. And those who become adopted children of God have the sure hope of receiving unchanging blessings forever. That hope is the hope of inheriting the heavenly glorious property. The “glorious inheritance in the saints” refers to the eternal life that is the heavenly property. True Christians who belong to “the invisible church” live with the hope of eternal life, which is the heavenly property. If one places their hope first in the worldly possessions or prosperity rather than in eternal life, which is the heavenly property, then it must be questioned whether that person is a true Christian. Even true Christians may be tempted to place their hope first in the worldly possessions or prosperity. Therefore, let us always confirm with one another that we have been called to share in one hope, and let us not forget this.
In verse 5, it is stated that the foundation of true Christians who belong to “the invisible church” is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” “One Lord” means that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one Lord. True Christians believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only Lord. Since they believe in Jesus Christ as the one Lord, there is “one faith.” However, simply believing in Jesus Christ is vague. In his various letters, Paul explains in detail how to believe in Christ, how to believe in God the Father, and how to believe in God the Holy Spirit. The “one faith” refers to the entire correct faith in the triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The teachings of Paul and other New Testament teachings were later compiled into the Apostles’ Creed, which we read aloud during our worship services on the Lord’s Day. The Apostles’ Creed is said to have been compiled in later times from the baptismal questions asked of those seeking baptism during the second and third centuries, when the Roman Empire was persecuting Christians.
“One baptism” means that the sacrament of baptism, based on the correct faith in the Triune God, is the same baptism regardless of the time or place it is received. Through baptism, a person is united with Christ and becomes a Christian. In Romans 6:4, Paul says, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Baptism is the sacrament that unites a person to the death and resurrection of Christ. Baptism performed in the name of the Triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—is the same baptism, regardless of when or where it is received, so there is no need to be baptised again. Of course, even if someone has been baptised, they cannot be called a true Christian unless they possess “one hope” for the heavenly property and “one faith” in the Triune God. Therefore, in the church, Christians continue to learn about “one hope” for the heavenly property and “one faith” in the Triune God not only before baptism but also after baptism, through worship and gatherings.
In verse 6 of today’s passage, Paul strongly declares, “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Christ says in Matthew 5:45 that the Father in heaven “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Based on the teaching that God the Father, the Creator, gives natural blessings even to the evil, the “all” that Paul refers to probably includes all people, both those who believe in Christ and those who do not. Furthermore, with the expansive words “over all and through all and in all,” Paul may be referring to all existence in the universe. The people of Ephesus believed in the gods of Greek mythology, especially the goddess Artemis, as a great power that ruled heaven, earth, and the world of the dead. They took pride in and felt a sense of unity as members of the community of Ephesus, which was protected by Artemis. However, the city of Ephesus now remains only as ruins, and the once magnificent Temple of Artemis has been destroyed and no longer retains its original form. Ephesus, which was united by its faith in Artemis, has perished. And the Roman Empire, which once flourished, also split and fell.
However, the community known as “the holy catholic Church,” which is “the invisible church,” will endure forever. The Heidelberg Catechism, a document teaching Christian faith created in Germany in the 16th century, teaches in its 54 questions and answers as follows.
Question 54: What do you believe concerning “the holy catholic Church”?
Answer: I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member.
We are permanent members of the eternal community chosen to receive eternal life. Keeping this in mind, we want to live each day in a manner worthy of those who have been called to receive eternal life.