I'm

. Our unity as Christians involves more than simply attending the same church together each week.

So what are the key elements of being conformed into the image of Jesus that lead to us being united in the gospel.

We'll find out today on Truth for Life as Alistair Begg examines what true biblical unity looks like.

Well, we've picked up our studies again in Ephesians 4. I invite you to turn there, if you will.

Well, we've come, as we said last time, in what was essentially an introduction to an introduction,

to the point at which Paul moves largely from the doctrinal section to the practical section. It's always dangerous to state it

in such categorical terms, because it doesn't fit entirely, but nevertheless, broadly speaking,

he does what he does in other of his epistles, lays down the doctrinal foundations,

and having made them very clear, he then makes application

of them as he brings the implications home to his readers.

Now, we said last time, and we won't repeat ourselves, apart from this, that the order of that is vitally important,

that the doctrine gives the basis for the action.

So that it is because all of these things are true of us in Christ, that we now have

to respond to these exhortations to live in the family

of Christ and for Christ. And it is a reminder to us that while justification, the work

of God's grace for us takes place outside of ourselves and is instantaneous and is complete,

that the work of sanctification being conformed to the image of Jesus is not a feeling that

we feel, but rather it is an action to which we're called, and it is on account of the impetus of divine

grace that we are then able to respond to the call so that we might do as God's word

tells us to do. We said not only is the order important, but we also said that it is

vitally important that we do not

...