Our Unity in the Spirit

Grace to You.org ^ | 1997 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

All Christians are part of the same Body, with the same Spirit, who is our pledge of eternal life.

Everything God ever designed for the church is based on the unity of believers. Paul emphasizes that by listing seven "ones" in these verses. One is the key; it is the cause of the worthy walk.

How many bodies of Christ are there? There isn't a Presbyterian body, a Baptist body, and a Methodist body; nor is there a California body, a Utah body, and a Kansas body. There is just one Body, the church. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). Whatever your race, creed, nationality, or language, when you become a Christian, you become one with every other believer.

Paul's next point is that there is only one Spirit, who dwells in every believer. First Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?" We "are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:22). Individually we are the temple of the Spirit; collectively we are the dwelling of the Spirit.

We are also "called in one hope of [our] calling." We have only one eternal calling, only one eternal destiny, and the Holy Spirit guarantees our heavenly hope. "You were sealed in [Christ] with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance" (Eph. 1:13-14). He is our down payment, the first installment of our eternal inheritance.

Ephesians 4:4 focuses on the Holy Spirit's ministry to us: we are placed into one Body by the Spirit, one Spirit dwells in us, and our one hope is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for the Holy Spirit's ministry in the church and in your life.

For Further Study

First Corinthians 12 has much to say about church unity. Read it carefully, noting in particular what the Spirit does in the Body and what our responsibility is as individual believers.

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[Resettozero]

All Christians are part of the same Body, with the same Spirit, who is our pledge of eternal life.

Depends on the definition of a "Christian". Many are called "Christians" but few are chosen.

[cloudmountain]

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Amen.

[metmom]

Many call themselves Christian who are not.

[Kandy Atz]

AMEN!!

If folks would set aside their religious beliefs and live this TRUTH, the Body would be healthy, united, and vibrant, and more effectively fulfill God’s perfect plan individually and corporately. 1 Corinthians 12 brings even more clarity - the Body is made up of many parts with different functions and Anointings. They are placed in the Body by God, not religion. - But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. (v 18 - NIV)

We may never have perfect unity in doctrine before Jesus returns, but we can certainly have unity in the Spirit.

From Romans 8 (NIV):

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.