The Unity of the Spirit
We have read quite a bit about our unity in the body of Christ lately. It is essential for us to understand this truth and to pursue that unity for several reasons. As we said, one reason is so that others will see the supernatural unity and be drawn to Christ. Another reason is so that we can achieve God's purpose for the church, which is to be a well coordinated group of people who work together to grow in the Lord and to serve Him well. Paul addresses that aspect here, as he goes over the structure of the body and how each member of the body needs the other members, and when they all work together the body is healthy. Then, he gives us the key to how all of this is possible. (I Corinthians 12:13) That is what we want to explore today.
There is only one Holy Spirit, and He is the One who baptizes all of us into the body of Christ. It is the power of the Spirit that joins us all together, so that we have that supernatural unity. Therefore, no matter if a person was a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, he or she is joined to every other person in that church on an equal basis. The only difference is that our spiritual gifts are different to allow us to take our role in the body and fulfill it as the Spirit directs us. Also, we have the gifts that the Spirit wants us to have, not what we want. He gives us just the right gifts since He knows us completely. Finally, we are all made to drink of one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. That way we have the ability to think alike and to work together at His direction in a very coordinated way, and we want to do that because He fill us with that desire. Therefore, the Spirit is the Person of the Trinity who brings about our unity, so we are the church of the Lord Jesus, not just a group of individuals.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 13-15.
There is only one Holy Spirit, and He is the One who baptizes all of us into the body of Christ. It is the power of the Spirit that joins us all together, so that we have that supernatural unity. Therefore, no matter if a person was a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, he or she is joined to every other person in that church on an equal basis. The only difference is that our spiritual gifts are different to allow us to take our role in the body and fulfill it as the Spirit directs us. Also, we have the gifts that the Spirit wants us to have, not what we want. He gives us just the right gifts since He knows us completely. Finally, we are all made to drink of one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. That way we have the ability to think alike and to work together at His direction in a very coordinated way, and we want to do that because He fill us with that desire. Therefore, the Spirit is the Person of the Trinity who brings about our unity, so we are the church of the Lord Jesus, not just a group of individuals.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Corinthians 13-15.