The One Spirit

By Dan Bailey

The Bible enumerates seven "ones" in Ephesians 4:4-6. God is not divided, but He is one. There are three "persons" in the Godhead, yet these three are one in divine nature. Paul said by inspiration, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). The one Spirit in this context is the Holy Spirit. In this passage of we have the one God and Father of all, the one Lord (Jesus Christ), and the one Spirit (the Holy Spirit).

In the great commission Jesus said, "...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20). The "one" Holy Spirit of God was sent by Jesus to guide His chosen apostles into "all truth."

Jesus told His apostles, "l have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said l, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:12-15). In this very passage we see that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one in teaching. Can you imagine the Holy Spirit contradicting the Son? Or can you imagine the Son contradicting the Father? It is abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit was sent to guide the apostles "into all truth*"

Since there is one Spirit and since he gave one united set of instructions to the apostles, why do people say that it does not matter if we differ in doctrine? The "one Spirit" would surely reveal one plan of salvation. The "one Spirit" would surely reveal one true way to worship God, and one true way to serve God. It is the "one Spirit" who teaches us that there is one body. The one body is the body of Christ or the church. "But now are they many members, yet but one body" (I Corinthians 12:20). "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filter all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23). "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18). The Lord established His church and you should be a member of it. The "one Spirit" has given us the one gospel. Have you obeyed it?