Divine Unity: The Holy Spirit's Role in the Church

 

Summary

In Ephesians 4:4-6, Paul emphasizes the unity of the church, rooted in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. This unity is not man-made but divinely established, reflecting the oneness of God: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. The church is not a mere collection of individuals but an organic unity, much like a human body, where each part is essential to the whole. This unity is grounded in the work of the Holy Spirit, who is the life and essence of the church. The Spirit is indivisible, unlike the multitude of evil spirits, and is responsible for the church's creation and sustenance.

The Holy Spirit's work in the church is multifaceted. He convicts us of sin, leading to humility and the destruction of pride. This conviction is essential for true unity, as it brings us to a place of shared brokenness and need for God's grace. The Spirit also regenerates us, giving us new life and making us partakers of the divine nature. This new life is the same in all believers, fostering unity as we share in the same divine essence.

Furthermore, the Spirit enables us to exercise faith and understanding, uniting us in the common salvation through Jesus Christ. He incorporates us into the body of Christ, baptizing us into one body and animating the life of the church. The Spirit's work of sanctification is consistent in all believers, producing the same fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits naturally lead to unity, as they counteract the divisive works of the flesh.

The unity of the church is a reflection of the unity within the Godhead. It is not something we create but something we are called to maintain through the Spirit's work in us. As we yield to the Spirit, our personalities are transformed, and the fruit of the Spirit becomes evident, leading to a harmonious and unified body of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The unity of the church is divinely established, reflecting the oneness of the Holy Trinity. This unity is not a human creation but a spiritual reality that we are called to maintain through the Spirit's work. [02:04]

- Conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit is essential for true unity. It humbles us, destroys pride, and brings us to a shared recognition of our need for God's grace, fostering a unity in brokenness and dependence on Christ. [21:31]

- Regeneration by the Holy Spirit gives us new life, making us partakers of the divine nature. This shared divine life is the foundation of our unity, as we are all transformed by the same Spirit into the likeness of Christ. [27:01]

- The Spirit's work of sanctification produces the same fruit in all believers, leading to unity. Love, joy, peace, and other fruits counteract the divisive works of the flesh, creating a harmonious community. [35:39]

- The Holy Spirit incorporates us into the body of Christ, uniting us with Him and with each other. This incorporation is a spiritual reality that transcends human divisions, as we are all baptized into one body by the Spirit. [31:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 4:4-6
- [00:34] - The Call to Unity
- [01:17] - Unity in the Trinity
- [02:04] - One Body, One Spirit
- [03:18] - The Organic Unity of the Church
- [05:03] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [06:39] - The Indivisibility of the Holy Spirit
- [09:25] - The Kingdom of Evil vs. The Holy Spirit
- [11:18] - The Work of the Holy Spirit
- [13:28] - Preparation and Regeneration
- [18:29] - Conviction of Sin
- [27:01] - New Life in Christ
- [31:22] - Incorporation into the Body
- [35:39] - The Fruit of the Spirit and Unity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Unity in the Spirit

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:4-6

Observation Questions:
1. What are the seven elements of unity that Paul lists in Ephesians 4:4-6, and how do they relate to the Holy Trinity? [02:04]
2. According to the sermon, how does the Apostle Paul describe the church in terms of its unity? [03:34]
3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the creation and maintenance of the church's unity, as discussed in the sermon? [06:02]
4. How does the sermon differentiate between the Holy Spirit and evil spirits? [07:05]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit contribute to the unity of the church? [21:31]
2. In what ways does the regeneration by the Holy Spirit create a shared divine life among believers, fostering unity? [27:01]
3. How does the work of sanctification by the Holy Spirit produce unity within the church? [35:39]
4. What does it mean to be incorporated into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and how does this transcend human divisions? [31:22]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt convicted of sin. How did that experience humble you and bring you closer to others in your faith community? [21:31]
2. Consider the concept of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. How can you embrace this new life and share it with others in your church? [27:01]
3. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that you struggle with. What specific steps can you take this week to cultivate that fruit in your life? [35:39]
4. Think about a situation where you felt divided from others in your church. How can you work towards unity by focusing on the shared divine life you have through the Holy Spirit? [31:22]
5. How can you actively maintain the unity of the Spirit in your church community, especially when faced with disagreements or conflicts? [41:43]
6. Reflect on your personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. How can you deepen this relationship to better contribute to the unity of your church? [42:28]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your personality is governed by the Holy Spirit, allowing the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in your interactions with others? [37:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity Reflects the Trinity
The unity of the church is a divine reality that mirrors the oneness of the Holy Trinity. This unity is not something humans can create; it is established by God and maintained through the work of the Holy Spirit. The church is called to embody this unity, reflecting the singular nature of God: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. This divine unity is a spiritual truth that transcends human efforts and divisions, calling believers to live in harmony as an organic whole, much like a human body where each part is essential to the whole. [02:04]

Ephesians 4:3-4 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in maintaining the unity of the Spirit within your church community today?


Day 2: Conviction Leads to Unity
The Holy Spirit's conviction of sin is crucial for true unity within the church. This conviction humbles individuals, dismantling pride and leading to a shared recognition of the need for God's grace. As believers come to terms with their brokenness and dependence on Christ, they find common ground in their spiritual journey. This shared experience of humility and grace fosters a unity that is rooted in the acknowledgment of human frailty and the transformative power of God's love. [21:31]

James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: Consider a recent moment when you felt convicted of sin. How can this experience help you connect with others in your church who are also seeking God's grace?


Day 3: Regeneration and Shared Divine Life
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit grants believers new life, making them partakers of the divine nature. This transformation is the foundation of unity, as all believers are changed by the same Spirit into the likeness of Christ. The shared divine life unites believers, creating a community that reflects the character and love of God. As individuals are regenerated, they become more like Christ, fostering a unity that is based on the common experience of spiritual renewal and growth. [27:01]

2 Peter 1:4 (ESV): "By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Reflection: How does your new life in Christ influence your interactions with fellow believers, and how can you encourage others in their spiritual growth?


Day 4: The Fruit of the Spirit and Unity
The Holy Spirit's work of sanctification produces the same fruit in all believers, leading to unity. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the fruits that counteract the divisive works of the flesh. As these fruits become evident in the lives of believers, they naturally lead to a harmonious and unified community. The Spirit's transformative work in individuals results in a collective expression of God's character, fostering unity within the church. [35:39]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to cultivate, and how can you seek the Spirit's help in developing it to promote unity in your community?


Day 5: Incorporation into the Body of Christ
The Holy Spirit incorporates believers into the body of Christ, uniting them with Him and with each other. This incorporation is a spiritual reality that transcends human divisions, as all are baptized into one body by the Spirit. The unity of the church is a reflection of the unity within the Godhead, and believers are called to maintain this unity through the Spirit's work in their lives. As individuals yield to the Spirit, their personalities are transformed, and the fruit of the Spirit becomes evident, leading to a harmonious and unified body of Christ. [31:22]

1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV): "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."

Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity of the body of Christ in your local church, and what steps can you take to bridge any divisions you perceive?

Quotes

"The church is not a loose collection of people the church is unlike any human society, there is an organic unity about the life of the church which can be thought of very conveniently in terms of the essential vital organic unity that is of course the characteristic of our human frames our bodies are not collections of thoughts there is a wholeness therefore these parts are parts of the body and the whole is greater than the summation of the parts." [00:03:39]

"The Holy Spirit himself one spirit in other words the church is the result of the activity of the Holy Spirit himself it is he whopper it's in the church in the production of the church and the maintenance and the well-being of the life of the church and again therefore the Apostle is anxious to show how inevitable is this doctrine of the unity of the church because of the fact that the Holy Spirit is here in the very center of the body and is the life and being of the organism." [00:06:00]

"There is only one Holy Spirit and he is indivisible now that is really the whole basis of everything the Apostles gotta say here I wonder whether we realize this as we ought that there is only one Holy Spirit who is a person and therefore indivisible now there are many evil spirits that unit is net in the sixth chapter of this epistle in the tenth verse and so on the Apostle will be saying to us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood well against what against principalities and powers and the rulers all in the plural you notice of the darkness of this world spiritual wickedness in high places there is a pro-rata T of evil spirits there are thousands perhaps millions of evil spirits but there is only one Holy Spirit." [00:07:04]

"Without this work of the Holy Spirit upon us we are not and cannot be members of the body of Christ and therefore of course there is no unity and that is why churches individual churches are divided often and groups and collections of churches are divided you see the other elements are more important the National element national church and so on all that divides Church of this country church of another country it's also unscriptural and unspiritual but these are the things that matter and all the other men made traditions hence you see all your divisions because people have not realized that apart from the work of the Holy Spirit you haven't got a true church you haven't got the body of Christ whatever you may have externally and in appearance." [00:19:47]

"Conviction of sin it's always the first thing he does conviction of sin there we will satisfied with ourselves contend to go on imagining always well that perhaps with a very good people or perhaps knowing that we were bad people but still no conviction of sin but when the Holy Spirit begins to work he convicts us of sin when he shall come he shall convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment to come and he does invariably conviction of sin and with it of course the two go together the holiness of God he makes us aware of God or we may have talked about God for years we may have said our prayers to him but we've never thought about him and we know nothing about him until the Holy Spirit begins to deal with us." [00:20:48]

"Regeneration the giving of a new life you can't be a Christian without being born again you remember our Lord fixed that once and forever with Nicodemus you can't be a member of the body of Christ unless you've got something of his life in you the thing is a sheer impossibility it is only to argue about it you can join the church be a member of a society you can't belong to Christ unless his life is in you regeneration new birth new creation born again doesn't matter which term you use you see when we are made Christians what the Holy Spirit does to us is not to improve us a little bit he doesn't just get rid of a few spots and stains here and there and trim us up a bit and put on a new coat of paint and a little varnish on that no no we've got to be remade from the very foundation he was he quickened new life new nature the Christian is a partaker of the divine nature he is a member of the household of God of the family of God." [00:26:31]

"By one spirit have we all been baptized into one body you see there it is once and forever whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit capital s it is the spirit that baptizes us into the body of Christ it's his work we are not aware of it it's an unconscious work as far as we are concerned but it does he's called us and he's quickened us and he's prepared us and he baptizes us into the body and we are members of the body of Christ and share us in this great unity and therefore join to one another." [00:31:22]

"The Holy Spirit Himself is the medium through which and by means of which the organic unity of the body is preserved he is like the life of our physical bodies or indeed if you like like the blood in our physical bodies there is this unifying spirit connecting them all together and making them one as we saw last Sunday morning and the Holy Spirit is the life of the body and when he isn't there the body is dead that is why you can have a dead church but this isn't the invisible church that is never dead that is always alive because he is always the life and the animating and the unifying principle in the body makes it one and thus establishes the organic unity." [00:33:50]

"The Holy Spirit does exactly the same work of sanctification in a single one of us sanctification means being like the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore all of our being sanctified must be similar because they're all becoming more and more like him John says when we see him we shall be like him we'll all be like him perfectly sanctified the spots and the wrinkles will all have gone and we'll all be like him and all like one another his work of sanctification in each is identical but then you see he goes on and produces exactly the same fruit in all of us and as you think of the unity of the church think of this when the Holy Spirit is in us and dwelling in us and controlling us as he should he produces his own fruitiness and his fruit is always the same the fruit of the Spirit is always love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance always the same it doesn't matter whether you're looking at a Christian in England or in China of Japan or in Venezuela the fruit of the Spirit is always the same these blessed graces of the Spirit and you see when they are present there is of necessity unity." [00:34:39]

"The fruit of the Spirit is love and love at once unites and joy and joy unites the woman who found her lost time went out and said to her neighbors come in let's have a feast together I found the coin that I lost and the Shepherd had lost the sheep said the same joy it unites peace of course it's the opposite of war and division long-suffering we've already considered that gentleness goodness faithfulness meekness temperance holding back that lust that desire that piggy want and the other wants it and you fight big it's all held back temperance control discipline the fruit of the Spirit and when he gives this fruit you see and produces it there is no room left for division or discord because there is one body and one spirit the unity is there and our business is just with all loyal innocent meekness and with long-suffering forbearing one another to heat the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." [00:40:33]

"The spirit of peace and of unity coming in the form of a dove always inevitably always is the bringer and the producer and the maintainer of peace as he done his work in you as he done the work of preparation the work of Incorporation is he dwelling in you and he is he many fifty he is gracious glorious fruit in you." [00:42:09]

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Transcript
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