How Does the Holy Spirit Unite Us?

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the Christian faith, as explained in Ephesians chapter 2. When someone believes in Jesus, repents, and is baptized, God creates a new spiritual life within them. While physically unchanged, their sins are forgiven, and they become part of God’s kingdom. This transformation is available to everyone, regardless of their background. Jesus brought unity by fulfilling the Old Testament law, allowing all believers to be one through faith and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit provides many benefits to Christians. One crucial benefit is direct access to God the Father. As Paul explains in Romans 8:15-16, the Spirit allows us to call God “Abba, Father,” signifying a close, familial relationship. Jesus also promises in John 14:13-14 that prayers made in his name will be answered. The Spirit helps us communicate with God, even when we don’t know exactly what to say (Romans 8:26).

Because of the Holy Spirit, Gentile Christians are no longer outsiders. They are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). The term “saints” doesn’t refer to a special group of super-Christians. It means “holy ones” – anyone cleansed by Jesus’ blood.

The Holy Spirit Guides the Church

The church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles, like Peter and Paul, witnessed Jesus’ life and resurrection. The prophets spoke God’s word, both in the Old Testament and the early church. The New Testament writings of these men guide the church. Jesus is the crucial cornerstone, holding everything together. Without him, there’s no foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Paul uses several metaphors to describe the church. It’s Christ’s body (Ephesians 1:23), a kingdom (Ephesians 2:19), God’s household (Ephesians 2:19), and a temple (Ephesians 2:21-22). The church is a temple because the Holy Spirit dwells within it. Each Christian is like a living stone in this temple (1 Peter 2:5). Just like a mason shapes stones to fit, God shapes believers from different backgrounds to fit together in unity.

God planned for a diverse church from the beginning. Paul, imprisoned for preaching to Gentiles, understood this (Ephesians 3:1-4). Jesus appointed Paul as an apostle in an unusual way (1 Corinthians 15:8), specifically to reach non-Jews (Acts 26:16-18). Paul saw his imprisonment as part of God’s plan to bring all people into His kingdom.