SEVEN ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIANITY: ONE SPIRIT

by J. K. Gossett [Note: This is a reprint from J.K. Gossett's book The Gospel in Newsprint]

In this series the seven ones of Christianity, as set forth in Ephesians 4:4-6, are under consideration. They are: 

• ONE BODY (the church) 
• ONE SPIRIT (the Holy Spirit) 
• ONE HOPE (desire and expectation of eternal life) 
• ONE LORD (Jesus Christ) 
• ONE FAITH (the gospel) 
• ONE BAPTISM (baptism in water) 
• ONE GOD (the Father) 

The one Spirit, the captions of the article, is the Holy Spirit, a person of the Godhead. This passage (Ephesians 4:4-6) is one of many where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are linked together. Second Corinthians is closed in this way: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (II Corinthians 13:14 ASV). Also, Jesus said in the Great Commission, “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 ASV). 

JESUS’ PROMISE TO THE APOSTLES 

Near the end of Jesus’ ministry He promised to send the Holy Spirit from the Father to the apostles. This promise was fulfilled on the first Jewish Pentecost after the ascension of Christ, and it marked the beginning of the church. This promise was not to everyone but only to the apostles. The purpose of sending the Holy Spirit was to guide the apostles into all truth and to confirm the word. The revealed truth was to convict the world of sin, judgment, and righteousness. This began to be done when the first gospel sermon was preached under the Great Commission. (All of these matters are set forth in John 14, 15, and 16 and in Acts 2). 

THE SPIRIT’S MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION 

The Holy Spirit communicates with man’s spirit through, and only through, the word of God. The word was once given orally to the people by inspired men. Today the word of God is in an inspired book—the Bible. From no other source does one know anything about God and/or His will for men. The Holy Spirit did His work well. The Bible is complete (Galatians 1:6-12; Jude 3).