This is the second of “seven ones.” “Seven ones” are given that there might be the unity of the Spirit. Some call these “God’s Unity Platform.” This is an appropriate designation. If all would believe and observe all these seven items, division — at least in doctrine — would disappear from the world. This will never be, of course, for the devil is still at large in the world and he labors constantly to blind the minds of the unbelieving (2 Cor. 4:4).
“One Spirit” has reference to the Holy Spirit and His work. Since both the Father and Son are distinguished from the Spirit, and since both are God; both are Spirit (Jn. 4:24). So when Paul writes of “one Spirit,” he writes of the Holy Spirit and His work of revealing God’s will to men. Often in the Old Testament prophets claimed they were “in the Spirit.” We read that the spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, Gideon, David, as well as many others (Judges 3:10; 6:34; 1 Sam. 16:13). In the New Testament, allusion is made of Old Testament prophets who were guided by the Spirit. Jesus spake of David who “in the Spirit” wrote, “The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand till I make all thine enemies the footstool of thy feet” (Mt. 2:43, 44; Ps. 110:1). Peter spake the same when he declared, “Holy men spake from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21).
If God is (and He is); and He has a will for man (and He does); then man must have His message which is undiluted and inerrant. He must have a message in which he can place unshakable confidence. To reveal such a message to man has been the Spirit’s work since time eternal. This is why all of Satan’s helpers seek to discredit the Bible for if they are able to place doubt in men’s hearts about the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures, they can move men away from the conviction necessary to obey it.
While Jesus was yet with His disciples He instructed them of things both past, present and future. But, He knew He would not be with them always and so He gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit who would guide them when He was not there to do so. To them He said, “… I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth: whom the world cannot receive …” (Jn. 14:16f). He further promised, “… the spirit of Truth, which proceedeth form the Father, he shall bear witness of me …” (Jn. 15:26). In this same discourse He told them, “Howbeith when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he shall guide you into all the truth, for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, there shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come” (Jn. 16:13).
The Holy Spirit did come. He faithfully fulfilled the work God gave Him to do. He gave us the Holy Scriptures which “grant unto us all things which pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). These writers, guided by the Holy Spirit, gave us the Holy Scriptures. Thus Paul said, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16f). The Holy Spirit has completed His work. He has given us the Holy Scriptures, which if any man speaks contrary to, that man does not have God (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Jn. 9ff). Therefore, we need to heed Paul’s admonition to Timothy: “But abide thou in the things which thou has learned, and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them …” (2 Tim. 3:14).
Jim McDonald
