The body of Christ – We are one. “Some are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we share the same Spirit. (1Cor 12:13)

In our church recently, we discussed how God could be three distinct individuals and yet be one God. This verse from 1Corinthian is a great example of how we as the body of Christ are one in God also. For our part in this oneness, it is a little easier to see because it is God’s Spirit that connects us. As the scripture says, “we share the same Spirit.” In Christ we are no longer individuals because we have God’s Spirit He is the One who connects us all. We are all connected to God through His Spirit, therefore, we become one in Him.

Just as your body has many parts that function as one unit so should the body of Christ be functioning as one unit on the earth. However, because we let sin rule in our hearts most of the time we have become divided with multiple denominations, causing confusion to unbelievers. There should not be multiple denominations, groups, and factions among us. We should have been able to recognize each other’s gifts in the Spirit and lived in harmony with one another in oneness.

“To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have” (1Cor 12:7-11).

Our time is growing short. Christians in places other that the United States are facing death every day for their faith. If one part of the body is suffering we are all suffering. Those who are suffering in other parts of the world for being Christians are your brothers and sisters if you are a follower of Christ. They are not being punished for a wrong belief or for being different from you. They are being attacked because they believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, that His death burial and resurrection has redeemed them from sin. We ARE ONE.

Let go of your denominational differences and pray for strength and endurance for your brothers and sisters everywhere. There are believers among the catholic faith, the baptist, pentecostal, methodist, non-denominational, seventh-day Adventist etc.., even Arab and Jewish communities. We should be united in one Spirit.  The Lord has paid a high price to make this a reality.  WE MUST COME TOGETHER AS ONE PEOPLE!