"One in Christ"

One in Christ: The Power of Spirit-Wrought Unity

Thank you for your Word this morning, Lord. We take a breath, settle ourselves, and submit to the working of Your Spirit in us and through us. We want to hear what You have to say individually. Thank You for the anointing that flows when Your Word is delivered and for how it changes us from the inside out. Thank You for not leaving us as we are, but for constantly working in our thinking so that our lives can reflect You. Amen.

Lately, a particular verse has stood out to me: Galatians 3:28 –

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This verse is powerful. It tells us something about who we are in Christ and how God sees us.

A Picture of Unity: The Twelve Apostles

For an illustration, let’s look at Jesus’ twelve apostles in Luke 6. Sometimes we picture them as a unit— “the 12 disciples”—but rarely do we pause to think about how different they were.

Luke 6:12 tells us that Jesus prayed all night before choosing them. This wasn’t casual. He knew the weight of what He was about to do. Out of the larger group of followers, He chose twelve for a special purpose—each with closer access to Him and a specific assignment.

And what a mix they were:

• Fishermen, common working men.

• Matthew, a tax collector—despised by fellow Jews because tax collectors worked for the Romans and often cheated their own people.

• Simon the Zealot, a nationalist who may have once wanted to overthrow Roman rule—possibly even by violence.

• Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Him, yet was trusted to handle the group’s finances.

Without Jesus, men like Matthew and Simon would have been sworn enemies. Yet Jesus brought them together, gave them the same access, the same authority, and the same responsibility to preach the Kingdom and heal the sick (Luke 9:1–2).

This is what the gospel does—it unites people who would otherwise be at odds.

Breaking Down the Walls

Paul echoes this in Ephesians 2:14–18:

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility … that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.”

In the temple of Jesus’ day, there was a literal wall separating Gentiles from Jews with a sign warning that crossing it meant death. That wall represented exclusion. But Jesus, in His flesh, tore down every dividing barrier—Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female.

Think about this: the person you disagree with most, the one you’ve judged or avoided—they have the same access to God that you do. At any moment, they can pray, and He hears them. Jesus gave His life to make that possible.

Unity Is Not Uniformity

Paul doesn’t say our differences disappear. Men and women are still distinct. Jews and Gentiles still have different bloodlines. Yet at the cross, we become one—a single whole unit in Christ.

Unity isn’t about sameness; it’s about Spirit-wrought cohesion. Cohesion is the force that holds separate parts together to form one whole—like hydrogen and oxygen forming water, or flower petals holding to a stem. We remain distinct, yet we’re bound together by the love and truth of Christ.

The Holy Spirit living in us can dissolve barriers and jump over any wall. He softens hearts, changes perceptions, and makes us see people as human beings Jesus died for. That’s how the world recognizes Him—when they see His love in us (John 13:35).

Living Out the Unity We’ve Been Given

To live divided from others is to deny the power of the cross. It’s to step outside of what Jesus died to accomplish. But to embrace unity is to display His love and power to a watching world.

Take a moment today to let the Holy Spirit show you where walls still stand in your heart. Ask Him to give you His perspective on the person or group you’ve struggled with. You might be surprised at the grace that rises up when you see them face-to-face.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, There is neither slave nor free, There is neither male nor female, For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s live like it.

Prayer: Father

, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for correcting and guiding our thinking so our actions can reflect You. Help us see people as You see them. Thank You for not giving up on us but working patiently to shape us. We yield to You. Make us one, as You and the Father are one. In Jesus’ name, Amen.