The Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ
The False Teaching:
Those who followed the
Way of the Spirit did not have the Holy Spirit but had the
Spirit of Christ. The Holy Spirit was exclusive to the Jews.
New Testament Response:
Luke shows that the Holy Spirit was given beyond the Jews:
Acts 10:45
They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
Paul explains that everyone should have the Spirit of Christ.
Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
The idea of different spirits was causing division in the Church. Paul says that the Church was given one spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
Philippians 1:27
Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;
1 Corinthians 12:4
Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:8-9
For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
2 Corinthians 4:13
But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke." We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
2 Corinthians 12:18
I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Didn't we walk in the same steps?
Related Verses in Ephesians:
Eph. 2:18, Eph. 4:4
