The Spirit Who Unites: How the Holy Spirit Begins the Work of Salvation
Last week, we explored the gifts of the Spirit, particularly the “sign gifts” like tongues, prophecy, and healing. We discussed the theological debate between continuationism (the belief that these gifts continue today) and cessationism(the belief that they ceased after the apostolic era). As Methodists, we affirm the continuation of the gifts—but we also exercise pastoral wisdom, especially when it comes to the public use of tongues. Why? Because, as Paul says, “If it causes division, don’t do it” (see 1 Cor. 14:26–33). And unfortunately, the gift of tongues has been a source of division both historically and within our own tradition.
But this week, we turned from the gifts of the Spirit to the work of the Spirit in salvation, and here we’ve come to the very heart of Christian life.
The Core of Salvation: Union with Christ
At the center of the Spirit’s work in salvation is this: the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ. That is the simplest and most profound definition of what it means to be a Christian. To be a Christian is to be in Christ, and for Christ to be in us. And this mysterious union happens by the Spirit.
The Apostle Paul says it this way: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). The Spirit unites us to Christ so intimately that our lives become extensions of his own. We share in his death and resurrection (Romans 6), and through the Spirit, we are made partakers of his divine life.
Union with Christ Means Union with the Church
But it doesn’t stop there. When we are united with Christ, we are also united with his body—the Church. There is no such thing as a Christian who is not also a member of Christ’s people. The vertical reconciliation between us and God also restores horizontal relationships among people.
That’s why church membership matters. It’s not about being on a roster—it’s about living out the truth that we are part of a new family. In baptism, we die to our old life and are born again into the people of God. In communion, we don’t eat the bread and drink the cup alone at our kitchen table. We share in the life of Jesus together, eating from the same loaf and drinking from the same cup—becoming one body, nourished by the same Spirit.
The Spirit’s Saving Work Begins with Grace
So how does the Holy Spirit bring us into this union? It begins with prevenient grace—grace that “goes before.” This is the grace that softens the hard heart, opens blind eyes, and awakens us to our need for God.
In our natural, sinful condition, we are spiritually hardened. We don’t recognize our need for rescue. We think, “I’m a good person.” But the Spirit, the Spirit of truth, reveals the lie. He gently exposes our pride and our delusion by pointing us to Jesus—the true human, the true image of God.
Conviction: Seeing Ourselves in the Light of Christ
When our hearts are softened, the next step is conviction of sin. Jesus said, “When the Spirit comes, he will convict the world concerning sin…” (John 16:8). How does he do this? Again, by pointing to Jesus.
We often compare ourselves to others—“I’m better than that guy,” or “I’ve never done anything that bad.” But the Spirit doesn’t let us off so easily. He says, “Look at Jesus.” In him, we see perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect self-giving. And by comparison, we recognize how far short we fall.
Conviction isn’t condemnation. It’s the gracious revelation that we need a Savior. The same Spirit who shows us our sin also shows us the cross—and says, “This is how much God loves you.”
The Spirit Prepares the Heart Through Suffering
Sometimes the Spirit uses suffering to soften the heart. Pain can reveal our need in a way nothing else can. When we lose something we thought we couldn’t live without, or when our illusions of self-sufficiency are shattered, grace often breaks in. Suffering, as C.S. Lewis said, is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
So when we pray for our loved ones to come to faith, we must understand—we may be praying for God to break through in ways we don’t expect. There is no salvation without suffering. The cross stands as proof.
Prevenient Grace and Conviction Are Just the Beginning
This week, we’ve only just begun tracing what the Spirit does in salvation. He begins with prevenient grace. He convicts of sin. But there is more to come: repentance, justification, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. All of these are works that the Spirit applies to us as he unites us with Christ.
We’ll unpack those next time. But for now, remember this:
The Holy Spirit unites us with Jesus and with one another.
That is the heart of salvation.
That is the work of grace.
That is the beginning of new life.
Questions for Reflection:
- In what ways have you experienced the Spirit softening your heart?
- How does your local church embody the unity of the body of Christ?
- Are there areas in your life where the Spirit may be convicting you by pointing to Jesus?
Subscribe to stay connected for part 2, where we’ll explore the Spirit’s role in repentance, regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.
