We who belong to Christ began our spiritual journey by the kindness of the Holy Spirit. His work, as predicted by Jesus, was this:
It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-8).
This promise began to be fulfilled with the first sermon after Jesus’ resurrection. Those who heard the Spirit’s message as delivered by Peter were convicted of their sins. “They were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). That same day, 3,000 repented, received baptism, and the Lord added them to His people—His body, the church (Acts 2:41, 47 cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23). In this one body, they enjoyed the unity of the Spirit. “All who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).
The proud and unrepentant never enter that body, much less experience its unity. To “convict” means to prove a person guilty. We all are guilty of sin against the righteous God who created us. Before conversion to Christ, we are “dead” in trespasses and sins, and “children of wrath,” awaiting God’s eternal judgment (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 2:5). Until we let the Spirit’s message convict us, until we take our guilt to heart, we will never come to Christ to receive forgiveness. Along with belief, the first step we must take is to humble our spirits before God.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).
Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).
“Turn and become like children.”
I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3).
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).
These essential attitudes—poverty of spirit, humility, repentance—that turn us toward our Savior are essential also for our part in maintaining unity. “With all humility … [be] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).