THE UNITY OF BELIEVERS

JOHN 17:20–23

“… that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me”

(John 17:21).

The third part of this High Priestly Prayer includes Jesus’ request concerning the church universal. He no longer prays for the disciples in particular, but for every Christian from that time forth. He prays that all believers would be in complete unity with one another, just as He and the Father are unified.

Hence, the purpose of this part of His prayer is to promote the unity and purity of the church. The unity for which Jesus prays is not merely outward, although this is certainly part of it, for He speaks of the unity of the church being a testimony to the world. But Jesus specifically compares the unity of believers to the unity between the Father and the Son. This unity is spiritual in nature and is grounded in the complete nature of the Godhead.

We must not conclude, however, that the unity of believers is identical to the unity between the three members of the Trinity (although the passage does not speak of the Spirit, it is assumed). The unity of essence within the triune God is not the kind found among believers; we are not identical to other believers. Nevertheless, there is a resemblance. William Hendriksen maintains that this resemblance is “love.” He writes, “God is love. What is true with respect to each divine attribute holds also with respect to love: it constitutes the very essence of God (1 John 4:8). Now it is exactly in loving one another that the oneness of all believers comes to expression (13:34; 15:12, 17).… When believers are united in the faith and present a common front to the world, they exert power and influence. When they are torn asunder by strife and dissension, the world will not know what to make of them, nor how to interpret their so-called ‘testimonies.’ Believers, therefore, should always yearn for peace, but never for peace at the expense of the truth, for ‘unity’ which has been gained by means of such a sacrifice is not worthy of the name.”

When believers testify with their lives that they have been with the Lord, their actions and attitudes will point to Christ as the source of their moral and spiritual strength. Then, those who formerly despised Him will think highly of Him. No testimony can replace that of sincere love that is rooted in the truth of Christ!

CORAM DEO

Isaiah 22–23

Ephesians 3

Do you strive to possess a bond of unity with other believers? Do you realistically recognize that where there is not a common faith and commitment to the Word of Christ there can be no biblical unity? Make a list of some things you can do in your church to promote unity, i.e. serving, not gossiping, or showing respect.

For further study: 1 Cor. 12 • Eph. 4:1–6 • 1 John 4:12–5:5

thursday

october