Mark E. Larson

Fulfilling ’ Prayer for Unity ()

“…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 they may be ONE just as We are ONE...”

In the world of “Christendom” there are thousands of denominations and churches. Such division has been around for so long, that many people have learned to accept it and no longer see anything wrong with it: “Just different ways of expressing your faith.” “Different churches for different people.” “The more choices the better.” Yet, division is not what the Lord wants for us!

In John 17, the longest recorded prayer of Jesus, the Lord prayed for our UNITY. Yet, not just any kind of unity – That we would all be one as the Father and Son are one. Jesus’ prayer teaches us how we can have true and everlasting unity! “That He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.” – John 17:2b

In His prayer, Jesus expressed His desire to give “eternal life” to all of His disciples (Christians). Jesus makes clear what eternal life is based on:

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (v. 3). Life eternal is found in a real, intimate knowledge of God the Father and His Son. Our fellowship with God is the foundation of eternal life and also unity with one another. “They Have Kept Your Word” (vs. 6-8)

Jesus made known the Father’s name to those men given to Him “out of the world” (the apostles – Luke 6:12-16; :19). Jesus commended them to the Father in His prayer: “They have kept your word.”

Jesus gave the apostles the words given to Him by the Father and they “received them” (v. 8). As a result, they came to know who Jesus really was as God’s Son and believed He was sent from God the Father.

1 Mark E. Larson “Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me.”

Jesus prayed that His disciples would be under God’s protection, keeping them from disunity and falling away from God (John 17:11-12). Such protection can only be found in the name of God the Holy Father.

Like the apostles (vs. 6-8), we must be faithful to keep God’s word which requires accepting ALL of God’s teachings as given to Christ and His apostles.

The Father will guard us from division and keep us united in fellowship in Christ only if we are committed to being united in His word:

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord… Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” - 1 Corinthians 1:9-10

This requires a steadfast commitment to study God’s word together, with all humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, and love “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

Yet such unity can only be obtained by those who have been reborn in Christ (:3, 5; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:26-27), who have put on “the mind of Christ” to be spiritually-minded (1 Cor. 2:10-16; Rom. 8:1-11), who will put God’s will above their own desires (Luke 9:23-26). “Sanctify them in the Truth, Your Word is Truth.” (v. 17)

What sanctifies or makes Christians holy, setting them apart from the world is their faithfulness to the word Jesus gave them, God’s Word (Jn 17:14-19).

Sanctified in Christ by their belief and obedience to the truth (Acts 26:17-18; 1 Cor. 1:2, 29-31; 6:9-11; 2 Thes. 2:13-15; 2 Tim. 2:21): “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…” – 1 Peter 2:9a

2 Mark E. Larson All Christians Can be United as One JUST AS the Father and Son are United as One!

To be united as one as the Father and Son are one is the HIGHEST standard of unity there is! "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word 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.” - vs. 20-21 To be united as one just as the Father and the Son are one, we believe in Christ “through their word” - the apostles’ word as given by the Spirit (Eph. 3:3-5). We follow “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42) as the teaching of Christ Himself, fully accepting their words as the words of the Lord (e.g. 1 Corinthians 14:37).

When we are united as one as the Father and Son are one, we will be united in what we do (:19); we will walk in the same manner as Jesus walked (1 :6); our values, moral standards, and conduct will be the same as we strive to live as Jesus lived. We will be united in what we seek (John 5:30); selfish ambitions and interests are set aside as we seek to know only God’s will! (Phil. 2:1-5ff.). Unity in the Truth is the Way to Have Fellowship with God and One Another. “That they also may be one in us” (v. 21)

We must not transgress or go beyond the doctrine of Christ, compromising the truth for anyone, lest we lose our fellowship with God (2 ). Fellowship with one another depends on practicing of the truth or walking in the light as He is in the light (1Jn 1:5-7). The Glory We Share in Christ Unites Us as One! (vs. 22-26)

The glory the Father gave His Son to be the Savior of the world (John 17:1, 4-5; 3:16) is the glory given to all Christians. It is His glory which makes unity among all Christians possible! By sharing in His glory, we also share in the oneness or unity of the Father and the Son. This is an honor and blessing bestowed upon all Christians, both now and for all eternity! “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” – John 17:22-23

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