Unity in the Gospel, For the Gospel

John 17:20-26

Not for these only

“These” is specific

As He prays, He is immediately praying for His disciples

This is a limited group of individuals, not universal

But He says that He is not only praying for His present disciples

All who will believe

This is every believer from the night He prays until the end of the age

This is you and me

Jesus is praying for you

Through their word

All of the people of Christ have come to Him by the truth of Christ

People do not know who Jesus is unless it is proclaimed to them

Men do not believe apart from the truth of who Jesus is

The truth of Christ is proclaimed by the people of Christ

Romans 10:13-17- For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Unity in the Gospel

One as He and the Father are one

He is in the Father and the Father is in Him

Verse 21

His will is to do the Father’s will

John 6:38- For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

He loves the Father and the Father loves Him

Verse 24

Unity in Christ

We are united with Him

2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Our identity is in Him

Galatians 2:20- I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Our lives are united to one another

Romans 12:4-5- For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Unity of heart

Faith in Christ

Humble dependence on Christ

Desire to be with Christ

Unity of mind

Not minimalistic, but keeping essential doctrine central

Not superficial, covering up real differences

Genuine unity in primary Biblical doctrines

2 Timothy 1:13-14- Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Unity of purpose

Making disciples

Mark 16:15- And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Glorifying God

Romans 15:5-6- May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Unity of love

Love for Christ

This is at the very heart of faith

Love for God’s Word

A church that doesn’t love God’s Word is a dead church

Love for His Church

For the body of Christ as a whole

For the body of Christ as individual brothers and sisters

Love for unbelievers

May we be unified in the same heart as Paul had

Romans 9:1-3- I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Unity for the Gospel

The Gospel advances by the unity of His people

Unity in the Church strengthens the Church

A strengthened church reaps strengthened believers

Strengthened believers reap strengthened witness

The beauty of Christ’s Gospel is seen through the unity of Christ’s people

A lack of unity among us fails to reflect the truth of who He is

We want Jesus to be seen as beautiful and glorious and compelling through the way we live together

The glory of God is seen in the unity of His people

This is at the heart of the purpose of the Church

We exist as the people of God for the glory of God for all eternity

O God, Unify Us in Christ

There are many threats to unity

It is not easy to live in unity

In fact, it is impossible

Unity is a gift from God