Unity

Jesus Transitions to us

He’s no longer focusing on the disciples, but now focus’ on the church through the entire age

John 17:20–26 “20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.””

Jesus Expects the Word to be Shared

This is before the great commission, but Jesus already put his plan in place

We can participate in the honor of adding people to the kingdom

Jesus’ plan for growing His kingdom isn’t fancy, it started with the disciples sharing the word and flows all the way to us today

It’s doesn’t have to mean standing on a corner and preaching, or telling your waiter about Jesus

In fact, it’s better when you tell people that you have a relationship with

But you cannot “wait” until you have the perfect moment…

The thrust of Jesus’ prayer is that disciples are to communicate the saving message to those who would come after them (“believe in me through their word”—logos). The good news was not intended to be held exclusively (monon, “alone”) by the first disciples. It was to be shared with succeeding generations of disciples. The prayer therefore is also a mandate to mission and to making new disciples (cf. Matt 28:19).

Jesus Desires Our Unity

V20 - He is asking this for us

v21 - the reason he is asking, is that we will be united

The unity Christ desires for His church is the same kind of unity the Son has with the Father: just as You are in Me and I am in You

Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 333.One of the biggest knocks on the protestant church is the long list of denominations and the way we treat each other.

Our Unity is Our Witness

V21

The goal of the unity of believers with each other and with God is twofold: (a) that the world will believe in the Son’s divine mission (know that You sent Me), and (b) that the world will sense that God’s love for believers is deep, intimate, and lasting as is His love for His unique Son (cf. v. 26)

Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 334.When we are united, we look like the Trinity

Just as a marriage reflects the Son’s love for His church, the church’s unity reflects the unity of the Trinity

Our unity, and love for each other, points to the truth of Christ

John 13:34–35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Romans 12:10 “10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Our unity is connected to Christ’s glory

Through Christ’s glory, we can be united

This means if we desire Him to be glorified, we will be united with our brothers in that desire and be able to overlook the disagreements we have

We are to be perfect…this doesn’t mean without a loss, but complete. We are to be completely united

By being united, we manifest God’s love for Christ and thus His love for us also

By being united to one another, we are united in Christ.

We cannot be united to Christ and not united to the body of Christ

1 John 3:14–15 “14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

1 John 3:23–24 “23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.”

1 John 4:20–21 “20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Our Unity Allows Us to Know God

It is through this unity with each other, subsequently with Christ that we are able to have a personal relationship with the Father.

Christ wants to with Him!

We get to see his glory

Through Christ we Know the Father by name

The petition thus suggests that the oneness of the community is predicated on a direct relationship of the believers with the Godhead.

Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 206.

Without a relationship to the Son, we cannot be connected to the body

How Do We Act In Unity?

It’s About Love

Divisions in Churches never begin with those full of love to the Savior. True Unity Promoted, Volume 11, Sermon #607 - Ephesians 4:3

Charles Spurgeon

We Cannot Neglect Sound Doctrine

Romans 16:17 ESV

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

“We are to be faithful to truth; but we are not to be of a contentious spirit, separating ourselves from those who are living members of the one and indivisible body of Christ. To promote the unity of the church, by creating new divisions, is not wise. Cultivate at once the love of the truth and the love of the brethren.” (Spurgeon)

We are still to be separate from those that doe not believe truth

Catholicity was not compromise. Catholicity and Christian unity must imply “No surrender of vital doctrines.”

Charles Spurgeon

1471It is quite certain we shall never keep the unity of the Spirit if this church shall declare that it is superior to every other. If there be a church which says, “We are the church, and all others are mere sects,” then it is a troubler in Israel, and must hide its head when the unity of the Spirit is so much as hinted at.—11.8

Charles Spurgeon

We Act in Humility