May we be one?

Intro:

John 17:20–21 CSB

20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

Uniformity definition:the quality or fact of being the same, or of not changing or being different in any way:

Unity is a shared purpose or common goal among diverse individuals, while uniformity is the state of sameness or being identical in form and manner.

I am convinced in our churches we are striving for uniformity because it’s most comfortable and easy rather than Biblical Unity which is when spiritual warfare starts.

Uganda eating with my fingers.

Entering into marriage with a me mindset instead of us. The Lord help me to see oneness is not “same” it is the integration of two different wills, different personalities, different life experiences into one coherent narrative.

Always: Spiritual, Missional and Ecclesiastical oneness is the most powerful tool the local church has in it’s arsenal to expand God’s kingdom.

I. Jesus first request: That they may be one

John 17:20–21 CSB

20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

(EXP)(20) May they “all” be one.

Who are the “all” in this text?

all in the NT can mean all in totality or all as apart of a whole. (EXPLAIN) context determines the use of “all” in this case we don’t have to speculate to determine who are the “all” notice (20)

The subject matter is “those who believe in me through their word”

who is their?

These are all those during the time of Christ who became believers and formulated the foundation of the NT church. Their evangelistic efforts are the reason all us have come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Truly we stand on the shoulders of Giants.

We can trace back the effectiveness of their mission because it has traveled from a small area the size of NJ across the ocean and seas to reach Inkster, Westland, Grand Blanc, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Petosky. That was because of the unity of the early of church.

This first clause in (21) is a call for “all” believers to be one in doctrine(first order or primary doctrines), mission, and purpose. All of these are irrefutable axioms that we must all adhere and govern ourselves by.

Saints the minute we got saved personal we were integrated spiritually into a larger family or body of believers from all tribes tongues and kindred.

Spiritual Oneness: Is instantaneous: What that means spiritually is that everyone one in this room who is truly saved is my. Brother and Sister in Christ. You are closer to me than the unsaved members of my own household. We have more in common, We have more at stake and we absolutely live to please the same God!

Practical Oneness: is progressive: Relational Oneness is progressive. In the same way Relational oneness is progressive in a marriage. Two people consistently working together, rubbing against one another so that over time one will is expressed rather than two.

(20) The verb “be” is in the subjective mood. The Subjunctive mood:expresses probability or possibility, a step removed from reality. Often the subjunctive is a question in the NT. Jesus is not speaking with certainty he is praying “hopefully” that is why the sentence starts off with “May”

Let me remind you this is Jesus prayer to his father! We get to see Jesus heart expressed in a prayer to his Dad. We get to see behind the veil. Jesus gave us this prayer so that we would not have to wonder what is most important to him as he is preparing to leave to ascend.

Jesus says My desire “Is that the church my children” do not allow: Gender, Politics, Ethnicity, Class, Culture, or Disputable Matters divide the church. A divided church cannot complete the mission of God!

What I love about Jesus is he teaches then he models. Notice what he says in (21)

John 17:21 CSB

May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

(21) “as, Father, are in me and I am in you” We have the gospel narrative to flesh out what this looks like in real-time. There are several places we could go but for time sake let’s take a look at Jesus in the garden in Luke 22:39-42

Luke 22:39–42 CSB

39 He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

What can we glean from this climatic story?

Although there were two people present in the narrative Jesus and the Father with two seperate wills only one will is expressed in the life of Jesus because he always aligned his will with the Father.

Let’s make a syllogism based on this premise!

Jesus was indwelled and lead by the HS

All of Jesus prayers and actions aligned with the will of the Father

Conclusion: The prayer life of Jesus was a triune work.

Conclusion: “Unity” in the body has been authored by the HS requested by the Son and Endorsed by the Father.

It seems strange to me based on this verse of scripture “why unity in the body” is not the central concern of the Local Church. Unity is not going to happen organically anymore than righteousness happens organically we must strive for it and work for it because we know Satan also has read this prayer and he knows a unified church is unstoppable.

Saints this is why every Pastor should be seeking racial reconciliation, This is why Every Pastor in this room should be preaching against the heresy of Christian Nationalism, This is why every Pastor in the room should be viligent in making sure women and young children are protected in their churches. This is not a woke ideology this is apart of our mission for the church.

Jesus prays that we maybe one, then he informs us of the key ingredient to our unity.

II. Jesus second request: That they may be in us

John 17:21 CSB

May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

(EXP)(21) “May they also be in us” In the gospel normally this call is an individual call not a collective call. In John 15:4

John 15:4 CSB

Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.

The word Remain carries the idea of abiding or dwelling with Jesus. When I was a little boy and my parents would step away to do something they would often tell me “You can go outside but you must “remain or abide” on our property. Anything outside of that would result in some type of consequence.

In John 17:21 Jesus is praying that the church as a collective stay on his property. They stay connected to him. The temptation will be great to go off the property, but we are to remain on the property.

Why? Why can’t we roam away from him sometime?

The power to complete the mission of Unity only comes from remaining connected to the life-giving Truine God! When the churches mission begins to run counter to the Mission of God we have disconnected ourselves from the power that is needed to establish and maintain the Unity of the Body. The only thing a powerless church can achieve is uniformity but they will never achieve Unity.

In Rev 3 John writes a personal message to the 7 churches in Asia warning them of the consequences of having a mission that is counter to the mission of Christ. Saints the worst judgement we could receive as a church or convention is attempt God’s mission without God’s power.

Conclusion: So the world may believe!

John 17:21 CSB

May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

(21) “So that the world may believe you sent me!” Saints don’t run over the magnitude of this statement. Unity is our Superpower! Our greatest apologetic is not learning William Lane Craig’s teleogical argument for the existence of God. It is striving for the Unity of the Body.

It should be real clear after reading that last clause why there are over 45,000 Christian Denomination. Satan has done a masterful job in this area. He understands the power of Unity.

Michigan Baptist. We may never have the same Budget as the state of Texas, Georgia, or Florida but we can excel in an area that does not require any money and that’s in our unity. Let are state be an example to the SBC of what it looks like to Unify across Politics, Gender, Ethnicity and Social Class. Bringing God’s principles to Earth.

Saints if our mission is that the name of God be great, then everyone in this room should be united in this mission.

Saints in the next year. Go visit a church that is different than yours economically, ethnically, and in worship style. Go as a worshipper not to critique!

The House of Dynamite!