Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
646 words, 3 minutes read time

Perfect Unity

Scripture: Jn 17:20-23

In the previous lesson we saw the importance of being sanctified in the truth. In this lesson Jesus continues in prayer and prays for those who are yet to believe through the ministry of those who do believe.

^{Jn 17:20} 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.

Verses 6 – 19 related primarily to Jesus praying for his disciples and included other followers of Jesus. Now in verses 20 – 26, Jesus prays for future believers, which would include us. Those future believers will come to faith and experience spiritual birth because of the faithfulness of current believers sharing the word with them.

Those who believe, both Jews and Gentiles, Jesus prays that we come together as one body in unity in Jesus Christ. Jesus prays that the unity will be close like the unity found between Jesus and the Father. He prays that we will be in them just as Jesus and the Father are in each other. This unity was spoken of in John 10:16 as one flock and one shepherd. In John 11:52, believers would be gathered from all nations. This unity is possible only as we come together in Jesus Christ (John 10:38; 14:10 – 11, 20, 23; 15:4 – 5). As a united group, abiding in Jesus and in his love, we are then able to have an effective witness in the world.

This glory spoken of in verse 22 appears to relate to the glory we read about in John 1:14 (ESV) when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This glory must refer to the manifestation of the excellence of God’s entire character in Jesus’ life. While on earth the life of Jesus revealed this glory of God. As believers, the Spirit dwells within us and would continue to reveal this glory of God to the world. This is suggested in Matthew 5:16 ESV: “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” By how we live our lives, we reveal the glory of God. This reminds me of a quote from John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

Again, in verses 22 and 23, unity is stressed among believers to the point that one day that unity will be perfect. The Father, Son and Spirit form one God in perfect unity. We, as believers, are many members, which one day will form a single body in perfect unity and be perfectly joined with God with the Spirit dwelling in us.

Conclusion

The unity that Jesus is praying for among believers is yet to be realized and is stressed throughout the New Testament. However, as long as sin exists among our members there will not be unity, but when we are all gathered together in heaven, totally removed from our sin nature, then the body of believers will experience perfect unity with each other and with God. This is a reality that I find hard to grasp based on current disunity.