17:20-23 I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
The Catalyst for True Unity – A Common Faith in Christ
17:20I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.
Jesus looked ahead through the ages and prayed for all believers who were to come in the future.
Jesus identifies these future believers as those who would believe in Him, reminding all again that salvation comes through faith alone, in Christ alone, not as a result of works, so that no none may boast Ephesians 2:9.
All those that the Father has given the Son will be brought to a common saving faith in His Son through the proclamation of the gospel.
Faith is a gift from God but He uses the means of His word and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit to impart faith to those the Father has given him. It is this common saving faith that is the root of true unity.
Ephesians 4:3-6 & 13Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
There is one Lord, one God, one baptism, and one faith that unite sinners to Christ and to each other.
The Call for True Unity – Jesus Asks the Father
17:21athat they may all be one.
Despite their outward denominational differences, all true Christians are spiritually united by regeneration in their belief that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and their commitment to the absolute authority of Scripture.
All those who savingly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another(Romans 12:5).
By the power of God, believers, united in spiritual life and purpose, share the same mission, proclaim the same gospel, and manifest the same holiness.
The Comparison of True Unity – Jesus Unity with the Father
17:21b-23a even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us… The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity.
Jesus prayed for perfect unity among believers like His unity with His Father. Because of His unity with the Father, Jesus claimed to have the same authority, purpose, power, honor, will, and nature as the Father.
The unique relationship Jesus had with the Father forms the pattern for the unity of believers in the church.
1. The Father and the Son are united in motive; they are equally committed to being glorified. The glory of the Father and the Son should be the equally shared motive of all believers.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, Paul wrote, do all to the glory of God.
Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. The Father and the Son are united in mission and so should believers.
The Father and the Son share the common goal of redeeming lost sinners and granting them eternal life. Believers are to have the common goal of evangelizing the lost.
3. The Father and the Son are united in truth and so should believers.Jesus said: The words which you gave Me Father, I have given to them.
Jesus prayed to the Father that believers be sanctified in the truth.
In Philippians 1:27 Pauladmonished believers to stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith(for the truth) of the gospel.
4. The Father and the Son are united in holiness and so should believers.
The common directive for all true believers is to be holy as God is holy. When unbelievers see believers united in the pursuit of holiness they will take notice.
5. The Father and the Son are united in love and so should believers.
A God-like love is the glue that binds believers together in unity, and it is that love for one another that is the church’s ultimate apologetic to a lost and dying world: by this all men will know that you are my disciples, that you have love one for another John 13:35
Colossians 3:12-15 - Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Remain firm with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Perfect unity is to be the goal of every true believer. Perfect unity will not be fully realized until all believers are in their final glorified state though by God’s enablement we strive for it in the here and now.
The Consequence of True Unity – It Will Impact the World
17:21c-23b so that the world may believe that You sent Me…so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
1. True unity among believers helps the world believe and know that God the Father did indeed send His Son into the world.
The church’s unity is the foundation of its evangelism; it demonstrates that Christ is the Savior who has come into the world to seek and to save that which was lost.
2. The church’s unity also authenticates the Father’s love for believers.
The visible love of God for believers coupled with the loving unity of the church is used by God to help melt away the skepticism and unbelief of a lost world.
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