The Doorpost: The Spirit guides us to unity
By Ray King · Feb 20, 2013
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 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.”
John 17:20-21
This verse is part of the prayer recorded in John 17, that Jesus prayed just before His crucifixion. He had been praying for His disciples. Then He prayed for “for those who will believe in me through their (the disciples’) word.” We are part of that group. Jesus was praying for us!
What did He pray? He prayed that we would be one in the same way that Jesus and the Father are one. He says this is what will cause the world to believe that the Father sent Him. What an incredible thought! Is that kind of oneness what the world is seeing in us today?
I don’t believe this means we should lay aside all our convictions in the name of unity. In fact, this passage indicates that we will be one with each other only because we are one with the Father and the Son. If we do not hold fast to our convictions about God, our oneness with Him will be affected and we will have no basis for oneness with each other.
Our oneness with the Father and the Son will only be evident when we are obedient to God’s Word. We have been given the Holy Spirit and He has given us the gifts of the Spirit to accomplish His work in our lives. When we disagree, we must speak the truth in love, always desiring the other person’s good. That is how God brings about our unity (Ephesians 4:11-16).
We know from Scripture that when we pray according to the Father’s will, He hears and answers. Undoubtedly, Jesus was praying according to the Father’s will, so we have to conclude that His prayer in this passages will be answered. It won’t happen because of human effort or determination. It will happen because of the work of God.
In Acts 4:32-37, we learn that this oneness that Jesus prayed for was present in the early church. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul.” The passage goes on to say that no one said their possessions were their own. No one among them lacked anything. They laid their possessions at the apostles’ feet to be distributed to those who had needs.
We believers are to be one, as Jesus and the Father are one. Let’s make sure we cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He guides us in this. That is how the world will know the truth of the Gospel that will lead them to Christ.