Unity

How important is our unity is to the Godhead? I have been reading John and the subject of being "one" is prevalent throughout this gospel, as it is indeed throughout the Word. Right from the very beginning of the creation of man, God ordained marriage to be a relationship of unity between a man and his wife.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Gen 2:24

And God walked with them, bringing to us a picture of love, friendship and unity between all of them but this perfect picture and perfect way of life was shattered with the introduction of sin and the sin nature within us into which we are now born.

There is absolute unity within the Godhead which is why Jesus tells us that, "I and My Father are one." (Joh 10:30) We are called into this unity and intimacy with the Godhead. How amazing is this? Jesus prayed "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (Joh 17:21) What an incredibly awesome prayer of Christ's. Do we see this though, the church walking in unity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Hardly, and I think that this would indeed sadden the Father heart of God.

How can we walk in unity with the Godhead and with each other? I believe that one of the answers to walking in unity is to confess (which literally means to speak the same way that God speaks). There is only one way to do this. Confess the word. The bible is God's manual for our living, chock-a-block full of promises and a new way to talk, walk and act. When we pray the scriptures, we are agreeing with God. Mind you, it is not enough just to talk the talk but not walk the walk. Our actions must line up with what we say and this is very challenging. Thank goodness for the help and power of the Holy Spirit. When we fail, we need to repent immediately, asking God for the forgiveness of our sin, and if a third party is involved, in humility be reconciled to them too, and so "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph 4:3)

In His last moments with His disciples, before He was crucified, the whole issue of being one is prevalent in His prayer. "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are." (Joh 17:11)

How it must grieve the Holy Spirit when the bride of Christ cannot get on with each other, especially as we are called to love one another, as Christ loves us. How we are so fractured under so many different denominations when the heart of Spirit of God had Paul the Apostle pen this:-

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph 4:4)

Jesus continued in His prayer, "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (Joh 17:23)

Children of God, we can be unified in the belief that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, died on a cross and took the punishment for our sins. He rose again on the third day (which is the proof that God had accepted His perfect sacrifice) and so we have been purchased "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1Pe 1:20)

May we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:14-16)

May we grow together in love and unity, for "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psa 133:1) Help us Father, we look to you. Amen.