"I [Jesus] 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
John 17 is probably the best-known chapter for concerning the saints being one. Like Jesus and the Father are one. So that begs the question - how are we supposed to be one. Short answer - be like Jesus. And how is that? Well, with respect to character - Jesus' character was like His Fathers - with respect to love - Jesus' love for mankind was the same as the Father's. Jesus was an extension and demonstration to mankind. So when the disciples asked to see the Father this is what Jesus said.
"Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works." - John 14:8-10
In the same way, if we are one with Jesus and the Father - when people see us, they should see Jesus. Not the Anglo Jesus. Not the Hispanic Jesus. Not the [fill in the cultural or ethnic blank] Jesus. There is only one Jesus. Spiritually - you are to be one with Jesus - indistinguishable. Naturally - we wear out cultural or ethnic heritage. It is what a world blinded by Satan is used to seeing. Paul wrote to the Corinthains, the Galatians, and Colossians about this very thing.
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many." - 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." - Galatians 3:27-29
" and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" - Colossians 3:10-12
Apparently, there were issues - common issues. The new Christians were having a problem seeing past culture and its customs, perhaps skin color and ethnicity. They were looking at each other from the natural and not the spiritual. The same problem that every generation has had since. When Paul wrote to the churches - that was the first generation of Christians. Had it been later, Paul might have added "age" to the list of things that the world uses to keep us separated. I had a conversation just yesterday where it was suggested that older Christians don't understand how the younger Christians think and do. That is all part of the natural world.
It is what a friend of mine called "Stinkin' Thinkin'". We should think and do like Jesus, not our culture or our particular generation in that culture. The generation in which we were born is of no consequence with respect to our spiritual - eternal nature. God does not change. Truth does not change. The new life we have by faith does not change because of time or place. Division in the Body of Christ is so subtle and can even seem reasonable to someone whose view of the world and their faith is dominated by the natural and not the spiritual. The trap is, all the while, they actually believe they are thinking spiritually and not naturally. So, I want to encourage you as Paul did to the church at Ephesus.
"I [Paul] therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - Ephesians 4:1-6
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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