Articles
All Are One
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 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. And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 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” (John 17:20-23, NKJV).
At the end of Jesus’ ministry, the cross is near. This evening before He is taken, He is walking with His disciples and prays, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” (Jn 17:20, NKJV). “I do not pray for these alone” (i.e., apostles). They had followed Him, suffered with Him, and He prayed for them.
Therefore, He says, “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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 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; but not for these alone” (John 17: 21-23, NKJV). Notice the number of times He talks about being one. Yet how many are going to be one?
This oneness is because all believe in Christ. It is not a unity that ought to be or should be. It is an assured unity. There is a oneness of all believers. It has never been fractured. It never will be fractured. It never will be disturbed. The reason is it is not in our hands. It is not up to us to keep it. If it were up to us, we would mess it up.
Who is Jesus talking to when He addresses the topic of unity as the One who has something to do with keeping this unity? God. This is a prayer to God. God keeps this unity. God takes care of it.
It is a oneness in the hands of God. It is a oneness that is based on the relationship between the Father and the Son, “But as we are one.” They will be one, not in agreement, but in what They are.
This oneness has to do with a people who are the same as the Father. Their similarity to Him makes them one, as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. We say there are three Beings in the Godhead, yet all are one. They are three separate Beings, but there is a perfect oneness. All believers are going to be one because they are going to be the one and self-same thing. They are not going to be different things, different varieties, just one in being believers in same way the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one in being what They are.
Father, thank you for making us. We want to be believers. We want to be one with You. We know You will keep us safe.
Rickie Jenkins
