John 17 contains the effectual fervent prayer of our Righteous High Priest which is answered in the fact that we are all one in our like faith, which binds us together in a spiritually organic union, which then becomes the basis of our practical common fellowship.
While the bonds that unite us are invisible, they are clearly manifested in our behavior toward one another. So much so that Jesus prayed in John 17 that the display of this unity would be such that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me (17:23). This is the testimony of the early church, as all of the members were steadfast in and continually devoting themselves to fellowship, continuing with one mind, the result being favor with all people, and the Lord adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
While the unity of this body of Christ is invisible, the fact is that several imperatives of the New Testament cannot be understood apart from the visible gathering of the church. The phrase “one another” appears well over 100 times in the New Testament, often in the context of commands of behavior to – serve, accept, be of the same mind with, care for, admonish, bear with, be kind to, encourage, stimulate, and to love – one another. We are commanded that there be no divisions among us (1 Cor 1:10), that we be united in spirit (Phil 2:2), and that we be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph4:2) |
