Marks Of The True Church: Unity Series

“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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” [1]

The world envies us Christians! To be sure, the world stands opposed to the Faith. Nor should this opposition be surprising since the entire world lies under the reign of the evil one. Nevertheless, those identified as being held in thrall by the world envy Christians. Primarily, the world is envious because of the unity demonstrated by us who follow Christ. I understand much is made of the fact that there are different denominations composing Christendom, differing interpretations of Scripture by the various Christian groups, differing styles of worship revealed among the churches, nevertheless we who are saved are bound together in unity of which the world is envious.

I’m not speaking about the church member or adherent of a denomination that exalts himself or exalts her denomination against all professed followers of the Christ who don’t salute his or her flag. I’m speaking of the individual who is born from above and in whom the Spirit of Christ lives. The follower of Christ is united in spirit with every other follower of the Risen Saviour because the Spirit of the Living God has taken up residence in the life of each. If you are twice born the Spirit of Christ lives in you. Thus, you are tenderly disposed to those—like you—who share in the Family of God.

In the Ephesian Encyclical, Paul writes, “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. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift” [EPHESIANS 4:4-7]. The world, to say nothing of far too many of us Christians, focuses on the superficial rather than the essential. I’m not suggesting that how we worship, or the distinctive doctrines that we hold dear, or even that our approach to Scripture is unimportant; but, what truly matters is whether we hold to the foundations of the Faith of Christ the Lord.

It is vital that we remind ourselves of what truly matters in our practise of the Faith. We who are redeemed know that Jesus Christ is God—truly God and fully man. We recognise that He died a sacrificial death, taking upon Himself the sin of all mankind. He died and was buried, but He rose from the dead on the third day. He walked among those who knew Him in the flesh before He ascended into Heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for those whom He has redeemed. To all who believe Him, to each one who now receives Him as Master over life, He forgives all sin and adopts them into the Family of God. This same Jesus shall come again to judge the world in righteousness and He shall reign on the earth. The authority for this Faith we now hold is the Word of God, which is received as accurate and authoritative.

Therefore, we are united in sharing in our mutual relationship as children of the Living God and through our sharing in the common doctrines that define this holy Faith. It is essential that we acknowledge that there are many and sundry teachings that we each hold dear that are incidental to our Faith, and therefore not essential. We don’t depreciate these doctrines that distinguish our various sects, but we are adamant that we are united in this Holy Faith that centres around the Person of Christ Jesus our Lord. We Christians, followers of the Risen Son of God, know God and we are known by God. We look to Him and not to our membership in any earthly organisation, including our church or our denomination. We base our faith on the written Word of God as given by Christ.

THROUGH THEIR WORD — “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word” [JOHN 17:20]. I want us to focus on the phrase Jesus used, “through their word.” Before the Master ascended into Heaven, He charged His followers, and that charge which He gave continues for His disciples to this day, “As you go, disciple people in all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you” [MATTHEW 28:19 ISV]. It is through the message of life that followers of Christ are charged to deliver that the world hears of Him and by which all are called to believe Him.