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JESUS DEFINES UNITY (I)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
John 17:1-11

Revelation 17:1-6

 

“…that they may be one…”

 

JESUS DEFINES UNITY (I)
 
Jesus’ high priestly prayer — “That they all may be one” (John 17:21) — is cited in the “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (ECT) document of March 29, 1994 as a proof text for Protestant-Catholic union. According to the ECT, “Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ.” The term “Christian” applies to “All who accept Christ as Lord and Savior” regardless of how He is actually known, understood or embraced. If this be the case, then all the cults should be included, for they too accept Christ in their own respective, albeit heretical ways.
 
The Roman Catholic Church is still steeped in its idolatry and heresies. The ECT affirmation that Catholic and Orthodox churches are part of Christ’s body despite the serious errors in doctrine and practice that remain, betrays its contempt for the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation under Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli and others. The question thus raised is: What did Jesus really mean when He prayed, “That they all may be one”? Was Jesus praying for Evangelical-Catholic unity in John 17? What kind of unity was He really praying for?
 
It is significant to note that when Jesus prayed, “that they may be one,” it was not any kind of oneness, but a qualified oneness, “as we are” (John 17:11). What is this oneness between the Father and the Son?
 
The word “one” here refers to the divine mission. There is perfect concord between the Father and the Son in the work of redemption. Thus, Christ’s mission on earth when He first came was a spiritual one. He came as the Lamb of God; to suffer, to bleed, and to die for sinful humanity. In perfect obedience to God the Father, He successfully accomplished that mission when He conquered death by His resurrection on the third day. The mission Jesus committed to His disciples was the same as that which He had received from the Father; to preach the Gospel of His death, burial and resurrection to a lost and dying world so that those who believe might receive the forgiveness of sins, and have eternal life.
 
THOUGHT: “Protestantism has surrendered the citadel to the Roman Catholics when it calls them Christians.” (McIntire)

PRAYER: Father grant me courage to defend the faith.

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