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JESUS DEFINES UNITY (IV)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
John 17:21-26

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

 

“…that they may be made

perfect in one…”

 

JESUS DEFINES UNITY (IV)
 
This unity that Jesus prayed for is confined to truly Protestant churches. Jesus did not pray for a unity between the church and the world, nor a unity between the true universal church and the false Catholic church. What He did pray for was a oneness of purpose in the spiritual mission of Gospel proclamation among His Blood-bought and Spirit-baptised people. This must be grounded on true evangelical creed (by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone), and true Biblical belief (in the Word of God alone made up of just sixty-six canonical books).
 
True Christian ecumenism, in light of Christ’s high priestly prayer, can be had only when there is a clear separation by the Christian Church from all forms of unbelief and apostasy. As long as the Roman Catholic Church presents another Jesus (viz., Jesus is not sole Mediator, since Mary is co-Mediatrix), preaches another Gospel (viz., salvation is not only by faith but by good works also), and believes in another Bible (viz., the Holy Scriptures plus the apocrypha, plus papal traditions), any union with her incurs God’s wrath (Gal 1:8). May the Church’s Protestant sons never do a Judas (“the son of perdition,” John 17:12) on Jesus. May Jesus’ prayer be answered, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:14-17).
 
The perfect obedience of Christ can be seen in the opening words of His high priestly prayer, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:1-4). As the Father’s obedient Son, He performed all that His Father had commissioned Him to do.
 
THOUGHT: “A false love is Satan’s tool to promote compromise and disobedience to Christ’s command.” (McIntire)

PRAYER: Father, let me love truth, and hate iniquity and every false way.

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