Series: Discovering the Life Changing Gospel
God’s Plan for Unity
John 17:20-26 (HCSB)
20I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. 21May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. 22I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. 23I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.
25Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. 26I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.
Introduction:
It’s easy to spot a well-informed man–his views coincide with yours.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1
- OUR UNITY REFLECTS THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD.
v. 20, 21 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. 21May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.”
- Unity among God’s people is on the heart of God.
- Love is demonstrated in our message to the world.
- Our unity mirrors the unity of the Trinity.
- OUR UNITY GIVES US A TASTE OF GLORY
vv. 22, 24 “I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one.”
24“Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.”
- When the Church is unified in love, God gets the glory.
- When the Church is unified, it can clearly see God’s glory.
- OUR UNITY UNVEILS THE PLAN OF GOD
v. 23, 25-26 “I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
25 “Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. 26 I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.”
- A unified church points out God’s plan.
- A unified church pronounces God’s indwelling.
- A unified church proves God’s love.
