John 17: 22, 23: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
The life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ made perfect atonement between those for whom he died and the Holy God. In Christ the believer is one with Christ and therefore one with God even as Christ is one with God. The greatest gulf that ever existed has been done away with in the perfect person and work of Christ Jesus the Lord. Knowing what great things Christ has accomplished for sinners in matters of satisfaction before the just God is it any small wonder that from believer to believer there is oneness? This atonement breaks down all barriers. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free; there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ. Our reconciliation is by one—Christ Jesus. Our union is in one body—the church—of which Christ is head. In each location where God has raised up a church there is but one place where his name is set forth in truth—why would God raise up more than one meeting house in one place when his people are in true agreement? In each true assembly there is but one faith—in the person and work of Christ Jesus our Lord. In each person there is but one goal—that Christ be honored and glorified in thought, word and deed. In Christ we are at one with God before the world. This oneness is a beacon that the world may know that [God] has sent [Christ] and hast loved [his people], as [God] hast loved [Christ].
|
|