Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
John 17:23, “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 organic oneness between believers is revealed in the Lord’s prayer in John 17.
In verse 21 He prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
Here the Lord is praying for the oneness of all who would believe on Him through the apostles’ word (John 17:20).
In His prayer to the Father He specifies the nature of the believers’ oneness–“That they also may be one in Us” or “That they also may be in Us.”(The latter translation is according to some of the oldest Greek manuscripts.)
In verse 22 the Lord continues praying, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”
This part of the prayer again specifies the nature of the believers’ oneness – it is a oneness that is directly related to the oneness between the Father and the Son.
Furthermore, in verse 23 He utters exactly how we are one.
In other words, to be “one just as We are one” means in reality “I in them, and You in Me.”
This is how we are one–one in the oneness of the Father and the Son!
This oneness is the Son Himself indwelling us (“I in them”), and thereby bringing in His oneness with the Father (“You in Me”).
This is an organic, life-oneness.
It is this oneness entering into us as the gift of eternal life (John 17:2-3) that causes us to be made perfect into one.
According to the Greek text, the word “perfect” in John 17:23 is a perfect passive participle and may be translated more literally, “that they may be in a state of perfection.”
This means that when eternal life enters into us in the Person of the Son of God, a perfect state of oneness enters into us.
It is simply the “I in them, and You in Me” that creates and establishes the oneness of believers with Christ, the Head, and all the members of His Body.
It is being grafted into an organic oneness (John 15:4-5).
In this way the church is Christ–by an organic, life union with the Head, who is supplying every part of Himself with His life (Eph. 5:28-30).
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
THURSDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
John McCain -Hospice
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Ward
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
Joe Shelnutt
John Austin
June Cronan
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathy Mabe
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher – Improving
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Marlon Cook
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Pat Chupp
Ricky Gipson
Rose Fuller – Rehab
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Tom Witcher