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Perfect in ONE

P

Pastor Eric

Guest
Shalom,

All scripture references are from the KJV unless otherwise annotated.

Jhn 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Jhn 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.


Why did Y'SHUA come to the earth?
The typical answer is to save and seek those who were lost. This is true!
Is there another reason?
Is there a reason that appears to look less at man and more at the GODhead?
HE came to glorify HIS FATHER!
Jhn 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

Ok, but why?
HE did so, according to our text, so that we would come into the unity of the faith!
Jhn 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
This does not mean that we would all have every detail of our "doctrine" as being identical! In other words, we do not all have to be called Catholic or Pentecostal or Oneness or Baptist or Methodist or Whateverist! What we must come into agreement on is YHVH!
That HE is!
That HE cares!
That we were created for HIS glory!
That Y'SHUA is HIS Son!
That Y'SHUA came as the son of a virgin and the HOLY GHOST and lived a life without sin!
That HE gave HIS Son's life to purchase us back from our selves; from our sins!
That HIS Son, Y'SHUA was raised from the dead as the final act of redeeming love exhibited or expressed over sin!
That in accepting this we must also live as though we really believe it to be true!
All of this is summed up in but a couple of words;
1 Cor 2:2 ...CHRIST, and HIM crucified!

When we put aside all of our "doctrinal" detail and come into the truth of the basics, we will find a much greater "unity" among the Body of CHRIST!
When we can see this, we are much closer to HIS return than most may believe.
When we start to see this truth of our basic "unity" it also becomes easier for us to work together for HIS glory rather than to prove that we are "right"! When we start to see our commonalty we can also see that in our differences there exist somewhere a place for everyone. For those who prefer Country Gospel music to Modern Praise and Worship there exist a church for them. For those who prefer hard-core fire and brimstone preaching to restoration ministry there exist a place for either.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
There is a place within this basic doctrine of CHRIST and HIM crucified for everyone to fit and to minister for HIM, for HIS glory!
Much of what we see today is NOT done for HIS glory but for our own!
It is to prove that WE are right!
HE came to bring glory to HIS FATHER, not to us!
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
We are made righteous ONLY in HIM!

Jhn 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Jhn 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.

In HIS life, death and resurrection Y'SHUA gave us this glory!
HE gave us commonalty to each other in this!
In this, HE made us one!

The word used in John 17:23 that is translated "perfect" in the Greek is teleioo {tel-i-o'-o}.
By definition it means;
1) to make perfect, complete
a) to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end
2) to complete (perfect)

a) add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full
b) to be found perfect
3) to bring to the end (goal) proposed
4) to accomplish
a) bring to a close or fulfillment by event
1) of the prophecies of the scriptures


This word is a perfect complement to the Hebrew word "Shalom" which not only means "rest" but also means "completeness". When we finally quit trying to fight with each other, when we finally quit trying to always prove that "we are right and thus you are wrong", we may see that we agree on what is essential and be able to "be about our FATHER'S business" rather than our own!
Rather than being about building "OUR" ministry; OUR church; "OUR" image; OUR" kingdom we can come into the unity of the believers in HIM and lift HIM up thereby giving HIM the glory and laying our selves down at HIS feet!
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

When we come to this basic truth then the world will know that CHRIST is in us, and that YHVH was in HIM. That HE was sent to the world, by YHVH, because YHVH loves us as (in the same manner and degree that) HE loves Y'SHUA!
Jhn 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.

When we all find our "Shalom" in YHVH we will be able to enter into HIS rest!
We will then be able to enter into HIS completeness!

HE has given all those who believe in HIM the glory of YHVH, not for our self, but so that the world may come to the knowledge of HIM.
They will know HIM when we lay our self down and HE is lifted up.
When OUR doctrines are put aside in order that HE is glorified we will be made "Perfect in ONE"! Perfect in HIM!

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
When we come into this unity, the unity of CHRIST we are made "Perfect in ONE"!
Jhn 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Jhn 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.
In YHVH we are loved!
When then will we demonstrate HIS love, first to each other and become "Perfect in ONE" so that through us the world may know of HIS love too?
When will we become "Perfect in ONE"?



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Wow, Amen Brother. Thank you!! What more can I say? Amen and God Bless.
 
Pastor Eric said:
..... When then will we demonstrate HIS love, first to each other and become "Perfect in ONE" so that through us the world may know of HIS love too?
When will we become "Perfect in ONE"?

Just a word of caution Eric,... don't fall into the trap of making an altar out of the reality of being one in Christ.

God already has a Person through whom He has He will express Himself, and this is Christ Jesus, the Son.

To be clear about what the Lord is saying we need to go back to the beginning of His thought,....

"Sanctify them in the truth;..... Your word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. And I do not ask concerning these only, but concerning those also who believe into Me through their word,... that they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that You have sent Me.....

And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them,... that they may be one, even as We are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one,.... that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me."


So here we see that two things are being dealt with regarding the matter of the oneness of the saints,.... sanctification in truth and the glory the Lord has given us.


Therefore, if we want to be clear about the matter of the world knowing His love, we need to understand it has to do with... our sanctification in truth and the glory our Lord has given to us.


The word "perfect" is better translated as "perfected", and when we see this we will begin to see that the world will come to know/believe Christ was sent by God,... because the world sees our perfection taking place before their very eyes.

And how does this perfecting manifest itself?

As love.


In love,
cj
 
When then will we demonstrate HIS love, first to each other and become "Perfect in ONE" so that through us the world may know of HIS love too?
When will we become "Perfect in ONE"?

Plain and simple...

When Christians are willing to forsake the denominational church (that includes so-called "non-denominational" churches which have their own names and agendas also) - THAT'S when.

The plea of "when will we be one" is not a new one. The problem is the vast majority of believers are ignorant of how to, and/or, not willing, to really "be one". They rest in comfortable sectarian fellowships and somehow believe that God is gonna make them one, but in their allegiance to, and labor and financial support of these sects, they are actually warring against oneness at the present time. For instance, they are too blind to realize that every time they say, "God is blessing our church with growth", they are actually rejoicing that some members are leaving other churches to join theirs. Not only are the churches "not one", they are literally in competition with one another for members.

I don't know if this applies to you personally, but don't weep and moan over the state of the church unless you are willing to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
 
Good to hear from you again Brad, been a while.

You know. You are a really 'right to the point' kind of guy. I like that about you. And you seem to have quite an insight into most issues to which I have witnessed your replies.

You are absolutely right in what you have offered, (I don't know about the 'crying' part), but what you have stated is 'truth'. And it's not only the fault of the churches. It has just as much to do with the individuals reveling in their individual doctrine, as the teaching of it by the churches. People are vain, and in their vanity, constantly strive to separate themselves from others. They love to feel 'more important' than anyone else and denominations are just another example of this.

The hardest single thing that God has offered to me is learning to love my brother as myself. Sometimes I get up on my pedestal and pat myself on the back for being such a 'good guy' to my neighbor, but I'm really only fooling myself, (I still battle with pride also). But it is VERY difficult to even understand the 'love' of God, much less demonstrate it. I keep trying though.

Good one guy and keep up the 'good fight'.
 
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