John 17:20-21, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 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.”

John chapter 17 records what would be accurately called the Lord’s Prayer. Many use that phrase to refer the example prayer in Matthew 6 when the Lord taught His disciples to pray. However, John 17 is a prayer that the Lord Himself prayed. In Jesus’ prayer He prayed for believers everywhere. He says that He does not pray just for the apostles, but for all who will believe their word. Jesus prays for unity of those that believe on Him through the apostle’s word. We ask the question “Is Unity Possible”? Did Jesus pray for something that is not even possible?

One need only to look around and see we live in a greatly divided religious world. It has been estimated there are over 1,000 denominations in the world today. Some say this is a good thing. Many are they in the sectarian world today who express their thanks for the many religious denominations and urging people to “join the church of their choice.” Again, we ask, did Jesus pray for something that is not possible, or, is it possible to be religiously acceptable to God and not be part of all this sectarianism and denominationalism?

I submit to you that the Lord’s Prayer has been answered and has been since that great day of Pentecost when 3,000 were added to the Lord’s kingdom, the church. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Best explanation of unity I’ve found anywhere.

We see this unity illustrated in the early church beginning at Pentecost. Notice the descriptions of the 1st century church: Acts 2:44, “And all that believed were together”; Acts 2:46, “with one accord”; Acts 4:32, “of one heart and soul”; Acts 5:12, “all with one accord”. We see from Scripture, in the church there was unity. Not agreeing to disagree, not you do your thing I’ll do mine. They were of the same mind and the same judgment.

Jesus prayed that believers may all be one, vs. 21, “as thou Father, art in me and I in thee.” That is, that we may be one in purpose, in spirit, in action, in goal, in doctrine. Someone may ask, How can one accomplish this kind of unity, what is to be the basis for “being one”?

The Bible is the standard by which to judge “unity” and it is the means by which unity can be achieved. Jesus prayed for those who would believe on Him because of the apostles’ word. When we follow God’s Word we have fellowship with each other, fellowship with the apostles, fellowship with the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. The psalmist said in Psalm 133:1-2. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments” And Amos 3:3 teaches, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

When people unite upon the basis of God’s Word, by obeying the Gospel to have their sins forgiven, then following that Gospel throughout their Christian lives, there is unity within the local congregation. There is also fellowship with congregations that are following God’s Word all the world over, be it in Huntington, Flatwoods, Prestonsburg, Thailand, Russia, or Gambia (a place in Africa with 250 Christians in 3 churches).

So I ask, do you wish to have fellowship with God, with His Son Jesus Christ, with the apostles, with Christians at this congregation and congregations all over the world? You must be obedient to God’s commands.

 

-Jerry D. Sturgill

The law of Moses served the purpose for preparing mankind for Jesus Christ.  The only way to live under that law was to continue in flawlessly keeping of all its stipulations, else one was under the curse (Galatians 3:10).  In the Old Testament, God stated through Solomon, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20); he acknowledged this truth again on a separate occasion—when praying at the dedication of the temple representing God’s holiness (1 Kings 8:46; 2 Chronicles 6:36).  Nobody could keep the law perfectly; it was a yoke that no one could bear (Acts 15:10).  Humanity needed to be saved from the curse it was under.

Enter Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham through whom God had made a promise of blessing the world (Galatians 3:16; Genesis 12:1-3).  This promise came before the law; it was God’s unilateral commitment to bless mankind in spite of man’s failing to keep the bilateral contract of the law (Galatians 3:17-21).  Jesus perfectly kept the law which no other man could keep; only He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  As the apostle Paul goes on to write, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:22-25).  The law served as a guardian and disciplinarian until mankind came of age and could be blessed by the freedom in Christ.  Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).

The faith that came is the system of truth of the New Testament.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the way of salvation; those who become children of God by faith, by being baptized into Christ, are heirs of God’s promise (Galatians 3:26-29).  It is contrasted to the law in that it is, at its root, a faith system, not a merit system.  Faith is an integral part of God’s plan of justification that stands for the whole process (Galatians 3:24).  Faith does not remove laws for even later in this book we are exhorted to “fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).  But faith does remove the curse resulting from failing to faultlessly keep God’s commandments, for we trust and follow Him who did faultlessly keep the commandments.

Therefore, we are no longer under the old law.  It served its purpose.  It highlighted sin and the need for the Savior.  We are not bound by that former law and we should not seek to return to its bondage; instead, we should stand upon the liberating truth of Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1; cf. John 8:31-32).  How thankful we should be that Christ came and brought the faith—His last will and testament.  Has the faith found lodging into your heart?  Have you become a child of God through faith in Jesus by putting Him on in baptism?  What better way to finish up this year?  You could then say, “I was in the bondage of sin, but then faith came and made me free.”

-Mark Day

From prison Paul wrote to the Philippians, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places” (1:12-13).  He did not become discouraged at his station in life, but rather saw opportunities to do good.  Paul looked on the bright side.  Though he could not travel, he could write; we have four wonderful epistles in the New Testament that he wrote while in prison: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

He wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).  Paul had joy in spite of his outward circumstances because his joy was in the Lord.  To be in Christ is to have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3).  To be in Christ is to be a new creature who no longer judges things according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).  To be in Christ means one has been united with Him in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life, anticipating that one shall be resurrected from the dead just as the Lord was (Romans 6:3-5).  How often we forget how wonderful it is to be in Christ!

This is why Paul repeats the reminder to “rejoice in the Lord.”  We are in need of reminders.  We may intellectually know that we are in Christ but were forget what a blessing it is.  Other essential truths that we have known for years must be reviewed as well because spiritually we are forgetful, become discouraged, and lapse into sin.  So, remember to read God’s word, pray, associate with other Christians, and come to worship in order to “stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance” (2 Peter 3:1).

When you are prone to worry or forget God’s great love for you, remember to take it to the Lord in prayer.  After repeating his exhortation to rejoice, Paul goes on to say, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).  To “be careful” in the KJV here is to be worried; it is similar to the “take thought” of Jesus’ warning against worry in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34).  God’s peace will guard your heart if you truly cast all your care upon Him, knowing that He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  When Paul was in prison he prayed; he said, “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:14).

Paul remembered to look on the bright side.  He reminded others to do the same.  Let us help each other to remember this as Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

-Mark Day

The apostle Peter wrote, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). False teachers can be cunning. Some have vivid imaginations that they use to fabricate elaborate tales. But the imaginations of men are not the source of the account of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. His advent, life, teaching, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension are not fables. They were not made up, but were witnessed by honest men.
The coming in 2 Peter 1:16 is the Lord’s first coming of which the apostles, including Peter, were eyewitnesses. Peter was one of the privileged three (the other two being James and John) to ascend the mountain where Jesus was transfigured, his face shining as the sun, and his clothing becoming white as light (Matthew 17:1-5). Peter goes on to mention the testimony God gave of His Son on that occasion, “For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Peter 1:17-18). Peter saw the transfiguration with his own eyes. He heard the words of the Father with his own ears.

The conclusion Peter draws from witnessing these supernatural events is, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed,” (2 Peter 1:19). What the Old Testament prophets said concerning Jesus Christ was confirmed by events such as the Transfiguration which the apostles witnessed while accompanying the Lord during His earthly ministry.
Peter goes on to tell us how the Old Testament, and the whole Bible for that matter, was written. He reiterates what he had declared in verse 16 by writing, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,” (2 Peter 1:20). The subject of this verse is not what one does with Scripture in interpreting, but rather how Scripture came about. The words “is of” in 2 Peter 1:10 come from the Greek word ginomai, which means “comes from.” The Scriptures did not come from man’s imagination or private interpretation; the Scriptures are not “cunningly devised fables.” This is even more evident when we read on to the next verse. Peter shows how prophecy, God’s revelation to man in the Scriptures, came about when he writes in verse 21, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Peter himself was writing this epistle because he was guided by the Holy Spirit, whose coming Jesus promised (John 16:13).
This confirmed word from God ought to get our attention. Peter noted the proper response to this confirmed word, writing, “which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Just as we would notice a bright light if we were in the dark, so God’s confirmed word ought to arrest our attention in a world of darkness. As we grow in our appreciation of God’s word, light will fill our minds. The day will dawn and the morning star will arise in our hearts. Take some time this week to appreciate God’s word and let the light in (Psalm 119:130).

–Mark Day