17:20-23 Is Jesus praying here that all Christians would unite to form a single worldwide church?
17:20-23 Is Jesus praying here that all Christians would unite to form a single worldwide church?
That is what the proponents of the ecumenical movement in the contemporary church would have us believe, but Jesus is not praying that at all. He is praying that Christians would all be united in love, and one with each other in their faith and beliefs, as He and the Father were one with each other (CP Jn 10:30; 14:8-11).
The unity that Jesus prayed for was spiritual, not organizational, and Paul teaches the same thing (CP Eph 4:1-5). Both Jesus and Paul referred to the same unity of Spirit - a oneness based upon Christians' common relationship with the Father and the Son, and their same basic attitude toward God's word, the world, and the lost (CP 1Jn 1:5-7).
What Jesus prayed for in Jn 17:20-23 was a spiritual unity of heart, purpose, mind and will in all those who would come to believe on His name. This includes us (CP Jn 17:20).
Spiritual unity among Christians bears witness to the divine mission of Christ. Sadly though, there is not enough spiritual unity visibly manifest in the professing church.
There are many faiths and beliefs which has divided Christendom today and do nothing to promote the cause of Christianity (CP Jas 3:16).
If contemporary Christians are to bear witness to Christ's mission on earth as the first century church did, then they must become one with each other in spiritual unity as the first century church was one (CP Ac 1:14; 2:1, 46-47; 5:12-14; 15:25; Ro 15:5-7).
18:10 See comments on Mt 26:47-51.