Maintaining unity of Spirit in the bond of peace becoming one with God

Before Jesus people had to do with the scrolls with the Torah (Law) Nebim (Prophets)and Kethubim aleph (writings). the followers of Jesus wrote new books or Messianic scriptures, the Kethubim Bet. They are given to us for making it easier to recognise the Messiah and to have a better insight in the Plan of God.

It is up to the people in the world to take up those old writings and to study those words and either to believe in them or to let them be nothing saying words.

All those who believe the original gospel as established by the disciples’ preaching should aim to be of one mind with God. Jesus was of one mind with God and wanted his followers to become likewise. Throughout the gospels and epistles we get the golden thread of the Love of God and his call to come to Him as children. Jesus never wanted to do his own Will and asked also of his followers that they would do that what God wanted from them.

Jesus was the only man who totally succeeded to do not his will but to do totally in everything the Will of God. We, as sinners can try to do our best. We do have our faith in the ransom offer Jesus brought and the grace of salvation which came over us by Jesus unity with God and God His acceptance of that Lamb of God.

Though we shall never be able to be totally pure as Christ Jesus, we still have to try to come to that intimate relationship that Jesus had with his heavenly Father. We too should try to come to that unity, with our fellow human being, with Christ and with God.

“I and my Father are one”

(April 17)

In his Gospel John records several challenging sayings of Jesus. How are we to understand, “I and my Father are one” in today’s chapter 10:30? In what sense are they “one”?
We know he prayed to his father all night on at least one occasion (Luke 6:12), and in his prayer in the garden of Gethsemane he said,

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

So we ask, in what sense was Jesus “one” with his Father when they had separate ‘wills’?
We will soon read his words,

“I am going to the Father for the Father is greater than I” (14:28).

The solution to this conundrum unfolds in chapter 17 in his final prayer before his betrayal. He is praying for his disciples and says,

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me” (verse 10).

Jesus giving the Farewell discourse to his ele... — Jesus giving the Farewell discourse to his eleven remaining disciples, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308-1311. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was after his all night prayer (in Luke 6) that Jesus chose his 12 disciples (verses 12-16).

“12 And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and {1} James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, {1) Or [Jacob]} 15 and Matthew and Thomas, and {1} James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, {1) Or [Jacob]} 16 and Judas [the {1} son] of {2} James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor; {1) Or, brother; See Jude 1. 2) Or [Jacob]}” (Luke 6:12-16 ASV)

Now note the verses which follow in John 17. Our Lord prays,

“I am coming to you Holy Father, keep them in your name … that they may be one, even as we are one” (verse 11).

His prayer for his disciples is that they may have unity of mind, a unity of understanding creating a harmonious team in carrying on his work after he ascended to heaven. Up until this stage there had been times of jealousy, a competition

“among them as to which of them was the greatest” (Luke 9:46).

Jesus, and God his Father, had a unique oneness – and this was to be the disciple’s role model. But Jesus extends his vision of oneness further, he prays,

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us …” (verses 20,21).

All those who believe the original gospel as established by the disciples’ preaching should aim to be “one” in this wonderful way. Those who have achieved and maintained this wonderful oneness will be the ones to reign with him when he returns to set up his worldwide kingdom. Paul was very conscious of this and stressed this. He counselled the Ephesians to

“maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace … just as you were called in the one hope … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (4:3-6).

+
Preceding articles:

Sayings of Jesus, what to believe and being or not of the devil

Not my will, but thine be done

Additional reading:

+++

Relationship status: It’s complicated (jewishjournal.com)
The Song of Songs. Shir HaShirim is a magnificent expression of affection between lovers. Allegorically, the song is interpreted as a love song between God and the Jewish people. Indeed, it is a beautiful love song, but what does it have to do with Pesach? God rescued us from slavery and then split the sea — surely that was a loving thing to do — but what about Pesach is so special that makes it an auspicious time to recite poetic verse of God’s eternal love for God’s people.
71/929 The Messy Business of Bringing Torah to Life (blogs.timesofisrael.com)
God needs partners; He needs boots on the ground. Why does this chapter follow the laws of the altar, Rashi asks? To teach us that the Jewish high court of law, the Sanhedrin, was to be located inside the temple, next to the altar. God empowers the heroes of the Oral law to bring the Torah to life by interpreting it and applying it in the way appropriate for their particular generation. No wonder that in our chapter, whose every verse is the basis of literally hundreds of pages of rabbinic discussion, the court is referred to with God’s name, as ‘elohim‘. The story of these laws is still live, it is still bring written every day, and it is one full of drama, intrigue and adventure.
Avot: Meet Shammai (coffeeshoprabbi.com)
In Shabbat 31a, there are several stories about people approaching Shammai, wanting to convert to Judaism. Shammai chases them away because they ask rude or stupid questions. Hillel is more patient. It is amusing, therefore, to read here that Shammai says to “receive every person with a pleasant countenance” – really? What about the fellow at whom he threw the builder’s tool?
Shabbat HaGadol: The Great Shabbat (lazerbrody.typepad.com)
What’s so great about “The Great Shabbat”, the Shabbat before Passover? Is an event that took place 3327 years ago still relevant to us today? See today’s lesson to get your answer and much more, in light of current times…
He Prays! (brentkuhlman.wordpress.com)
With the Second Commandment God wants you to use His Name properly. You are to fear, love and trust in God so that you call upon God’s Name in every trouble. That’s called – prayer. “Call upon me in the day of trouble,” God invites. And then comes His promise: “I will deliver you,” as well as your response, “and you will honor me,” (Psalm 50:15). Prayer is the life of Dependence upon God for everything. When you don’t believe or trust in God, you don’t pray to Him. When you do believe and trust in God, you pray. Prayer is a no brainer for the believer.
+
In John 17, when the supreme hour of Jesus’ life on earth has arrived, namely, His suffering and Good Friday death – drinking the cup of God’s wrath against all sin and every sinner — Jesus dependently prays. He prays for Himself (17:1-5) asking the Father for the promised gift (cf. 12:28) of His glorification through suffering and death. He prays for His disciples (17:6-19) that His Father would preserve them in an alien and hostile world, sanctify them in the truth of His Word, and be equipped as apostles to preach the gospel to the world. He prays for His future disciples who will believe in Him through the preaching of His apostolic witnesses (17:20-26). He prays for their unity: “that they all may be one / perfectly one” and for their remaining with Him. That’s why John 18:1 remarks: “When He had finished praying.”
Parables (politicalirony.com)
Healthy life can be found in sacred books (christadelphianworld.blogspot.com)
Life is dependent on the air around us, and the quality of life is dependent on the quality of air. In an atmosphere of Torah and mitzvot there is healthy life.