TRUE UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

From Pastor-teacher Ken Siva of Apprising Ministries:

"With the rising ecumenical spirit that is found in much of today's church growth methods, there is a concern that the Protestant reforms of Evangelicalism are being subtly undermined in order to find stronger fellowship with the Roman Catholic Church. But is this drift towards the Church of Rome the solution to true biblical unity or is it a dangerous compromise?"

"...let’s look at verse 20 one more time for a different focus. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” The footnote in the famous Geneva Bible used by the Pilgrims who founded this nation is helpful at this point.
Secondly, [Jesus] offers to God the Father all of his, that is, all those who will believe in him by the doctrine of the apostles: That as he cleaves unto the Father, receiving from him all fulness (sic), so they being joined with him may receive life from him,… (emphasis added).
What applies to our discussion of unity in the Body of Christ is the phrase – “all those who will believe in him by the doctrine of the apostles.” This would be someone who believes in Christ according to what His Apostles taught. And this “doctrine of the apostles” is what we Protestants now refer to as biblical doctrine. Someone who believes in Jesus Christ according to what Holy Scripture teaches is then brought into that unity the Master is talking about in John 17:23. “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.”

Are you hearing calls from the pulpit to be relevant, real and relational?
Read WAS JESUS SEEKER SENSITIVE?