Jesus’ prayer in John 17 defined biblical unity in terms of God’s “word” given to the apostles. Jesus’ prayer was specific: “for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one.” He did not pray for unity among others. He has no relationship with the disobedient who claim His name. True disciples “abide” in His word. They enjoy perfect unity because they are “in Us”—that is, in the Father and the Son—and the Son is in them. This intimate unity is reflected in the rest of the New Testament as the spiritual reality for all true disciples. The most frequent term for this relationship is “in Christ.” All who are “in Christ” are also in His “one body” which is His church. This is the “one flock” that faithfully follows “one Shepherd.”
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