Spiritual Unity

At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you (John 14:20).

‘That day’ is a reference to the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Passover, when the promised Holy Spirit came from heaven and took up residence in the Christians (Acts 2:1-4) who were fasting and praying in an upper room (most likely the same one used by Jesus and the disciples at His last Passover with them). The resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit marked the beginning of a new biblical dispensation, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. It marked the beginning of the physical Christian church on the earth.

What is most significant about this event is the complete spiritual unity underscored by Jesus in the text - I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. The whole of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is tied together in the coming of the Holy Spirit. This unity, which is empowered by the Holy Spirit, is inseparable. He is the unspoken, but understood 3rd Person in the formula given by Jesus. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended and indwelt the followers of Jesus, the disciples became fully conscious of the unity of Jesus Christ with God the Father. He had told them earlier, I and My Father are one (John 10:30), and, Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. (John 14:10-11). That unity was also expressed in His High Priestly prayer (John 17:11,21-22), Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are . . .  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.

The Holy Spirit would also unify the followers of Jesus Christ in Him, you in Me, and I in you. That also was expressed by Jesus in John 15:4-5, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. This unity is also expressed in His High Priestly prayer (see above). As stated earlier, these sayings, along with other teachings of Jesus (esp. John 10:27-30), testify to the security of God’s salvation in the believer. When we walk in daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit, one fruit of that fellowship is the assurance of salvation given to us through Jesus Christ. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:21-22), In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14). Amen.

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