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Why ONE?
ONE, the oneness of His people, is the central thought in the Lord Jesus’ monumental prayer the night that He went to be crucified on the cross. ONEness is the result of the Lord’s new commandment of loving one another. Being ONE is the practical manifestation of the building up of His assembly, His body. God’s eternal purpose is fulfilled when His people are ONE as the Father and the Son are one. ONEness is the state of mutual fulfillment between God and humanity for eternity. Today, ONEness is needed to usher in the next revival. (Read more: Chapter 1)
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2. What is John 17?
John 17 is the concluding prayer offered by Jesus Christ after His last supper with His disciples. The last supper started in John 13 which included Jesus washing His disciples' feet and giving His new commandment of loving one another. Then from Chapter 14 through 16, Jesus spoke of mysterious and wonderful things to come including the indwelling Comforter, the Spirit of truth, the universal vine tree, and the ability for His disciples to do greater things than He. Then He prayed to the Father in chapter 17. This epic prayer is critical and essential to understand and touch what was in His heart. It is through this prayer that His purpose and mission is unveiled before His crucifixion. In His prayer, He prayed for His people to be ONE by giving them three gifts: Eternal life (the Father’s name), the Word (truth), and His glory. After each of these gifts, He prayed that “they may be ONE.” This oneness among His people would be in a perfect oneness as the Father and the Son are one. This oneness is the building up of His body, the assembly. (Read more: Chapter 1)​
3. What is the assembly?
The Greek word for assembly is “ekklesia” which literally means “called out”, and it was used to refer to being called out to a gathering or assembly, such as a public town meeting. Therefore, assembly or congregation is the accurate translation for the word “ekklesia.” This Greek word has been mistranslated by most English Bibles to “church.” The word “church” actually comes from a very different Greek word. The etymology (etymology.com) of the word “church” is said to be from kyriake (oikia), or kyriakon doma meaning “the lord’s house.” It refers to an actual place or physical building for worship which included a place to worship idols. The “ekklessia” is described in the Bible is the Body of Christ, the household of God, the bride of Christ, and more. God’s assembly (ekklessia) is His eternal purpose. (Read more: Introduction and Chapter 13A)
4. What is the difference between church and assembly?
Churches today are the buildings where a particular minister, pastor, or priest do their ministry or work. In most churches the gospel is preached, the Bible is taught, and organized to include various ministries or works to help people around them. The assembly refers to the believers themselves as the one body of Christ that meets and fellowships in their homes, from house to house, and/or wherever they may gather. Whenever and wherever believers are gathered into His name with Jesus Christ as the focus and recognizing that they are in the one and same fellowship as all other believers, then that is assembly. (Read more: Introduction and Chapter 13A​)
5. What is the difference between a ministry and the assembly?
According to 1Corinthians 12, in the body of Christ, the assembly, there should be diversities of gifts, ministries, and operations, but only one body. For the purpose of simplicity, when the word “ministries” is used, it refers to all three. Every member has a ministry for the body. Every believer should look to the Lord and function according to what the Lord through the Spirit has allotted to each one. Though some believers may have significant gifts, ministries, and operations that would allow them to build their own church and have a following of Christians in their orbit of influence; they should not lose sight that ultimately they are to build up the assemblies that are gathering in the homes of all believers from house to house. (Read more: Chapter 13B)
6. Why the emphasis on homes?
In the New Testament, whenever the assembly was mentioned with a location, it was in the homes. Even when the apostle Paul rented a school for his teaching in Ephesus, he didn’t call that the assembly; rather, the assembly in Ephesus was located in someone’s home. It is in the homes that diverse believers that may be going to different churches or taught by various ministers can come together as one body in the one fellowship of Jesus Christ, functioning and sharing freely, and manifesting love for one another. (Link to chapter 13A)
The gift of eternal life to make His people ONE
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1. ONE in the eternal life
The first gift that Jesus gave in His prayer is eternal life. Receiving this divine life is the basis for God being the Father. When believers are born of God with His life, God becomes their Father. In order for God’s people to be ONE, they need to be kept in the Father’s name, in His divine eternal life. A babe in the eternal life is one that can be easily distracted and moved away from the Father’s name. When Christian take on other names, then divisiveness exists. The more a believer grows stronger in the eternal life today, the more they cannot be moved from the Father; therefore, in this divine life, they have the innate characteristics to love, to receive, to accept, to forgive, to encourage, to fellowship with all diverse believers and stay in ONEness. (Read more: Chapter 1)
2. What is eternal life (the Father’s name)?
Eternal life is God’s divine life. To receive this gift is to be born again, or born anew. At the moment a person receives and accepts the faith of Jesus Christ, such a one is born anew. This is to be born of God; thus, have God as the Father with the Father’s name. Christians do not need to wait until they die to have eternal life in the by-and-by; rather, they need to enjoy and grow in the eternal life now. When this life grows then there is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Instead of trying to work up these characteristics with their own efforts, they just need to enjoy this eternal life in Jesus Christ, grow, and bear fruit spontaneously. (Read more: Part 1)
3. How does one grow in life?
All physical life needs 4 ingredients to survive, grow and reproduce: nutrient (eating and drinking), breath (environment), exercise, and sleep (rest). If any one of these is missing, then life cannot be sustained. The eternal life also needs to grow and flourish in believers. In order for the eternal life to grow strong and be fruitful, believers also need to have spiritual nutrient, breath, exercise, and rest. If believers have regular experiences of these 4 items, then it is guaranteed by the law of life that they will grow in the eternal life. (Read more: Part 1)
4. Eating the Word and drinking the Spirit
Spiritual food for eating is Jesus Christ as the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the real food for believers to eat. He is unveiled and explained to people by God’s Word. God’s Word is embedded in the Scriptures. When a person reads, understands, and appreciates Jesus Christ when reading Scriptures, then that person is getting nourished spiritually. Drinking is believing and receiving the Spirit. When a person responds in faith to the unveiling of Jesus Christ then the Spirit enters into this person as spiritual drink. It is through drinking that a believer is filled and satisfied. Spiritual eating and drinking goes together: as a person understands and appreciates the Lord Jesus and simultaneously believes, this one receives Jesus Christ as the indwelling Spirit. (Read more: Chapter 3)
5. Breathing Christ in the good land
In order to breathe, one needs to be in the environment where there is air. Believers need to realize that they are in Jesus Christ and cannot get outside of Him no matter what their spiritual condition. Since they are in the unsearchably rich and extensively vast Christ, then they can breathe and live in the Holy Spirit no matter where they are and what they are doing. The secret of breathing is unceasing prayer. This kind of prayer is innate, spontaneous, and it is as easy as physical breathing. Learning this secret will put you in constant fellowship with the Lord Jesus. (Read more: Chapter 4)
6. The first kind of exercise is to teach others concerning Christ
Many Christians have gone to church and heard teachings from the Bible for years, but if they don’t start teaching to feed others Jesus Christ, then they will stay a babe in Christ. Spiritual exercise is to teach others and share the riches of Christ with others. This should start as soon as one becomes a follower of Jesus Christ. Whatever you have learned concerning Jesus Christ, you can start to pass on to others. Don’t compare how well you can teach, because the first person reaping the benefit of your teaching is you. (Read more: Chapter 5)
7. The other exercise is to have a good conscience
Every human being is equipped with a conscience with the function of objecting or sounding an inward alarm when he or she is going to do something that could cause harm to others or to oneself. The conscience of followers of Jesus Christ are more sensitive. The believers' conscience will trouble them when they do not live according to their Christ nature in them. When believers exercise to have a good conscience then they will express Jesus Christ in their living. (Read more: Chapter 5)
8. Sleeping is to rest in the death of Christ
In the Bible death is likened to sleep. Sleep is rest. It is a rest to understand and abide in the death of Christ. For believers to experience the death of Christ is not a suffering, but a peace and a rest. Whether one suffers involuntarily or voluntarily, the resting place is the death of Christ. With His death, there is also resurrection and ascension. Therefore the energizing power to live and to serve comes by resting in the death of Christ. Misunderstanding what it is to experience His death by denying oneself is a cause for much unnecessary sufferings for believers. (Read more: Chapter 6)
The gift of the truth to make His people ONE
1. The gift of Truth is for His people to be ONE
Just because something is in the Bible, it cannot be automatically assumed that it is truth. Over the centuries, so many Christians have been divided over various doctrines and practices that are in the Bible. Therefore, they can’t be truth since that would contradict the Lord’s prayer. So it is critical to ONEness that truth is defined, and it becomes the focus so that believers are made ONE. The more a person knows the truth and are established in the truth, the more this person can be one with all kinds of believers no matter their preferences toward certain doctrines or practices. (Read more: part 2)
2. Defining truth
According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, truth, as used in the New Testament, is “the reality lying at the basis of appearance and manifestation.” According to this definition, truth is much more than not telling a lie or saying something factual; it is the reality of the universe. When a person realizes what is hidden behind what appears and is manifested, that is truth. Therefore, truth is Jesus Christ. He said “I am…the truth” (John 14:6), and the truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). No wonder “truth” has such prominence! The truth, God’s Word, brings the understanding and reality of God to His people. If it is truth, it unites. If it is not truth, it divides. Is your understanding of the Bible uniting you with other believers or dividing you? (Read more: Part 2)
3. What is not truth
Since it is truth that causes believers to be one, then any doctrines or practices, no matter how scriptural, that divide and separate believers should be questioned as not being truth. Since there are typically two sides to various teachings in the Bible, any over emphasis on any one side can cause separation among Christians. And what is helpful to one believer may not be for another. These teachings may include such things as predestination or free will, miraculous gifts, leadership structure, ways of worship, etc. Of course, all believers should emphasize the person and work of Jesus Christ since He is the focus, center, and cause of believers’ oneness. (Read more: Part 2)
4. The person of Jesus Christ
“Who do you say that I (Jesus Christ) am?” How a person answers this question determines their eternal future. This is the question of questions. It is the revelation and recognition of who Jesus Christ is that saves. Jesus Christ is God coming in a man of flesh. He is both God and man. He is the eternal God and a sinless and perfect man. This is the heart of the Christian faith. The awesome God became a man, even a servant. God joined Himself to a creature that was created in His image and likeness. This union between God and man is for eternity. Jesus Christ for eternity continues with both divinity and humanity. God and man is one in Him. (Read more: Chapter 7)
5. The work of Jesus Christ
Jesus as the Christ, the “anointed one”, came with a mission to fulfill God’s eternal purpose. First, He went to be crucified not just for redemption, but He solved all the problems of the universe. Then in resurrection, He became the life-giving Spirit to regenerate and indwell His believers and to bring humanity into God. In His ascension, He is made both Lord and Christ. In His out-pouring of the Spirit, He included all His believers with His anointing so that they too will continue with Him to fulfill God’s eternal purpose. The Christ today is not just Jesus individually, but all His believers as His body are included in His anointing. His followers now share in His power and authority to fulfill God’s purpose on earth. (Read more: Chapter 8)
6. Man’s fall into sin
Since how human beings were created and fell into sin is not directly related to Jesus Christ; therefore, this is not considered as “truth.” Nevertheless, it is helpful and healthy to have a good understanding of how the Scriptures present humankind: His origin, his internal makeup, his fall into sin, his condition, his natures, and his future. Understanding human and the sinful nature, will give insight into the issues of struggles in society, in others, and yourself. (Read more: Chapter 9)
7. God’s full salvation
Though man (male and female) became sinful and wretched, man was not left hopeless. God came through with a wonderful salvation that is much better than anyone can imagine. God’s salvation, from a legal standpoint, made man as righteous as Himself through the redemptive death of Jesus Christ. Just by receiving the faith of Jesus Christ, man is fully justified with all of their sins completely wiped away, forgotten. Not only so, but by receiving the life of Jesus Christ, man will be transformed into the same glorious image as Jesus Christ. God’s divine life in man will make man the same as God in expression and glory. (Read more: Chapter 10)
8. God’s Economy
The Greek word for “economy” means "household dispensation" or administration. It was used in ancient days referring to the distribution of food by the patriarch to His household whereby his off-springs can grow and extend his family. God has an economy for His household. His entire plan to fulfill His eternal purpose and pleasure of having many sons is centered around the dispensing of Jesus Christ as food to all his children. God expects all His children enjoying this spiritual food to also become stewards and dispense this food to others. It is though this economy that the ekklesia is built and His enemy, Satan, defeated and put to shame. (Read more Chapter 11)
9. God’s eternal purpose, His assembly
God has an eternal purpose. It was hidden in His heart before time, clearly unveiled in the New Testament, and entirely fulfilled at the end of time. This eternal purpose is a great mystery and His eternal good pleasure. His unique heart’s desire is His one assembly, but this assembly is not just a mass of humanity or even a group of Christians. She is referred to as the household (sons) of God, the body Christ, the bride of Christ, a corporate new man, the temple of God, the New Jerusalem, and more. All of these descriptions point to the joining of God with man. Divinity and humanity become one so that the assembly will express all the glorious attributes of the Trinity. Humanity draws it’s source from the eternal God and, in turn, expresses the glory of God to the entire universe. (Read more: Chapter 12)
10. Satan’s tactic against God’s purpose
Since God’s purpose is ONEness of His people in Himself, Satan’s tactic is to divide. He will do whatever he can to divide God’s people so that there will be segregation and separation among God’s people. The main way to do that is to distract believers from focusing on Jesus Christ alone. This can be done by using various teachings including ones found in the Bible. (Read more: Chapter 12)
11. Many believers, but only one fellowship
Though there are millions of believers in Jesus Christ, there is only one fellowship of Jesus Christ. All the diverse believers are in the same one fellowship. This fellowship can be realized only through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the third of the Trinity. Therefore, fellowship is the reality of the assembly. If there is no fellowship of the Spirit, then there may be a group of people doing Christian things, but the body of Christ is absent. The body of Christ is expressed when there is fellowship because the real assembly is the manifestation of fellowship. (Read more: Chapter 13A)
12. A local assembly has the same nature as the universal
A local assembly has the same nature as the universal assembly and should have the same characteristics. A local assembly is uniquely built on the foundation of Jesus Christ alone. It not only receives all believers into fellowship, but seeks to extend fellowship to all believers regardless of any man-made demarcations. It is a place where all the members have the liberty to function according to their God given gifts. Otherwise, it can be at best a ministry or a church, and at worse a sect. (Read more: Chapter 13A)
13. Romans 16 is key to spreading the oneness of fellowship
Romans chapter 16 is the key to bringing the scattered and segregated believers in Rome into one fellowship. Paul, in the theologically complete epistles to Rome, spelled out what is common among all believers in order to bring them into the vision of the one body of Christ and each member functioning in their God given gifts. Therefore, believers ought to receive one another regardless of differing in practices. Then chapter 16 ends with a long list of greetings. Most students of the Bible have neglected to consider the command from Paul to go and greet. It may be the single most important practice among believers that can bring the body of Christ into ONEness. (Read more: Chapter 13B)
14. The significance of the old covenant
The Old covenant represents God’s conditional relationship with humankind. On the negative side the Old Covenant exposed the sinful condition of man. On the positive side, it was a portrait and testimony of God’s wonderful personality and characteristics. (Read more: Chapter 14A)
15. The significance of the New Covenant
The New Covenant was Jesus Christ who came as grace to fulfill all of God’s requirements for and in humankind. The New Covenant is a relationship based on faith. God has accomplished everything for His purpose. Now it is a matter of receiving and enjoying all that God has accomplished in Jesus Christ. By this life relationship between God and man, man and God become intertwined as one within the Trinity for eternity. (Read more: Chapter 14B)
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The gift of His glory to make His people ONE
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The glory that Jesus received and in turn gave to His believers is not the original glory in Divinity as the Son of God. Rather, it is the glory that was received as a man, a servant, who died to serve both God and man. It is through His death and in His resurrection and ascension that He was glorified. It is this glory that was given to all His believers. The pathway to His glory went through service; therefore, the glory given to His believers as servants also goes through service or ministry. Before the Lord’s second coming, the believer's glory is not to be lifted up, but to minister and serve God and humanity. (Link to part 3)
1. Believers have the unique privilege to be a dispenser of eternal life
Christians should do their part to minister to the poor and the down trodden, but the greatest service that believers can render to people around them is to minister eternal life through their speaking of Christ. Each and every believer has the privilege and the responsibility to speak and give this divine life to others. This is called fruit bearing and it is the function of every believer because the eternal life in each believer needs to flow out and reproduce. (Read more: Chapter 15)
2. Being a servant is to bear others’ burden and lighten their load
It is Jesus Christ’s humanity and humility that made people happy around Him. Often He ate with sinners and they enjoyed His company. He didn’t condemn them even when they were caught in their sins. He loved children. He was a good listener even when people spoke nonsense. He did publically condemn the religious leaders for being hypocrites, but even that was due to His care for people since they were the ones judged by religion. Finally, it was in His humanity that He died for the sins of all. This is the Lord’s cherishing in order that people will receive the nourishment of His divine life. Jesus Christ’s ministry in His humanity is the pattern for all believers desiring to bear remaining fruit. (Read more: Chapter 16)
3. The followers of Jesus are called to make disciples
The service of believers to God and men is not just a matter handing out tickets to heaven so to speak, but that there will be an increasing number of true disciples of Jesus. New believers should not stay spiritual babes but they should grow, mature, and have a positive testimony among family and friends so that they, too, will come to salvation and eternal life. Toward this end, God is sending His workers from house to house. God’s salvation is for the entire household, family by family. The Ekklesia (assembly) will spread not from church to church, but from house to house, family by family. (Read more: Chapter 17)
4. The ultimate goal of service is to build an assembly
Every believer is called to build up the body of Christ, an assembly in homes. God is after an assembly in believers’ homes that expresses the one body of Christ. It is not transplanting what is normally practiced in church to inside a home. Churches operate as someone’s ministry; whereas, an assembly is where there is acceptance of diverse believers and where everyone has equal opportunity to contribute their Christ according to their God given gifts. It is crucial to understand how the early assemblies met so that the God ordained pattern may be continued today. (Read more: Chapter 18)