"One" is the Number of Salvation
The greatest difference between man and animals is man's ability to understand and express abstract ideas such as "love." Man can also understand subtleties between such concepts, for instance, the differences between "philos" (brotherly love), "Eros" (romantic love), and "agape" (social or moral love). "Agape" love is what the Messiah emphasized to Peter in Jn.21:15 when He repeatedly told Peter to "feed my sheep".Through the symbols of language, we may learn about other abstract ideas including: hate, repentance, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, holiness, perfection, salvation and eternal life. Anyone trained in a language may read about these concepts and comprehend what the words say; but there is an understanding beyond normal reading comprehension.
The Messiah spoke of an understanding (Jn. 16:13) which comes only as a gift through the Holy Spirit, which is itself a gift (Acts 2:38). He explained that some things are temporarily "hidden" from some people in the world for their own good (Mat. 13:10-14) although he promised that those who would seek him "with all their heart, would find him" (Jer. 29:13). The scriptures imply that the value of this gift of amplified understanding, is nearly as significant as the possession of man's basic ability to comprehend ideas (Jude 4, 10).
With this in mind, it is interesting to observe the political unifying of the world's "Christian" religions through compromises, while the various Sabbath-keeping groups continue to fragment and maintain their voluntary separation. This "scattering" extends beyond even small groups, to the level of family and even individuals. It was prophesied (Zech. 13:7) and has been a part of church history since New Testament times (Acts 8:4). While we are saddened at the loss of previous fellowship, we have found new opportunities for friendships and have been challenged to become more active in working out our own salvation. The "scattering" has produced a realignment of many lives as we all actively seek fellowship, literature and teaching which is consistent with our individual understanding of what is true.
The Messiah prayed to the Father, of our having a "oneness" (Jn. 17:20-23). Was He speaking only about "unity" in congregating or did He have something else in mind? Unity of physical fellowship is something to be desired as we see in Psa. 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" But when He prayed that we would be "one" as He and the Father are "one", He was still on earth in human form, speaking to the Father who is in heaven (Jn. 17:1). They were physically separated but they were of "one mind" (1 Pet. 3:8). When the Messiah speaks of His sheep hearing His voice and recognizing it, He again refers to a singularity in His "one" voice (Jn. 10:2-4,11, 14, 16).
There is a consistency in the scriptural emphasis on "one". Eph. 4:4-6 specifies,"...one Spirit, ...one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all..."But the first part of verse 4 also mentions only "one body".
If we accept the inspired statements, we are told that there is but "one" body (Eph. 4:4), or one "group" not "in location" but "in Christ" (Rom.12:4-5). The "many members" of this "one" group, or body were scattered (Acts 8:1) according to His prophecy in Mat.26:31,"...the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."This scattering was partly due to persecution and partly due to "thieves", "hirelings" and "wolves" among the flocks (Jn. 10:7-14). He goes on to show that the "oneness" was not a unity in the sense of proximity or fellowship. Jn. 10:16,"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold;". Ultimately, all His sheep shall be (future tense) in one group or location, "...them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (verse 16, last part).
While some teach that the "one" body is a single corporate entity, it has become obvious that the Eternal is not limited in calling or working with individuals, by government documents of incorporation. We now are aware of many other groups in the former Soviet Union, in South America and even within the United States which observe the Sabbath and keep the Ten Commandments and in some cases, observed some or all of the Holy Days. The great prophet Elijah thought he was the only surviving worshiper of the true God until the Eternal revealed that there were 7,000 others who had resisted idolatry (1 K.19:14,18). We should not be so presumptuous as to assume that we know everything that the Eternal is working out, even here on earth.
The term, "oneness" can mislead us unless we take it in context, "line upon line, precept upon precept" (Isa.28:9-13.) This is a requirement so that we do not suffer the consequences as shown in the last part of verse 13, "...that they might go and fall backward and be broken, and snared, and taken.". While the world pursues a physical unity in religion, our goal is a spiritual unity with our Creator, a oneness of mind that does not require compromise with truth or understanding.
Salvation is not a group activity. "The soul that sins, it shall die." (Eze. 18:4,20). Paul explained that salvation was not even dependent upon his ministry (or service). "Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed (the Eternal), not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil.2:12-13).
There is a confidence that comes from associating with a group. It is not a confidence in the Eternal but a confidence in peer acceptance. "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Cor.10:1).
The word "compare" comes from the Latin comparare, meaning "equal" or "alike". Paul is saying that having confidence because of similarities between us and others in our group is unwise. We have a higher standard for comparison. "Till (future tense) we all come in the unity of the faith (not unity of location), and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:" (Eph. 4:13).Our confidence is not to be in "man", which precludes the self (Psa. 118:8), not in leaders (verse 9), not in friends, family or teachers (Mic. 7:5-6), but in the Father who works in us, leading us by His Spirit."Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Phil. 1:6). Confidence is also a matter of "one". Each of us having confidence in one Father, to whom we have access by one Savior. We are taught by His one Spirit. We look forward to having one King and one Kingdom over the whole earth.
Meanwhile, if we are blessed to have access to fellowship with others, let us rejoice and be thankful for the opportunity to encourage and exhort each other. Our goal is not a temporary physical unity but a much greater goal of spiritual unity, the "oneness" of mind that the Father and the Messiah share. In the absence of fellowship with brethren, we should still rejoice because there is no greater fellowship than what we individually have with our loving Father (John 3:16). The elements of salvation come in units of one--one Father, one Messiah, and one Spirit. Our responsibility is also one of singularity.
"But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden."(Gal.6:4-5).
May the Eternal lead us all into greater understanding until the time that we are truly of one mind, the mind of the Father.
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