I Have Given Them the Glory: Thoughts on Christian Unity

"The unity of the Body is one of the most forceful apologetics for the divinity of Christ. Conversely, disunity is Satan's most successful tool."  – Otto Helweg

God's glory in us is the basic provision for Christian unity. "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:20-23). There are many temptations to disunity within Christianity—denominational splits, following particular pastors or authors, theological differences—the list goes on. The church of Jesus Christ started in glory, unity, and prayer (see Acts 1). In the last three centuries, there have been hints of unity in different parts of the world. This unity has been manifested in four different ways: praying for each other, preaching the gospel together, singing together, and doing humanitarian work.

The primary assumption in this book is the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures. There are promises, prayers, and commands in the New Testament concerning the church's unity in Christ. The Christian church is made up of individual members of the body of Christ. This book is written to those individuals. The church as a whole cannot obey God. Only the parts can.