The Power of Being “In” and “One”
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21, KJV)
John 17:21 is a foundational scripture for understanding the depth of intimacy and unity that Jesus desires between us and the Father. This is not about surface level agreement or passive connection. This is about being grafted into the very essence of God’s nature and reflecting that unity to the world. To grasp the weight of what Jesus is saying, we need to dive into the Greek behind two key words: in (ἐν) and one (ἕν).
The Greek Word for “In” ἐν (en)
The word “in” (ἐν) speaks to more than just location. It is about immersion and fixed position. This is not a casual connection; it is about being fully embedded and integrated. The word ἐν conveys the idea of being inside the sphere of something, completely surrounded and identified with it.
When Jesus says that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father, He is speaking to a reality of shared essence and identity. This is not just proximity; it is union. It is the same word used when Paul talks about being in Christ (Romans 8:1). To be in Christ is to participate in His life, His nature, His authority, and His inheritance.
Jesus is not just praying for us to have access to God. He is praying for us to exist within the same relationship that He has with the Father. The life of the Son flows from the Father, and Jesus is praying that we would step into that flow, into that shared communion. This is not about religious performance; it is about existence at the core of our being. To be in the Father and the Son is to be positioned in the source of life itself.
The Greek Word for “One” ἕν (hen)
The word “one” (ἕν) means more than just numerical unity. It refers to unity of essence, agreement, and harmony. This is not about being identical; it is about being united in purpose and substance.
When Jesus says, “that they all may be one,” He is not talking about people simply getting along or working together toward a common goal. The word ἕν refers to the same kind of unity that exists between the Father and the Son, an indivisible bond of heart, mind, and will. The Father and the Son are not the same person, but they are of the same essence. They operate with perfect alignment and harmony.
This is why the unity Jesus prays for among believers is supernatural. It is not about agreement on doctrine or shared mission. It is about being so grafted into the life of God that we reflect His nature and function as one body. The oneness Jesus is talking about is rooted in shared life, shared purpose, and shared authority. It is the same unity that exists within the Godhead.
Unity in Beloved Identity The Blueprint for the Body of Christ
Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 is a prophetic invitation into the divine life. We are called to be in Him, not just in relationship with Him but in His very being, integrated into His life and nature. From that position of intimacy, we are called to reflect the unity of the Godhead to the world.
This is why division within the body of Christ is so destructive. It contradicts the very nature of God. We are not meant to operate as isolated individuals or fragmented factions. We are meant to be unified, not by human effort, but by shared participation in the life of God.
To be in Him is to be positioned in the flow of His life, His authority, and His nature. To be one is to function in agreement and harmony with Him and with each other, reflecting the seamless relationship of the Father and the Son.
This is not just an invitation; it is a command. Jesus was not praying for optional unity. He was establishing the blueprint for the body of Christ. We are not called to agree on everything, but we are commanded to align with the heart of the Father and flow as one body, under one head, in one spirit.
Unity in the body of Christ is not achieved through programs or forced agreement. It is the natural outflow of being positioned in Him. If we are truly abiding in Christ, unity becomes the fruit. The deeper we step into beloved identity, the less room there is for division. When we know who we are in Him, we stop striving and competing because we recognize that our source, our life, and our purpose come from Him.
The Heaven to Earth Experience
Jesus links our unity to the world’s ability to believe: “That the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” When the body of Christ functions as one, not through compromise or superficial tolerance but through shared life in the Spirit, the world sees a reflection of the Godhead. Our unity becomes evidence that Jesus was sent from the Father because it reflects the divine nature.
Unity in beloved identity brings heaven to earth. The harmony of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit, becomes manifest in the church when we align with His heart. The world will believe not because of our theology or church programs but because they will see the life of God flowing through a unified body.
This is more than an invitation. It is a command to abide in Him and to reflect the oneness of the Godhead. Division within the church is a direct contradiction of the nature of God. True unity is the natural fruit of intimacy with the Father. It is not something we create; it is something we yield to when we fully step into our position in Christ.
Jesus prayed for it. The Spirit empowers it. Our job is to abide in Him and yield to the flow of His life. That is where true unity happens. That is when heaven touches earth.
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