33) Jesus said that the
unity of Christians would be objective evidence to the world that He had been
sent by God (John 17:20-23). How can the world see an invisible
"unity" that exists only in the hearts of believers?
Just as we see God without actually seeing Him:
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long
time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he
that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the
words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
The effects are seen, and the reality then is known. Today we see Jesus via the
scriptures....but when we apprehend that revelation....we also see the Father:
John 1: 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in
the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
2 Corinthians 4:6 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The unity Bible Christians possess has all the properties necessary to be the
unity Christ referred to.....It was not a cult unity where all think alike, it
is a unity in love:
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another.
Love doesn't demand all think exactly alike before love is expressed...
Catholics distort Bible Christian diversity...when in fact we are one in love and
our doctrinal differences don't affect our position in the body of Christ.
Sola scripturaists agree with each other on the
doctrines of the faith much more than Catholics...A survey of everything
Catholics have said over the centuries about their faith is thoroughly
confusing. A survey of the Systematic Theologies of Bible Christians show we
have above 95% agreement, or better.
When fallen human nature, and the fact we interpret books thousands of years
old written in long passed cultures, is considered, this agreement is obviously
divinely inspired....
By contrast, look how at the disagreement much simpler documents incite among
men, for example, the US Constitution.
We are one in Christ....Catholics, by human will
and force, are one under the pope.
Therefore the difference is not only in degree, but also in nature and origin.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
__________________
The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth
all men every where to repent:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.-kjv