John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
This passage of scripture teaches us one of the most important truths which pertain to our day in particular, that as Christians we must stand united on a firm platform of truth that is based solely on the word of God and nothing else. The reason why this is the case is because in our references to truth and duty, we must of necessity use one common source, the whole Bible, or else there can be no unity or common bond among us as believers. Furthermore, Christ in His prayer asks the Father to sanctify us through the truth, which implies that sanctification cannot take place outside of the truth, and if sanctification is not occurring in ourselves and in fellow Christians, then the unity which Christ sought will ultimately be dissolved.
However, it's necessary for us to establish from the Bible exactly what the truth is, so that the unity Christ desires may be understood by us, and thus become a living reality in our lives. The Bible teaches us that the "Truth" has two aspects to it, the first being the embodiment of principles of righteousness in the character and person of Jesus Christ. In other words, whatsoever Jesus does, and whatsoever Jesus says is the truth, and as such should be adopted and implemented where applicable, by His disciples and all Christians who have espoused the name of Christ. Let's read:
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The other aspect of the truth is the written word of God, including His law, which is the focal point of the written truth. Truth without God's law amounts to falsehood, and if as Christians we hold the view that the law of God was nailed to the cross, or that it was only for the ancient Jews, then we can never be sanctified, for the sanctification Christ spoke about takes place through the truth only and nothing but the truth. The Bible also let's us know what the written aspect of the truth is so that there may be no misgivings as to what constitutes sanctification. Let's read:
Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 143 ... "Thy commandments are my delights.
One of the reasons why we see and hear of famous televangelists, preachers, and priests, falling into fearful sin and iniquity that causes the heart to faint, is because sanctification is not taking place within their hearts, and the reason for this is that the law of God has been thrown out by them as being irrelevant or archaic. When the ten commandments written by the finger of God is despised in our minds, then we become a law unto ourselves, and therefore whatsoever seems right in our own eyes, that we will do. The problem with this mode of thought is that it is fluid in nature, varying from person to person, based on likes, dislikes, culture, tradition, personal preferences and biases, and even the popular, majority opinion.
Thus one person believes in monogamy, whilst another believes in polygamy, one person believes that stealing is wrong, whilst the same act is justified in the eyes of another, and with the absence of absolute truth, most of humanity is now seated on a bullet train that is headed straight for a moral abyss, from which there will be no recovery, if the radical changes to our thinking that is needed, is not made very soon. The calls that are currently made for Christians to rise up and be united can only be accomplished within the context of truth, of which the law of God forms the most integral part. Without this, unity will remain an illusive dream, never to be enjoyed or experienced by those who claim to be followers of The Lord Jesus.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which shows us the fallacy of unity without the law of ten commandments, and which by implication, encourages us to adopt and implement its principles, so that the bond of unity in the truth can be firmly established in all Christians. Let's read:
1st John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!