Oneness

1 x 1 x 1 = 1

Please open your heart to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. This entire book is devoted to the task of persuading the people of God that they are literally the sons of God. Every chapter has taken on that challenge, and this one is no different.

Acts 17:22-23

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

The word superstitious as it is used here means “more religious than others.” Paul is referring to the fact that they have given themselves over to so much worship of the gods, until they worship a God they have not known.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

I want us to take note of the verbage Paul uses here; “him declare I unto you.” In other words, I am here to not only teach or preach to you of this God; I will ‘show,’ ‘reveal,’ or ‘manifest’ Him to you. This is the same word Jesus used in His prayer; O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (John 17:25-26).

There is only one way to declare God to anyone. You must walk in the Spirit of God, so that the character and power of God will be manifested in and through you. This, Jesus and Paul did.

Acts 17:24-26

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Herein is the concept of “one” as seen from God’s perspective.

And hath made of one blood all nations of men…

This is God’s concept of creation. When He made Adam, He made “mankind.” This means that all born on the earth after Adam are of Adam. They are of his blood and they are his kind. Though there are many nations, producing many nationalities with set boundaries, they are all of one blood, Adam. Adam was/is human and of the humankind. He is a natural man meaning his nature is earthy. Thus, when God looks upon the world, He sees all to be Adam, regardless of race, color, creed, nationality or habitat. The human race is one.

Now Adam's race is a fallen race. It is a conquered people. God’s enemy, Satan has seized possession of a sinful creation. Now, the salvation of this fallen creation is through the baptism of death and resurrection into a new creation. The redemption plan of God was able to accomplish this. However, I must note here, that the pattern for creation did not change. God is consistent in keeping to His pattern of life. All who are fashioned to serve God must be of one kind. Even as Adam was fashioned to serve and obey God, so is the church fashioned to do the same. Even as the seed of Adam produced after its own kind, so must Jesus produce after his kind. The new creation must be heavenly because Jesus is heavenly. This “one kind” concept is first seen when God made the woman from the rib of Adam. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created (Genesis 5:2). If we look at the instructions the Lord gave to Adam, they too, reflect the concept of “one kind” or “same kind.” And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:28)

From this passage we are able to understand God’s meaning of multiply. If God views the whole creation as Adam, then to multiply would mean “to bring forth the same,” or reproduce would mean “to make you again.”

To obey this instruction is to start with 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 = 1

This is also the pattern of the new creation. We are all one. Our race started with Jesus, and has multiplied to millions. Nevertheless, we are all one.

JESUS’ PASSION FOR THE CHURCH

John 17:11

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:20-23

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

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.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

This collection of scriptures reveals the passion of Christ for the Church to be the same as the Father. Though the passions of the Church have rejected such an extraordinary miracle, it is a truth that cannot be destroyed. God made the Church ‘One’ with Him and His Christ.

In his writings to the Galatians, Paul writes; For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:27-28).

Here God’s pattern for creation is seen once again. The members of the church are from many countries, backgrounds, social statuses and gender. However, they are all “one” in Christ. Thus, we have a new creation.

Christ X Christ X Christ X Christ X Christ X Christ X Christ = Christ

As we go forward to look at the many scriptures that declare us to be the inherit offspring of God, it is a major concern as to how many of you who study this material will actually embrace it and become that manifestation of Christ.

These things are heavy on my heart because I know assuredly that unless the Body of Christ comes to accept its true identity, it can never please the Father. But I know there will be some of us who will embrace the truth and walk in it. Therefore, I will continue to try and persuade all who will hear the word of the Lord.

SUMMARY SCRIPTURES

Consider these verses for they tell of all who are called God. And all that is called God is an expression of the Godhead.

THE FATHER CALLED JESUS GOD

Hebrews 1:6-8

6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

THE FATHER CALLED THE CHURCH GODS

Psalm 82:1, 6

1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

JESUS CALLED THE CHURCH GODS

John 10:30-38

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

BEGOTTEN AGAIN

1 Peter 1:1-2

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

The word "elect" means to be called and appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable; choice, select, excellent preeminence.

1 Peter 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Colossians 2:6, 9-10

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Colossians 3:1-4, 10-11

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Ephesians 1:2-6

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.