The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

John 17:22-23

True unity consists in obeying the first and second greatest commandments, in proper order.

One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:35-40

True unity is firstly being one with God.  “May they be one, just as We are one” (John 17:22, above).

Unity does not consist, primarily, in the outward direction towards one another, but rather, is first required solely on the upward, that which pertains to God.

Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17, is not about us getting along with one another–it is about us being in unity with God.  Just as He and His Father were one, we are able to be one with God.  This is the unity which Christ prayed for.

In this unity, the unity among brothers becomes able.

Though we are a many membered body, and though differences of doctrine and theology abound, Paul said that we were given leaders in the body so that we could come into the ‘unity of the faith’ and in the knowledge of Christ.  Thus mature, we attain to the full stature of Christ, who loves all.

Though different, we come to love one another, when we fully come into that love which is the Father.  Though one an arm and another a foot, we become one when we are joined physically to the Lord Jesus Christ’s body, through the communion of the saints.

It is only when we choose to be one with God, and choose to obey His Scripture, laying down our self (Romans 8:12-13), that we enter into greater and greater unity with the Father, unto perfection.  Becoming perfect, even as He is perfect.  It is only in this way, of that same mind, thought, heart, and spirit, that unity with others, the second commandment, can exist.

In what way was Christ one with His Father?  In Word, in deed, in action, in thought, in lifestyle.  In dress, in conduct, in relationship.  In every way, Christ was like His Father.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.

Hebrews 1:3a

And, so if Christ is the exact representation of His nature, we must become like Christ, we must become like God is in perfection and holiness, through His Spirit, until we are One.

And, if we are one with the Father, even as Christ was one with His Father, for this is the prayer that Jesus prayed, we are then one with all other believers that so choose to be one with Him.

True unity looks like the cross, and it looks like sacrifice.  As the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the servant of all, its head, Christ and God the Father Himself, must be above and beyond the greatest servants of all time, and, indeed, they are.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Oneness with God means sharing in His greatness, which is loving, and is giving.  Being one with God means being of the same inclination and purpose as God, which is saving the World.  Being one with God means loving them until the end (John 13:1).

When we lose our life, we find it.  And, when we lay down our self-will, seeking first His Kingdom and Righteousness (Matthew 6:33), we enter into a rest and a Kingdom so vast and beyond, that we lack nothing (Psalms 23:1) , and desire nothing (Psalms 34:10), other than simply to love and adore Him more.

True unity is Christ, and outside of Him, and the unity of that faith, there is none.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever.

Psalm 133