Page:Scriptural Basis of Christian Unity.pdf/18

 them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, as thou lovedst me."

In John 15, He says:

"I am the vine, ye are the branches. Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, so neither can ye, except ye abide in me."

Passages of similar import might be indeﬁnitely multiplied, but these are sufﬁcient to show that the unit Jesus had in mind when He prayed for unity was the individual disciple, not an organization.

Paul teaches the same doctrine. In Gal. 3:28, he states: "Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof."

Not one passage in the New Testament will justify any attempt to unite sects or denominations.

Now, if individual Christians are the units of which unity should be composed, our task and duty are rendered plain, and the program for its realization simple.

It is to restore the ideal New Testament church, making Christians only in our evangelism, and teaching the sin of forming or supporting denominations in any manner whatever.

The union between individuals was spiritual—"as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee." There is no trace of ecclesiasticism among churches ministered to by apostles. Each disciple was a member of His body, working in harmony with every other member in obeying the behests of the Head; a branch, bearing fruit because of its vital connection with the vine.

It is a truth so self-evident as to be 18