What Is the Greatest Thing We Can Attain to in the Days of Our Flesh?

What Is the Greatest Thing We Can Attain to in the Days of Our Flesh?

It is what we read here: namely, the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer that we shall be perfectly one just as the Father and the Son are one.

How can we attain to this unity? In exactly the same way Jesus did. When He came into the world, He said, “A body You have prepared for Me . . . behold, I have come . . . to do Your will, O God.” Heb. 10:5-10. Jesus said, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33. Then one is a perfect disciple and can comprehend “the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.” 1 Cor. 2:6-7.

If we have forsaken everything—everything in the world including our own will—then we are free, and we are in this world for the same purpose for which Jesus was here—to do the will of God. Then we are one with the Father and the Son. Then we enter into the same race in which Jesus is our forerunner, by running in His steps. 1 Pet. 2:21-24; Heb. 6:19-20. We enter into the same development as Jesus by learning obedience by the things we suffer. Heb. 5:8-9. Jesus was made perfect in this race, and the fullness of the Godhead came to dwell in Him bodily. Col. 1:18-23. He is the first among the brethren. In this same race we are conformed to the image of the Son and are among His “many brethren.” Rom. 8:28-29. We partake of divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:3-4. This is only possible if we remain in the oneness that exists between the Father and the Son.

We read about the tempter who came to Jesus. He tempted Him with signs and wonders and the glory of this world. However, Paul writes, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Cor. 4:3-4. The tempter tried to blind Jesus with the glory of this world, but Jesus answered: “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matt. 4:10. He remained perfectly one with His Father.

Paul exhorts, “Flee from idolatry.” He also writes that those who sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play were idolaters. 1 Cor. 10:7, 14. In other words, they did not stand up to do God’s will. They lived according to their lusts, and thus they were dead even though they were alive. 1 Tim. 5:6. Paul explains further that the man who is covetous is an idolater. Eph. 5:5. They have left the unity that I s between the Father and the Son.

There are many people who have made a start in this perfect discipleship, but they have since fallen in the temptations this present world has to offer; they stopped running the race Jesus ran, and their development has ceased. 2 Tim. 4:10.

Peter exhorts us to resist the adversary, steadfast in the faith, and he will flee from us. 1 Pet. 5:6-10; Jas. 4:7. This is what Jesus did; He is our eldest brother. Then we keep this perfect unity and can live in the hidden wisdom of God.