Deuteronomy 6:4 | The Great Shema (“shema” = hear) declares that God is ONE! But what is it declaring? And why? HINT: read Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
Ephesians 4:4-6 | The number “one” appears SEVEN times. This is how important unity is to God! It is a mystery that God who is Three and yet One, but He brings that mystery directly to us, seeking unity between Him and His people, and for unity among us! Read Romans 15:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 3:8, Colossians 3:12-17, and 1 Peter 3:8.
John 17:22-23 | WHY? The Father sent Jesus—who gives us HIS glory—so that WE would be one! And why does He want us to be one? So that the world would know God’s love is REAL! Read John 13:34-35, Romans 5:1-10, 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 3:16-4:21.
1 Corinthians 8:6 | But HOW does unity come about? Everything came FROM the Father and we live FOR Him, but everything came THROUGH Jesus, the Son, and we live THROUGH Him! Unity comes THROUGH Jesus! Read Romans 3:21-26.
Titus 3:4-7 | The Father loves us and saved us NOT because of our works but because of His MERCY. He saved us THROUGH washing and rebirth (See John 3:1-21) which comes by the Spirit, Who Himself comes THROUGH Jesus, Who Himself justifies (declares PERFECT) us by His GRACE, making us HEIRS, which means we are all part of ONE family. Read Romans 6 and 8:12-17.
None of this happens because of what we do, but because of WHO He is and WHO we are: He is Trinity: a unity and community of love which holds the universe together and gives light which is the life of all people, HIS people. His desire is for us who are many, to be ONE. Read John 1:1-18 and Revelation 21:1-7 and 22:1-6.