In Psalms, chapter hundred and thirty-three, verses one through three, the psalm expresses the same spiritual truth as John seventeen, where Jesus prayed that His followers would establish themselves in love, holiness, and unity. He knew that the Holy Spirit could not operate among them if there were divisions based on sin and selfish ambitions, as in First Corinthians one, verses ten through thirteen, and chapter three, verses one to three, respectively. But fervent love for God and one another, along with sanctification in the truth of God’s Word, will bring God’s nearness to and His anointing on His people.
The unity that Jesus prayed for was not organizational unity but spiritual unity. The unity must be based on living for Christ, knowing and experiencing the love of the Father and the fellowship of Christ, separation from the world, sanctification in truth, receiving and believing the truth of the Word, obedience to the Word, and the desire to bring salvation to the lost. When any of these factors are missing, the true unity that Jesus prayed cannot exist. Jesus does not pray for His followers to “become one,” but they may “be one.” The attempt to create an artificial unity through meetings, conferences, or complex organizations may cause betrayal of the unity for which Jesus prayed.
“The unity of the Spirit” cannot be created by any human being. It already exists for those who have believed in the truth and received Christ. To keep that unity is not through human efforts or organizations but by living “worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” as in Ephesians four, verse one. Spiritual unity is maintained by being loyal to the truth and keeping in step with the Spirit. It cannot be attained “by the flesh,” as in Galatians three, verse three.