"Christians are to be knit together in the bonds of love and charity .

They are to be one in heart and

purpose and sentiment, guided and controlled by the Word of God. Are we revealing this
oneness? The unity for which Christ prayed is not to be regarded as a sentiment, but as the
purpose of God for us. It is in accordance with the councils held by the Father and the Son that there
shall be perfect unity among those who name the name of Christ. This is a holy , sanctified unity ,
which forbids all alienation and strife. Why should it not be seen among us? It will be seen
when believers are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. If we expect to be united in the courts above as
members of the family of the redeemed, should we not be united in the church here below?" {Ms182-
1905, par . 22}

"The words “I in them, and Thou in Me” reveal the nature and character of the union that is to
bind His followers together . This union is needed in the church now, just now. Complete union
with Christ and with one another is absolutely necessary to the perfection of believers. Christ’s
presence by faith in the hearts of believers is their power , their life. It brings union with God. “Thou in
Me.” Union with God through Christ makes the church perfect. {Ms182-1905, par . 23}

“The glory which Thou gavest Me,” as the channel of conveyance, “I have given them, that they
may be one, as We are one.” We are to bend every energy to the attainment of this oneness.
The gifts that God has bestowed upon His people are not to create diversity , but are to blend in
harmony . Medical missionary workers are not to regard it as of no consequence whether or not
they respect the ministry . God calls for unity . The trumpet that calls His people into line will have a
certain sound." {Ms182-1905, par . 24}

My personal favorite

Our church members see that there are differences of opinion among the leading men, and
they themselves enter into controversy regarding the subjects under dispute. Christ calls for
UNITY . But He does not call for us to unify on wrong practices. The God of heaven draws a
sharp contrast between pure, elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrines. Selected
Messages, V olume 1, page 175

There have of late arisen among us men who profess to be the servants of Christ, but whose
work is opposed to that unity which our Lord established in the church. They have original plans
and methods of labor . They desire to introduce changes into the church to suit their ideas of
progress and imagine that grand results are thus to be secured. These men need to be learners
rather than teachers in the school of Christ. They are ever restless, aspiring to accomplish some
great work, to do something that will bring honor to themselves. They need to learn that most
profitable of all lessons, humility and faith in Jesus. Some are watching their fellow laborers and
anxiously endeavoring to point out their errors, when they should rather be earnestly seeking to
prepare their own souls for the great conflict before them. The Saviour bids them: “Learn of Me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” { 5T 238.3} { ST January 18,
1883, par . 1 1 }
In these first disciples was presented marked diversity . They were to be the world's teachers,
and they represented widely varied types of character . In order successfully to carry forward
the work to which they had been called, these men, differing in natural characteristics and in
habits of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought, and action. This unity it was
Christ's object to secure. T o this end He sought to bring them into unity with Himself. The
burden of His labor for them is expressed in His prayer to His Father , "That they all may be
one; as Thou, Father , art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us;" "that the world may
know that Thou has sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." John 17:21, 23. His constant
prayer for them was that they might be sanctified through the truth; and He prayed with
assurance, knowing that an Almighty decree had been given before the world was made. He
knew that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to all nations for a witness; He knew
that truth armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the battle with evil,
and that the bloodstained banner would one day wave triumphantly over His followers. {AA 20.2}