Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / The High Priestly Prayer - Part 2
Transcript
- 0:00Good morning. Well, open up your copies of God's Word to John 17.
- 0:05! For those of you who have been praying for me this morning, I'm really grateful.
- 0:10! The two hours of sleep are slowly being overtaken by pre-workout and Jesus,
- 0:19to which all pre-workout would be worthless.
- 0:22So I drank the most potent stuff I could find this morning, so here I am. We're ready.
- 0:27But usually when I'm tired, one of the first things to go are my reading out loud ability for some reason.
- 0:35So show me a lot of grace today if you can find it in your heart.
- 0:40So for those of you who are new on the scene, last week we began a three-week series on John 17,
- 0:49which is known as the true Lord's Prayer or the high priestly prayer of Jesus.
- 0:59And it is a passage that I've been enthralled by for many years.
- 1:04Truly, I don't just say that like I really mean that.
- 1:07It's one that just kind of stands out and tucked away in the pages of Scripture.
- 1:14And so for a long time I've been wanting to hopefully encourage other people with how my soul has been blessed by this prayer.
- 1:25We know that our Lord was in constant prayer.
- 1:29We know that He was completely devoted to prayer and communing with the Father.
- 1:35But the content of Jesus' prayers are not really out there for the most part.
- 1:41But John 17, we get a peek, we get a glimpse of what it looked like for Jesus to talk to the Father.
- 1:52And you feel almost like you're eavesdropping on a very, very intimate conversation.
- 1:59And many people throughout the history of the church, many people have been awed by John 17.
- 2:1219th century preacher Charles Spurgeon, not a stranger to this crowd.
- 2:19He said,
- 2:20And so what's been commonly again referred to as the Lord's Prayer.
- 2:41It has about 650 words in it.
- 2:44It just takes a couple minutes to read, but there's enough depth in this prayer for you to spend eternity just diving into.
- 2:54So what I'm able to preach in three weeks won't even come close to tapping in to what's really here.
- 3:01So I encourage you to seek this passage out in your own study and ask the Lord to teach you from it.
- 3:08So Martin Luther, the reformer, he said about this prayer,
- 3:14It sounds so honest, so simple, yet it is so deep and so rich and so wide that no one can fathom it.
- 3:24This prayer does stand out as preeminent in God's Word.
- 3:28Philip Melanchthon, who was a friend of Luther's, another hero, if you would, of the Reformation.
- 3:38Before he passed away, before he died, he gave a final lecture to his students.
- 3:44And this was the passage that he preached on, John 17.
- 3:48And he stated this,
- 3:49And again, I feel very inadequate to explain or to reveal or try to expound on all that is in this.
- 4:15So please go and allow God just to work in your heart as you read it.
- 4:19But before we turn to the passage,
- 4:23I think it would be really important to understand one of the roles that our Lord Jesus plays in our life,
- 4:31a role that he fulfills, particularly exemplified in John 17,
- 4:36is that of the high priest, the great high priest.
- 4:41See, as sinners who are wretched, unclean, broken, and guilty before God,
- 4:48we are like in desperate, dire need of someone to come and intercede on our behalf before a holy God.
- 4:57So, praise be to God, that role is being fulfilled by our Lord Jesus.
- 5:04Scripture has much to say about Christ being our eternal, perfect high priest.
- 5:10The writer of Hebrews particularly goes at length to talk about how all the ministries of the Old Covenant,
- 5:16the tabernacle, the temple, the priesthood, the sacrifices,
- 5:22all these things were imperfect representations pointing toward a greater fulfillment.
- 5:28And we all know that all those things were brought to completion in Christ.
- 5:34Turn, if you would, just to Hebrews 7.
- 5:37But hold your hand, John 17, Hebrews 7.
- 5:44You see, all the animal sacrifices,
- 5:48all the high priests that were appointed in the Old Covenant,
- 5:52were imperfect in many, many ways.
- 5:55No animal sacrifice was good enough,
- 5:59because it couldn't suffer for human sins ultimately.
- 6:03It had no moral life.
- 6:05It couldn't bear the guilt of man.
- 6:08And sinful priests who served in the temple
- 6:12had to first make atonement for their own sins
- 6:15before they atoned for the other people's sins.
- 6:19So, they were imperfect,
- 6:21and they couldn't remain either because they were mortal.
- 6:23They died.
- 6:24And so, all these things, this imperfect system,
- 6:28was pointing toward a greater fulfillment in Christ.
- 6:33So, if you look at Hebrews 7, look at verse 23.
- 6:39It says,
- 6:39For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,
- 7:09holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners,
- 7:14and exalted above the heavens.
- 7:17He has no need, like those high priests,
- 7:19to offer sacrifices daily,
- 7:21first for his own sins,
- 7:24and then for the sins of those of the people,
- 7:27since he did not once for all,
- 7:30excuse me,
- 7:31for he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
- 7:34For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests,
- 7:39but the word of the oath,
- 7:41which came later than the law,
- 7:43appoints a son,
- 7:45whom has been made perfect forever.
- 7:47So, Jesus fulfilled all these things.
- 7:50He was sinless,
- 7:52so he had no need to offer a sacrifice for himself.
- 7:56This is what our passage teaches.
- 7:59So, he became the final sacrifice.
- 8:03Furthermore, he was immortal.
- 8:06He never had to be replaced.
- 8:07So, he is the one eternal mediator between man and God.
- 8:12And lastly, he became human,
- 8:15so he could bear the sins of humans.
- 8:18And so, the writer goes on to say,
- 8:20in chapter 8, verses 1 and 2,
- 8:22Now, the point that we are trying to make is this.
- 8:26We're trying to tell you this.
- 8:28Do we have such a high priest,
- 8:30one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven,
- 8:35a minister in the holy places,
- 8:38in the true tent that the Lord set up,
- 8:41and not man.
- 8:43So, Christ is interceding on our behalf.
- 8:46Can you imagine going to a courtroom of God,
- 8:52being utterly guilty before him,
- 8:54and having no one to plead your cause?
- 8:58Jesus is doing this.
- 8:59For those of us who are found in him,
- 9:02he is our high priest.
- 9:04Paul echoes this sentiment,
- 9:07this idea, this truth in Romans 8.
- 9:10Something that most of us might look over,
- 9:13because Romans 8 is so familiar,
- 9:15we're always trying to get to the end of Romans 8,
- 9:17which is like the big, you know, huge punch at the end.
- 9:22But have you ever noticed,
- 9:23in Romans 8, 33, it says,
- 9:26Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
- 9:29It is God who justifies.
- 9:31Who is to condemn?
- 9:32Christ Jesus, the one who died.
- 9:35And here it is.
- 9:36More than that.
- 9:37Who was raised at the right hand of God?
- 9:40Who indeed is interceding for us?
- 9:42Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
- 9:47So Christ is our great, eternal, sympathetic high priest.
- 9:53And that's why John 17 is such a huge glimpse
- 9:57of his intercessory work.
- 9:59Think about this.
- 10:00He's only moments from being betrayed,
- 10:04arrested, beaten,
- 10:06treated so unjustly,
- 10:10and crucified.
- 10:11All that's right in front of him.
- 10:13So if you were praying,
- 10:14what would you mainly be praying for
- 10:16in that time?
- 10:18God help me.
- 10:19God help me.
- 10:20God help me.
- 10:20Probably.
- 10:22But isn't it amazing
- 10:23that the bulk of this prayer,
- 10:25probably three quarters of it,
- 10:27is him interceding for his disciples
- 10:29and for us?
- 10:30It's not for his own.
- 10:32He's not trying to pray for his own sake.
- 10:34He understands what is coming.
- 10:37So we see a glimpse of the heart of Jesus
- 10:39for his people
- 10:40as he's interceding for them
- 10:42in John 17.
- 10:45So what a Savior,
- 10:47an intercessor,
- 10:48we have on our behalf.
- 10:51John wrote in his letter,
- 10:53Little children,
- 10:54I'm writing these things to you
- 10:56so that you may not sin.
- 10:58But then he throws in there,
- 11:02but if anyone does sin,
- 11:04don't panic.
- 11:06It's okay.
- 11:08Because you have an advocate
- 11:09with the Father,
- 11:10Jesus Christ the righteous.
- 11:13So Jesus is standing in that gap
- 11:16praying for us.
- 11:19And as I said last week,
- 11:22the magnitude of this,
- 11:23and next week we'll look at
- 11:24the final section of this
- 11:25where Jesus is actually praying
- 11:27for us today.
- 11:29All those who would come
- 11:30to believe in him.
- 11:34That is astounding to me.
- 11:37Robert Murray McShane,
- 11:39a young Scottish pastor
- 11:45in the 1800s,
- 11:46he died at a young age
- 11:47of tuberculosis,
- 11:49so lung problem,
- 11:50so I have a lot in common with him,
- 11:51because I probably would have died
- 11:53about the same age
- 11:54that he did from lung issues
- 11:56had I not had a transplant.
- 11:59But something that he said,
- 12:01he preached a sermon on John 17,
- 12:03and I'll repeat this next week
- 12:06because this is such a powerful statement to me.
- 12:10He says,
- 12:10If I could hear Christ praying for me
- 12:13in the next room,
- 12:15I would not fear a million enemies.
- 12:18Yet distance makes no difference.
- 12:20He is praying for me.
- 12:23I pray that
- 12:24that just resonates in us.
- 12:28So, today we'll look at
- 12:30the second section of
- 12:32John 17.
- 12:35Just because it's just a few verses,
- 12:37I'll read 1-5,
- 12:38and this is
- 12:39the outline of the prayers
- 12:41in 1-5,
- 12:42Jesus is praying
- 12:43for himself
- 12:44and talking about
- 12:45the Father's glory
- 12:46and his own glory.
- 12:49That's what we looked at last week.
- 12:50We did a huge introduction
- 12:51to this last week,
- 12:52so you can go back
- 12:53and listen to that.
- 12:55And then the second part
- 12:57of his prayer,
- 12:57which we'll look at today,
- 12:58is 6-19,
- 13:00and he's praying for his disciples.
- 13:02And the key word in this
- 13:03is this idea of preservation.
- 13:06And then next week,
- 13:08the idea of future believers.
- 13:10verse 1 says,
- 13:18when Jesus has spoken these words,
- 13:21he lifted up his eyes to heaven
- 13:22and said,
- 13:24Father,
- 13:25the hour has come.
- 13:27Glorify your Son,
- 13:29that the Son may glorify you,
- 13:31since you have given him authority
- 13:33over all flesh,
- 13:34to give eternal life
- 13:36to all whom you have given him.
- 13:38And this is eternal life,
- 13:40that they know you,
- 13:41the only true God,
- 13:42and Jesus Christ,
- 13:43whom you have sent.
- 13:45I glorified you on the earth,
- 13:47having accomplished the work
- 13:49that you gave me to do.
- 13:50And now,
- 13:52Father,
- 13:53glorify me in your own presence
- 13:54with the glory that I had with you
- 13:56before the world existed.
- 13:58I have manifested your name
- 14:01to the people
- 14:02whom you gave me
- 14:03out of the world.
- 14:05Yours they were,
- 14:06and you gave them to me,
- 14:08and they have kept your word.
- 14:10Now they know that everything
- 14:11that you have given me
- 14:13is from you.
- 14:15For I have given them
- 14:16the words that you gave me,
- 14:18and they received them,
- 14:19and have come to know in truth
- 14:21that I have came from you,
- 14:23and they have believed
- 14:24that you sent me.
- 14:26I am praying for them.
- 14:28I am not praying for the world,
- 14:31but for those that you have given me,
- 14:33for they are yours.
- 14:36All mine are yours,
- 14:38and yours are mine,
- 14:39and I am glorified in them.
- 14:42And I am no longer in the world,
- 14:44but they are in the world,
- 14:45and I am coming to you.
- 14:48Holy Father,
- 14:49keep them in your name,
- 14:52which you have given me,
- 14:54that they may be one,
- 14:55as we are one.
- 14:58While I was with them,
- 14:59I kept them in your name,
- 15:00which you have given me.
- 15:02I guarded them,
- 15:03and not one of them
- 15:04has been lost,
- 15:06except the son of destruction,
- 15:08that the scripture
- 15:09might be fulfilled.
- 15:11But now I am coming to you,
- 15:12and these things
- 15:13I speak in the world,
- 15:15that they may have my joy
- 15:18fulfilled in themselves.
- 15:20I have given them your word,
- 15:22and the world has hated them,
- 15:25because they are not of the world,
- 15:27just as I am not of the world.
- 15:30I do not ask
- 15:31that you would take them
- 15:32out of the world,
- 15:33but that you would keep them
- 15:35from the evil one.
- 15:37They are not of the world,
- 15:38just as I am not of the world.
- 15:40Lord,
- 15:41sanctify them in the truth.
- 15:44Your word is truth.
- 15:46As you sent me into the world,
- 15:48so I sent them into the world.
- 15:51And for their sake,
- 15:52I consecrate myself,
- 15:54that they may also
- 15:55be sanctified in truth.
- 15:59Pray with me, please.
- 16:01Lord, we,
- 16:04upon looking at these words,
- 16:06and just are amazed
- 16:08at how much you care
- 16:09about your people.
- 16:12And Lord,
- 16:12I just ask that you would
- 16:14teach us in this time
- 16:16that we wouldn't walk away
- 16:17from this hour the same,
- 16:21that you would renew our hearts,
- 16:23our minds,
- 16:24refresh our souls to go out
- 16:26and to live for you
- 16:28with the confidence
- 16:29of knowing that you pray for us.
- 16:33In Jesus' name, amen.
- 16:36So,
- 16:37a few things
- 16:39we're going to look at.
- 16:41We're going to break them down
- 16:42into the two statements,
- 16:43and then underneath
- 16:44those two statements,
- 16:45a couple of things.
- 16:47I'll give them to you first, though.
- 16:49The first one is,
- 16:51Jesus affirms them
- 16:53as genuine apostles.
- 16:56Jesus affirms them
- 16:58as genuine apostles.
- 17:01That's the first thing
- 17:02that we see.
- 17:04And then secondly,
- 17:04Jesus prayed
- 17:06that they be kept
- 17:07by His Father.
- 17:09Okay, so those are
- 17:09the two main points.
- 17:10And underneath those two,
- 17:11we're going to have
- 17:12a couple others.
- 17:14But to the first point,
- 17:16Jesus affirms them
- 17:18as genuine apostles.
- 17:19So, underneath that,
- 17:22we see in verses 7 and 8,
- 17:24if you'll look at 7 and 8,
- 17:26we see that it's because
- 17:27because of their faith
- 17:29in Him as the Son.
- 17:32Because of their faith
- 17:33in Him as the Son,
- 17:34He affirms them
- 17:35as genuine apostles.
- 17:37So, though they had been
- 17:39with Jesus for several years,
- 17:40they had followed Him,
- 17:41they had seen Him
- 17:42work miracles,
- 17:43they had heard Him preach,
- 17:44they saw how He lived,
- 17:45He walked with them
- 17:46on a daily basis.
- 17:49They had some understanding
- 17:51of who He was
- 17:52and the mission He was on.
- 17:54But, and then there were occasions
- 17:56where they kind of revealed that,
- 17:59that they knew who He was.
- 18:01But the full measuring
- 18:04of who He was
- 18:06had not yet been revealed to them.
- 18:08But in this case,
- 18:10as we see in verse 7,
- 18:11He's like,
- 18:12now they know
- 18:14that everything you have given Me
- 18:16is from you.
- 18:17So they were beginning
- 18:18to really clearly understand
- 18:20who He was.
- 18:21and they believed,
- 18:24they believed in Him
- 18:26as the Messiah.
- 18:27And they believed
- 18:28that He came down
- 18:29from the Father
- 18:30to be the Savior.
- 18:33And Jesus,
- 18:34while He was with them,
- 18:35He says,
- 18:35I manifested
- 18:36who you were, Father,
- 18:38to them.
- 18:39One, because He was
- 18:41the Son of God incarnate.
- 18:42He was walking among them.
- 18:43He was the visual
- 18:44representation of the Father.
- 18:47Jesus said in John earlier,
- 18:48if you have seen Me,
- 18:50you have seen the Father.
- 18:53And putting Himself
- 18:54pretty much
- 18:55on the level of God.
- 18:57So He walked among them.
- 18:59He manifested His name to them.
- 19:01And they believed.
- 19:03And they obeyed.
- 19:04And they kept His Word.
- 19:05They followed Him.
- 19:07So that's the first reason
- 19:09they are affirmed
- 19:10to genuine apostles,
- 19:11because of their faith in Him.
- 19:14But,
- 19:15one that we will spend
- 19:17some more time on
- 19:17underneath this,
- 19:18so part B, if you would.
- 19:22Because they were given to Him
- 19:24by the Father.
- 19:27Alright?
- 19:27They were affirmed
- 19:29as real, genuine apostles
- 19:31because they were given to Him
- 19:33by the Father.
- 19:36So look at verse 6.
- 19:38He says,
- 19:39I've manifested Your name
- 19:40to the people
- 19:40who You gave Me
- 19:42out of the world.
- 19:43Yours they were,
- 19:44and You gave them to Me.
- 19:46And they have kept Your Word.
- 19:49And if you jump down
- 19:50to verse 9,
- 19:51I am praying for them.
- 19:52I am not praying
- 19:53for the world,
- 19:55but those whom You have given Me,
- 19:57for they are Yours.
- 19:59All Mine are Yours,
- 20:00and Yours are Mine,
- 20:01and I am glorified in them.
- 20:04So,
- 20:05there's another reason
- 20:06this idea
- 20:07that being genuine disciples
- 20:08is affirmed.
- 20:10In fact,
- 20:10it's really the source
- 20:12of the first reason.
- 20:14So,
- 20:15notice really carefully here
- 20:16that these words
- 20:18that are used,
- 20:19the disciples receiving,
- 20:21knowing,
- 20:22and believing in Jesus
- 20:24that you see
- 20:25in verses 7 and 8.
- 20:27Notice how 7 and 8
- 20:28is kind of sandwiched
- 20:30in between
- 20:31verses 2 and 6,
- 20:349 and 10,
- 20:35which revealed
- 20:37that the Father
- 20:38has chosen,
- 20:39elected a people
- 20:40out of the world
- 20:41and has given them
- 20:42to the Son
- 20:43to manifest Himself to.
- 20:47Now,
- 20:48I know that
- 20:49now that some of the hair
- 20:51is standing up
- 20:51on some of your necks,
- 20:52things,
- 20:53I want to just go ahead
- 20:55and throw out there
- 20:56that though I believe
- 20:58that in this passage
- 21:00elsewhere in Scripture
- 21:01that the doctrines
- 21:02of election
- 21:03and particular atonement
- 21:04are here
- 21:05before us today,
- 21:06that's not the only point
- 21:09of this message.
- 21:10And I'm not going to just
- 21:11make that a soapbox,
- 21:13but it is here,
- 21:13so we are going to deal
- 21:15with it,
- 21:15but my calendar is open
- 21:19for if you'd like
- 21:19to hang out
- 21:20and just talk about
- 21:21this stuff
- 21:22and look at God's Word.
- 21:24But what Jesus
- 21:25is saying here,
- 21:27in other words,
- 21:27is that their faith
- 21:28in Him
- 21:29is the result of,
- 21:32evidenced of,
- 21:34the Father's choosing them
- 21:36and giving them
- 21:37to the Son.
- 21:39This is what we see
- 21:40in our text.
- 21:41It's repeated three times
- 21:43in this whole prayer.
- 21:45This idea of the Father
- 21:48giving a people
- 21:49to the Son.
- 21:51So earlier in John 15,
- 21:53Jesus said to His disciples,
- 21:55You did not choose Me,
- 21:58but I chose you
- 21:59and appointed you
- 22:00to go and bear fruit.
- 22:03And remember,
- 22:05their faith in Him,
- 22:07again,
- 22:07a result of the Father's
- 22:10electing them.
- 22:12Earlier in Matthew 16,
- 22:14this is very clearly shown.
- 22:17Simon Peter,
- 22:18Jesus is asking people,
- 22:20Who do people say
- 22:21that I am?
- 22:23And He threw out
- 22:24some things
- 22:25and then He asked,
- 22:26Who do you say I am?
- 22:29And Simon Peter said to Him,
- 22:32You are the Christ,
- 22:33the Son of the living God.
- 22:35And Jesus answered him
- 22:37and said,
- 22:39Blessed are you,
- 22:40Simon Barjona,
- 22:41for flesh and blood
- 22:43has not revealed this to you.
- 22:46You didn't figure this out,
- 22:47in other words.
- 22:49But my Father,
- 22:50who is in heaven,
- 22:50has revealed this to you.
- 22:53So,
- 22:53the truth that God
- 22:55has graciously,
- 22:56emphasized that word,
- 22:57graciously,
- 22:59mercifully,
- 23:00chosen a people
- 23:01to give to the Son
- 23:02to save,
- 23:03is repeated three times
- 23:04in John 17.
- 23:06And again,
- 23:06it's not the focal point
- 23:08of this whole prayer,
- 23:09but it's a big part
- 23:09of this prayer.
- 23:11So,
- 23:12you may think,
- 23:13wait a minute,
- 23:16these verses have to do
- 23:17with the disciples
- 23:18being chosen
- 23:20and given to the Son.
- 23:22So,
- 23:22surely that doesn't mean
- 23:23that all believers
- 23:24come to faith
- 23:25in the same way.
- 23:27that's not true
- 23:28for all Christians.
- 23:31I used to argue that way
- 23:32until I read the rest
- 23:34of the prayer
- 23:34in verse 20,
- 23:36where Jesus turns
- 23:37His attention
- 23:38to all believers,
- 23:41like you and I,
- 23:43and He says
- 23:43in verse 24,
- 23:45Father,
- 23:46I desire that they also
- 23:48whom You have given Me.
- 23:50So,
- 23:50this is
- 23:51all of us.
- 23:53It was God's
- 23:54eternal plan
- 23:55to mercifully
- 23:56call out a people
- 23:58for salvation,
- 24:00to give them
- 24:00eternal life
- 24:01through the ministry
- 24:02of His Son.
- 24:05So,
- 24:05remember that
- 24:06as you read
- 24:08the Scripture,
- 24:09think of the idea
- 24:10that redemption
- 24:11is a Trinitarian effort.
- 24:13It wasn't just
- 24:13the Father,
- 24:15it wasn't just
- 24:15the Son,
- 24:16and it wasn't
- 24:17just the Spirit.
- 24:18It was all three
- 24:19of them playing
- 24:20a unique role
- 24:21in our redemption.
- 24:23And the Father's
- 24:24role in this
- 24:25was that He
- 24:25planned,
- 24:27ordained,
- 24:28the plan
- 24:29of redemption.
- 24:30He chose
- 24:31those whom
- 24:33He would give
- 24:33to the Son.
- 24:36The Son came
- 24:36and He died
- 24:38on behalf
- 24:38of those people.
- 24:40And the Spirit
- 24:41now regenerates
- 24:42those people.
- 24:45It is,
- 24:46He applies
- 24:47the work
- 24:47of the Trinity,
- 24:48the Holy Spirit.
- 24:50So,
- 24:50you may again
- 24:51say,
- 24:52wait a minute,
- 24:53doesn't Jesus
- 24:54love the world.
- 24:57Right?
- 24:58John 3,
- 24:5916.
- 25:01Very,
- 25:01very clever.
- 25:02So,
- 25:03I've heard
- 25:03many people say,
- 25:05Jesus loves
- 25:07the entire
- 25:08world.
- 25:09He loves
- 25:10all people,
- 25:11even from
- 25:12Adolf Hitler
- 25:12to Mother Teresa.
- 25:14Jesus,
- 25:15their love
- 25:15is no different.
- 25:16So,
- 25:19I would just
- 25:20argue with you
- 25:21humbly,
- 25:23like no,
- 25:25no,
- 25:25Jesus did not
- 25:26come to save
- 25:28every single
- 25:28person in the
- 25:30world.
- 25:31And though God
- 25:32does have a
- 25:33certain care,
- 25:34a certain love
- 25:35for the world
- 25:36in general,
- 25:38He has a
- 25:39very specific,
- 25:41very unique
- 25:42care for
- 25:43His people.
- 25:44right?
- 25:46The special
- 25:46fellowship that
- 25:47exists between
- 25:48the Savior
- 25:49and those He
- 25:50came to save.
- 25:52So,
- 25:52what I'm trying
- 25:54to tell you
- 25:54is that Jesus'
- 25:55atonement was
- 25:56an exact
- 25:57atonement,
- 25:57not a potential
- 25:59atonement.
- 26:01Can you imagine
- 26:01the Father
- 26:02sending His
- 26:04Son to the
- 26:04earth to
- 26:06die a
- 26:06terrible,
- 26:08wretched
- 26:08death,
- 26:10shedding
- 26:10His precious
- 26:12blood,
- 26:12and then
- 26:14just saying
- 26:14to Jesus,
- 26:16I hope
- 26:18some people
- 26:19make the
- 26:21most of
- 26:21this sacrifice
- 26:22you made.
- 26:23I really
- 26:24hope they
- 26:25do.
- 26:26No.
- 26:28No.
- 26:30The blood
- 26:31of the Son
- 26:31is far too
- 26:32precious to be
- 26:33wasted.
- 26:35And so,
- 26:35we all believe
- 26:36that the
- 26:37atonement of
- 26:37Jesus is
- 26:39limited in
- 26:39some way.
- 26:40we know
- 26:42according to
- 26:42the Scripture,
- 26:44and indeed
- 26:44just looking
- 26:45at our own
- 26:45lives,
- 26:46that not all
- 26:47people will
- 26:48have eternal
- 26:49life.
- 26:49We know
- 26:49that some
- 26:50will be
- 26:50separated
- 26:50from God
- 26:51because of
- 26:52their willful
- 26:53sin and
- 26:54rebellion.
- 26:55We know
- 26:56that.
- 26:56We know
- 26:56that some
- 26:56people are
- 26:57going to
- 26:58perish.
- 27:00So,
- 27:00if you
- 27:01believe that
- 27:01Christ's
- 27:02atonement was
- 27:02for the
- 27:03entire world,
- 27:03for every
- 27:04single person
- 27:05ever to
- 27:05walk,
- 27:06then it
- 27:08was limited
- 27:09in its
- 27:09power.
- 27:10because it's
- 27:11not going
- 27:11to save
- 27:12everybody.
- 27:13But I
- 27:14believe the
- 27:15Scripture
- 27:15teaches,
- 27:17not as here
- 27:17in John 17,
- 27:18but everywhere,
- 27:21that the
- 27:22atonement was
- 27:23limited not in
- 27:23its power,
- 27:25but its
- 27:25extension.
- 27:27It was given
- 27:28to save those
- 27:29exactly who it
- 27:30was meant to
- 27:30save.
- 27:32The blood of
- 27:32Christ made
- 27:33an exact
- 27:34purchase.
- 27:35It wasn't
- 27:36wasted on
- 27:37some and
- 27:37then made
- 27:38much of
- 27:39by others.
- 27:41I believe
- 27:42that the
- 27:43Father
- 27:43honored the
- 27:44sacrifice of
- 27:45His Son and
- 27:46gave Him a
- 27:47people to
- 27:48become His
- 27:48bride to
- 27:50save.
- 27:51And again,
- 27:52if you look
- 27:53at Romans 9,
- 27:55read Romans 9,
- 27:56there's an
- 27:57argument,
- 27:58this idea of
- 27:58that's not
- 28:00fair.
- 28:02God is
- 28:02being unjust.
- 28:04He's being
- 28:05not right in
- 28:06doing that.
- 28:07if He's
- 28:08going to
- 28:08save people,
- 28:09He needs
- 28:09to save
- 28:09us all.
- 28:11Well,
- 28:12first of all,
- 28:14know that
- 28:14sinful man is
- 28:15in no
- 28:16position to
- 28:17accuse God
- 28:18of being
- 28:18unjust.
- 28:20I am
- 28:20not.
- 28:21I wouldn't.
- 28:22I can't
- 28:23imagine me
- 28:24pointing a
- 28:24finger at God
- 28:25and saying,
- 28:25you are
- 28:26unjust and
- 28:27I am
- 28:27right.
- 28:29And that's
- 28:29an argument
- 28:30that Paul
- 28:30makes.
- 28:31Who are
- 28:31you,
- 28:32oh man,
- 28:33to talk to
- 28:34God that
- 28:34way.
- 28:35But I
- 28:36want to
- 28:36paint the
- 28:37picture for
- 28:37you this
- 28:38way.
- 28:39In our
- 28:40Western
- 28:40democratic
- 28:41minds,
- 28:42we have
- 28:42a skewed
- 28:43view in
- 28:44some ways
- 28:44of what
- 28:45justice
- 28:45means.
- 28:46But in
- 28:47the ancient
- 28:47and the
- 28:48medieval
- 28:48world,
- 28:49this was
- 28:50very clearly
- 28:51seen.
- 28:52But we
- 28:52know that
- 28:53a king
- 28:54or an
- 28:55emperor
- 28:55would also
- 28:56serve as
- 28:56a judge
- 28:57over his
- 28:58people.
- 28:59And many,
- 29:00many times,
- 29:01like there are
- 29:01examples of
- 29:02the Bible
- 29:02of this.
- 29:03I could
- 29:03give you a
- 29:04lot of
- 29:04examples of
- 29:04history,
- 29:05but you
- 29:05would all
- 29:05fall asleep.
- 29:07But there
- 29:08are examples
- 29:09when a
- 29:10king or
- 29:11an emperor
- 29:11would be
- 29:11presented
- 29:12with a
- 29:13whole band
- 29:13of rebels
- 29:14or criminals.
- 29:17All guilty.
- 29:19All have
- 29:21come against
- 29:22the king.
- 29:23And sometimes
- 29:24this is what
- 29:24would happen.
- 29:26The king
- 29:26would say
- 29:27something along
- 29:27the lines
- 29:28of,
- 29:29all of you
- 29:30have rebelled
- 29:30against me.
- 29:31All of you
- 29:31are guilty.
- 29:33None of
- 29:34you deserve
- 29:34to live.
- 29:37True,
- 29:38right?
- 29:38They're all
- 29:38guilty.
- 29:40But then he
- 29:41would say
- 29:41something like
- 29:42this,
- 29:43but because
- 29:43I am a
- 29:44merciful king,
- 29:46because I
- 29:47desire to
- 29:48show my
- 29:48people that
- 29:49I am
- 29:49merciful,
- 29:50I will
- 29:51pardon you
- 29:52and you,
- 29:52but the
- 29:53rest of
- 29:53you get
- 29:54the sword.
- 29:55Because I
- 29:56also need to
- 29:57show my
- 29:57people that
- 29:57I am not
- 29:58a pushover
- 29:59and that
- 30:00I take
- 30:00this sin
- 30:00very
- 30:01seriously.
- 30:03And so
- 30:03at that
- 30:04same time,
- 30:04that king
- 30:05would have
- 30:05demonstrated
- 30:06his justice
- 30:07and his
- 30:08mercy with
- 30:09one act.
- 30:10And can
- 30:11you imagine
- 30:11the ones
- 30:13who were
- 30:13spared just
- 30:14standing there
- 30:14trembling,
- 30:15saying,
- 30:15why me?
- 30:16Like,
- 30:16why was I
- 30:17spared and
- 30:18not this
- 30:18other?
- 30:20And that
- 30:20is the
- 30:21position that
- 30:21we are
- 30:21in.
- 30:22If you
- 30:23think that
- 30:23you could
- 30:23walk up to
- 30:24God and
- 30:24be like,
- 30:25I deserve
- 30:25mercy.
- 30:27This person
- 30:28deserves
- 30:29mercy.
- 30:30None of
- 30:31you would
- 30:31stand.
- 30:33None of
- 30:34us would
- 30:34make it.
- 30:35The king
- 30:36is merciful.
- 30:37So we
- 30:37are not
- 30:37in the
- 30:38position of
- 30:38an innocent,
- 30:40sweet,
- 30:40deserving
- 30:41child of
- 30:43God's mercy.
- 30:43We are
- 30:44all rebels,
- 30:45criminals,
- 30:46all deserving
- 30:47justice.
- 30:48But,
- 30:49because he
- 30:49is merciful,
- 30:51he has
- 30:51showed us
- 30:52justice,
- 30:52or showed
- 30:53us mercy.
- 30:55So,
- 30:56a lot
- 30:56in all
- 30:57of that.
- 30:58But what
- 30:58I am
- 30:58trying to
- 30:58say is
- 30:59that Jesus
- 30:59came here
- 31:00to die
- 31:01for those
- 31:03that the
- 31:03Father had
- 31:04given him.
- 31:05Right?
- 31:05It is all
- 31:07in John
- 31:0717 and
- 31:08other places
- 31:09in the
- 31:09Gospel of
- 31:10John.
- 31:11So,
- 31:11that is
- 31:12the first
- 31:12part.
- 31:13Jesus
- 31:13affirms
- 31:14them as
- 31:15genuine
- 31:15disciples.
- 31:17And he
- 31:18does it
- 31:18because of
- 31:19their faith
- 31:20in him,
- 31:20but even
- 31:20underneath
- 31:21that,
- 31:21because the
- 31:22Father had
- 31:22given them
- 31:23to him
- 31:23as a
- 31:25gift.
- 31:27This
- 31:27brings us
- 31:28to our
- 31:28second
- 31:28point.
- 31:30We see
- 31:30this in
- 31:31verses 11
- 31:32through 16,
- 31:34that Jesus
- 31:35prays that
- 31:36they be
- 31:37kept by
- 31:38his Father.
- 31:39So,
- 31:40underneath
- 31:40this,
- 31:41this idea
- 31:42of being
- 31:42kept by
- 31:43the Father,
- 31:44he prays
- 31:44for a
- 31:45couple of
- 31:45things.
- 31:47First,
- 31:48spiritual
- 31:49protection.
- 31:50Spiritual
- 31:51protection.
- 31:5211
- 31:53through 16,
- 31:55he identifies
- 31:56two
- 31:56enemies,
- 31:58two things
- 31:59that are
- 31:59going to
- 31:59come against
- 32:00them.
- 32:01The first,
- 32:02he says,
- 32:02is the
- 32:03world,
- 32:04the
- 32:05cosmos,
- 32:06the
- 32:06established
- 32:06order.
- 32:08It's not
- 32:09speaking of
- 32:09like the
- 32:10beauty of
- 32:11creation or
- 32:11the order
- 32:12that God
- 32:12has created
- 32:13in the
- 32:13universe.
- 32:14It's not
- 32:15what it's
- 32:15saying.
- 32:15The world
- 32:16in this
- 32:16way is
- 32:16being used
- 32:17in a
- 32:17way of
- 32:18displaying
- 32:19ungodly
- 32:20ideology,
- 32:23things that
- 32:24have alienated
- 32:25itself from
- 32:25its creator.
- 32:27It's a
- 32:28way of
- 32:29fallen,
- 32:30sinful,
- 32:31organized
- 32:31system of
- 32:32human
- 32:32civilization
- 32:33that sets
- 32:33itself
- 32:34against
- 32:34God.
- 32:37And that's
- 32:37all around
- 32:38us.
- 32:38We just
- 32:38got to
- 32:38open our
- 32:39eyes and
- 32:39see how
- 32:39the world
- 32:40is against
- 32:41God,
- 32:42against
- 32:42everything
- 32:43we stand
- 32:43for.
- 32:44That's
- 32:45the
- 32:45cosmos,
- 32:46is this
- 32:46idea of
- 32:47everything,
- 32:48being against
- 32:49God,
- 32:49a world
- 32:50hostile to
- 32:51its creator.
- 32:53So,
- 32:54he prays
- 32:55for their
- 32:55protection from
- 32:56the world.
- 33:00Something I
- 33:01might not have
- 33:02mentioned a
- 33:02second ago was,
- 33:04do you notice
- 33:04that Jesus
- 33:06says in this
- 33:07prayer,
- 33:07I am not
- 33:08praying for
- 33:08the world?
- 33:09He said
- 33:10twice.
- 33:11I'm not
- 33:11praying for
- 33:12every single
- 33:12individual,
- 33:13but I'm
- 33:13praying for
- 33:14those that
- 33:14you gave
- 33:14me out
- 33:15of the
- 33:16world.
- 33:17So,
- 33:17he's not
- 33:18praying for
- 33:18the cosmos.
- 33:20And then
- 33:21secondly,
- 33:23we see he
- 33:23talks about
- 33:24protecting them
- 33:26from the
- 33:27evil one.
- 33:29Satan,
- 33:30the adversary
- 33:31who prowls
- 33:32around like a
- 33:33roaring lion,
- 33:35seeking someone
- 33:36to devour.
- 33:37The devil,
- 33:38which means the
- 33:39slanderer,
- 33:40the accuser,
- 33:41who hurls up
- 33:42accusations at
- 33:43us and at
- 33:44God.
- 33:45But one name
- 33:46that kind
- 33:46of stands
- 33:47out of
- 33:49Satan's
- 33:50that I
- 33:50think is
- 33:51really
- 33:51important,
- 33:54at least
- 33:54according to
- 33:55John 17,
- 33:56is that he
- 33:57is called in
- 33:57Revelation the
- 33:58accuser of
- 33:59the brethren
- 34:00who brings
- 34:02up charges
- 34:02against us
- 34:03day and
- 34:04night.
- 34:05That's
- 34:06Revelation 12,
- 34:0710.
- 34:08And so,
- 34:09though we
- 34:09know,
- 34:10if you keep
- 34:10reading in that
- 34:11chapter,
- 34:11that Satan
- 34:12no longer
- 34:12has access
- 34:13to God's
- 34:13presence,
- 34:15we do get
- 34:16a picture
- 34:16of who he
- 34:17is.
- 34:17It betrays
- 34:18Satan as
- 34:18the anti-intercessor.
- 34:21So if Jesus
- 34:22is interceding
- 34:23for us,
- 34:23Satan was
- 34:24accusing us,
- 34:25saying he
- 34:26has done
- 34:26this,
- 34:27she has
- 34:28done this,
- 34:29right?
- 34:30So he's
- 34:31like the
- 34:31anti-intercessor
- 34:32in this way.
- 34:35So,
- 34:35but again,
- 34:37Christ is
- 34:37pleading our
- 34:38cause and
- 34:39the Father
- 34:39listens to
- 34:40his Son.
- 34:42Awesome.
- 34:44And so,
- 34:45it talks
- 34:45about the
- 34:46world and
- 34:47the devil
- 34:47hating,
- 34:49hating them.
- 34:50That is
- 34:51this idea
- 34:52of like
- 34:52someone
- 34:53pursuing
- 34:54another with
- 34:54great,
- 34:55intense
- 34:55hatred.
- 34:56Like so
- 34:57hateful that
- 34:57you're going
- 34:58to like
- 34:58go after
- 34:58them,
- 34:59hatred.
- 35:00A detest
- 35:01to detest.
- 35:03And Jesus
- 35:04knows that
- 35:05their love
- 35:06and their
- 35:06obedience to
- 35:07him is
- 35:07going to
- 35:08collide with
- 35:09the world
- 35:10that hates
- 35:10God.
- 35:11He knows
- 35:12that.
- 35:13Hold your
- 35:13hand,
- 35:14John 17,
- 35:14and flip
- 35:14back two
- 35:15chapters to
- 35:16John 15.
- 35:18So Jesus
- 35:19has been
- 35:19telling them
- 35:20this.
- 35:21He's been
- 35:21doing a lot
- 35:22to prepare
- 35:23them.
- 35:25John 15,
- 35:26verse 18.
- 35:27He says,
- 35:30if the world
- 35:30hates you,
- 35:32know that
- 35:33it hated
- 35:33me before
- 35:34it hated
- 35:35you.
- 35:36If you
- 35:36were of
- 35:37the world,
- 35:38the world
- 35:38would love
- 35:38you as
- 35:39its own,
- 35:40but because
- 35:40you are
- 35:41not of
- 35:41the world,
- 35:42but I
- 35:43chose you
- 35:43out of
- 35:44the world.
- 35:45Therefore,
- 35:46the world
- 35:46hates you.
- 35:48Remember
- 35:48the word
- 35:49that I
- 35:49said to
- 35:49you,
- 35:50a servant
- 35:50is not
- 35:51greater
- 35:51than his
- 35:52master.
- 35:53If they
- 35:54persecute
- 35:55me,
- 35:55they will
- 35:56also
- 35:57persecute
- 35:57you.
- 35:59If they
- 35:59kept my
- 36:00word,
- 36:01they would
- 36:01also keep
- 36:02yours.
- 36:03But all
- 36:04these things
- 36:04they do,
- 36:06do to you
- 36:07on the
- 36:07account of
- 36:08my name
- 36:08because they
- 36:09do not
- 36:09know him
- 36:10who sent
- 36:11me.
- 36:12So,
- 36:13Jesus had
- 36:13been warning
- 36:14them,
- 36:14this is going
- 36:14to come.
- 36:15So he was
- 36:16telling them
- 36:17that,
- 36:18you know,
- 36:18horizontally,
- 36:19and now he's
- 36:20praying about
- 36:21it vertically.
- 36:21This is going
- 36:22to come.
- 36:22So,
- 36:23Lord,
- 36:24Father,
- 36:24protect them
- 36:25against the
- 36:27persecution
- 36:27that is
- 36:28coming.
- 36:30So,
- 36:30but what does
- 36:31this mean?
- 36:32Jesus isn't
- 36:33praying.
- 36:33He says
- 36:34right there
- 36:34that,
- 36:34I'm not
- 36:35praying that
- 36:35they will
- 36:35be taken
- 36:36out of
- 36:37the world.
- 36:38So he's
- 36:38not in
- 36:39a position
- 36:40of an
- 36:41overindulgent
- 36:42parent trying
- 36:43to protect
- 36:44their child
- 36:44from any
- 36:45kind of
- 36:45trouble
- 36:45in the
- 36:46world.
- 36:47That's
- 36:47not how
- 36:48he's
- 36:48approaching.
- 36:49He knows
- 36:50that persecution
- 36:51will come.
- 36:52Rather,
- 36:53he's praying
- 36:54that they
- 36:54would
- 36:55persevere,
- 36:56remain
- 36:57steadfast
- 36:58in him,
- 36:59and then
- 36:59triumph in
- 37:00him.
- 37:02So real
- 37:02genuine love
- 37:03for Christ
- 37:04will incur
- 37:05opposition
- 37:06from the
- 37:07world.
- 37:08Paul wrote,
- 37:09indeed,
- 37:09all those who
- 37:10wish to live
- 37:10a godly
- 37:11life in
- 37:12Christ Jesus
- 37:13will be
- 37:14persecuted.
- 37:15persecuted.
- 37:16So it's
- 37:17not an
- 37:17overindulgent
- 37:18protective
- 37:19parent.
- 37:19It should
- 37:20be more
- 37:21seen as
- 37:21a general
- 37:24who loves
- 37:25and cares
- 37:26about his
- 37:27soldiers,
- 37:28but he
- 37:30sends them
- 37:31out on a
- 37:32really dangerous
- 37:32mission because
- 37:33that mission
- 37:34is so
- 37:34important.
- 37:36But yet he
- 37:36equips them
- 37:37for that
- 37:38mission,
- 37:38gives them
- 37:39all they
- 37:39need,
- 37:40and then
- 37:40promises
- 37:40them that
- 37:41they will
- 37:41have victory
- 37:42in the end,
- 37:43that this
- 37:44is not a
- 37:44losing battle
- 37:45that they
- 37:46are fighting.
- 37:47And in
- 37:48fact,
- 37:49he's not an
- 37:50armchair
- 37:50general either.
- 37:51He's actually
- 37:52leading the
- 37:52way by
- 37:53going himself
- 37:54first to
- 37:55the cross.
- 37:57So he's
- 37:58prepared that
- 37:58way, going
- 37:59before them,
- 38:00showing them
- 38:01that example.
- 38:03So that's
- 38:04the prayer he's
- 38:04making, that
- 38:05they will
- 38:05persevere,
- 38:06they will
- 38:07remain
- 38:07steadfast,
- 38:09and that he
- 38:09prays that his
- 38:10father would
- 38:10keep them.
- 38:12He says the
- 38:12only person
- 38:13that was
- 38:14lost was
- 38:16Judas Iscariot,
- 38:17if you see
- 38:18that in our
- 38:18passage.
- 38:20So on
- 38:21several occasions
- 38:22though, so
- 38:23know this, I
- 38:23heard a preacher
- 38:25on radio many
- 38:26years ago talk
- 38:27about how we
- 38:27could lose
- 38:28our salvation,
- 38:30and he was
- 38:30using Judas
- 38:31as an example.
- 38:32And that is,
- 38:33it's like, have
- 38:33you read the
- 38:34rest of John
- 38:35where Jesus
- 38:35repeatedly says,
- 38:36this one does
- 38:37not belong to
- 38:37me?
- 38:38Like it's very
- 38:39clear that Judas
- 38:41never belonged
- 38:42to Jesus.
- 38:44Though salvation
- 38:45is secure for
- 38:47true believers,
- 38:48scripture warns
- 38:50that faith that
- 38:53many people have
- 38:54in Christ is
- 38:55not genuine,
- 38:56and that it
- 38:57won't persevere,
- 38:58especially under
- 38:58a trial.
- 39:00And so Jesus
- 39:01says that Judas
- 39:02did this in
- 39:03fulfillment of
- 39:04scripture.
- 39:05Psalm 41,
- 39:079 and others
- 39:08talk about how
- 39:09the Messiah
- 39:09would be
- 39:10betrayed.
- 39:11But Jesus
- 39:12is saying he
- 39:12never belonged
- 39:13to me in the
- 39:14first place.
- 39:14So he didn't
- 39:15have it, and
- 39:16then lost it, he
- 39:17never had it in
- 39:17the first place.
- 39:19So Jesus told
- 39:20them earlier,
- 39:21if you continue
- 39:22in my word,
- 39:24then you're
- 39:24truly my
- 39:25disciples.
- 39:27Judas did not
- 39:28persevere.
- 39:31And so,
- 39:32again,
- 39:33understand that
- 39:34God's electing
- 39:36and choosing
- 39:37is so key
- 39:40to us
- 39:42keeping our
- 39:43salvation.
- 39:44All right?
- 39:46I want you to,
- 39:47I want to unpack
- 39:48this for you a
- 39:48little bit.
- 39:50Their spiritual
- 39:50protection, the
- 39:51disciples and
- 39:52ours, is not
- 39:54based on our
- 39:57resolve, our
- 39:57willpower, but
- 39:59fully on God's
- 40:00redemptive work.
- 40:02Jesus repeats
- 40:03that twice in our
- 40:04text.
- 40:04He says, keep
- 40:05them, guard
- 40:06them in your
- 40:08name.
- 40:10So there are
- 40:10two things in
- 40:11this.
- 40:11He says, by the
- 40:13power of your
- 40:13name.
- 40:15In the ancient
- 40:15world, a person's
- 40:16name stood for
- 40:17who they were
- 40:18and what they
- 40:19represented.
- 40:21And so,
- 40:22someone like
- 40:23Caesar, his
- 40:24name would be
- 40:25powerful and
- 40:26would provide a
- 40:27ton of protection
- 40:28for those under
- 40:29that name.
- 40:31So, but
- 40:33there's no more
- 40:33powerful name in
- 40:36the universe or
- 40:37in existence in
- 40:38God's name.
- 40:40Proverbs 18.10
- 40:41says, the name
- 40:42of the Lord is
- 40:42a strong tower.
- 40:44The righteous
- 40:45man runs to
- 40:46it and is
- 40:46safe.
- 40:48So he says,
- 40:49keep them safe
- 40:49by the power of
- 40:50your name.
- 40:52And then
- 40:52secondly, and I
- 40:53think this is so
- 40:54cool, that Jesus
- 40:56says that they
- 40:56will be protected
- 40:57by their being
- 40:59one, spiritually
- 41:01unified in him.
- 41:03we see in
- 41:04various ways
- 41:05throughout this
- 41:06prayer, the
- 41:08indwelling of
- 41:08believers by the
- 41:09Father and the
- 41:10Son.
- 41:12So, if you
- 41:12can, just look at
- 41:14John 17 and try
- 41:14to follow this.
- 41:1721 and 23
- 41:18indicate that the
- 41:20Father is in
- 41:22the Son.
- 41:24And then you
- 41:24add to that
- 41:25verse 21,
- 41:26where it says
- 41:27the Son is in
- 41:28the Father.
- 41:30And also in
- 41:31verse 21,
- 41:33believers are in
- 41:34the Father and
- 41:35the Son.
- 41:36And then you
- 41:37add, 23 and
- 41:3826, the Son is
- 41:40in all believers.
- 41:42You see that?
- 41:43It's just like
- 41:43this indwelling,
- 41:46this unity, us
- 41:47being united to
- 41:47the Father and
- 41:48the Son.
- 41:49If that is true,
- 41:50that is a safe,
- 41:52secure, impenetrable
- 41:53place to be.
- 41:55That is our
- 41:56unity to Christ.
- 41:58The faith that
- 41:59we have that
- 41:59unifies us to
- 42:00Christ.
- 42:02So, all being
- 42:04kept by God's
- 42:05power.
- 42:07And this is what
- 42:07I was getting
- 42:08at a second ago.
- 42:10If salvation is
- 42:11synergistic,
- 42:12meaning that we
- 42:13cooperate with
- 42:15God, he comes
- 42:16to the table,
- 42:18presents his
- 42:18deal, and says,
- 42:20look, you're in
- 42:21trouble.
- 42:22And here's my
- 42:23deal.
- 42:23So, if you
- 42:25take my son, I'll
- 42:27save you.
- 42:27But you probably
- 42:28have to be, you're
- 42:29going to have to be
- 42:30humble and wise to
- 42:31probably take my
- 42:32son.
- 42:33So, but that's the
- 42:34deal I'm presenting
- 42:35you.
- 42:36Take it or leave
- 42:37it.
- 42:38If you take it, I
- 42:39reward you with
- 42:40salvation.
- 42:42The problem,
- 42:43though, is that
- 42:45though God would
- 42:45keep his end of
- 42:46the bargain, man
- 42:48can surely violate
- 42:50his.
- 42:51His end of the
- 42:52contract.
- 42:53Might not be
- 42:54upheld.
- 42:56So, therefore,
- 42:57this idea of
- 42:58us discussing
- 42:59the ultimate
- 43:01security of the
- 43:01believer, it
- 43:02lies in the
- 43:02Father.
- 43:04Do you see that?
- 43:04If salvation
- 43:05really is a
- 43:06cooperation with
- 43:06God, at some
- 43:07point, we can
- 43:09screw that up.
- 43:11If it was up to
- 43:11me to cooperate
- 43:12with God for
- 43:13being saved, I
- 43:15think I would
- 43:16lose it every
- 43:16day.
- 43:16God's
- 43:18faith in the
- 43:19Thankfully, again,
- 43:20our eternal
- 43:21security rests in
- 43:22the unconditional
- 43:23election of the
- 43:24Father.
- 43:25All right, look at
- 43:26John 10.
- 43:28This is the last
- 43:28place I think you
- 43:29have to flip, but
- 43:29John 10.
- 43:31Trying to keep you
- 43:31in John all I
- 43:32can.
- 43:33So, but I want
- 43:35you to see this.
- 43:36John 10, verse
- 43:4024.
- 43:44And that is a
- 43:45consistent theology
- 43:46that many have
- 43:47held, a consistent
- 43:48theology that says
- 43:48if you have the
- 43:50ability and the
- 43:51right to choose
- 43:52Jesus, you also
- 43:54possess that same
- 43:55ability and right
- 43:57to walk away from
- 43:58Jesus.
- 43:59That's a correct
- 44:00thinking, but
- 44:02unbiblical.
- 44:04Right logic, I
- 44:05should say.
- 44:06Look at John 10,
- 44:07verse 24.
- 44:10So the Jews
- 44:11gathered around
- 44:12him and said
- 44:12to him, how
- 44:14long will you
- 44:15keep us in
- 44:16suspense?
- 44:17If you are the
- 44:18Christ, tell us
- 44:19plainly.
- 44:21Listen to this.
- 44:22Jesus answered
- 44:22them, I told
- 44:24you and you
- 44:25don't believe.
- 44:27The works that I
- 44:28do in my
- 44:28Father's name
- 44:29bear witness
- 44:29about me.
- 44:30Now listen to
- 44:31this, verse 26.
- 44:32But you do not
- 44:33believe because
- 44:35you are not
- 44:35among my
- 44:36sheep.
- 44:38He doesn't say
- 44:39you are not my
- 44:39sheep because you
- 44:40don't believe.
- 44:42He says you
- 44:43don't believe in
- 44:44the first place
- 44:44because you
- 44:45don't belong to
- 44:46me.
- 44:48But read on.
- 44:50Then he says,
- 44:51my sheep, those
- 44:53the Father has
- 44:54given me.
- 44:55My sheep hear
- 44:56my voice.
- 44:57I know them
- 44:58and they
- 44:58follow me.
- 45:00I give them
- 45:00eternal life
- 45:02and they will
- 45:02never perish
- 45:03and no one
- 45:05will snatch
- 45:05them out of
- 45:06my Father's
- 45:07hand.
- 45:08My Father
- 45:09who has given
- 45:09them to me
- 45:10is greater
- 45:10than all
- 45:11and no one
- 45:12is able to
- 45:13snatch them
- 45:13out of my
- 45:14Father's hand.
- 45:16I and the
- 45:17Father are
- 45:17one.
- 45:18You see that?
- 45:19This idea of
- 45:20like belonging
- 45:21to the Father
- 45:23and how that
- 45:24secures us
- 45:24for eternity
- 45:25that no one
- 45:26can take them
- 45:27from my
- 45:28Father's hand.
- 45:29So obviously
- 45:31if you really
- 45:32do believe
- 45:33that your
- 45:33salvation is
- 45:35eternally
- 45:35secure,
- 45:37that should
- 45:38disrupt,
- 45:39like erupt
- 45:40into joy.
- 45:41As we see
- 45:42in verse 15,
- 45:44he's praying
- 45:44for their joy,
- 45:46praying that
- 45:47their joy
- 45:47will be
- 45:48fulfilled
- 45:48in themselves.
- 45:50It points
- 45:51back to John
- 45:5115, 11
- 45:52where he's
- 45:53talking about
- 45:53joy.
- 45:53There,
- 45:54they may
- 45:54have his
- 45:55joy in
- 45:56all its
- 45:56fullness.
- 45:58So,
- 45:59believe me,
- 46:01words like
- 46:01joy and
- 46:03peace would
- 46:03not exist
- 46:04in the New
- 46:05Testament if
- 46:06we could lose
- 46:07what the
- 46:07Father has
- 46:08given us.
- 46:09Those are
- 46:10the outflow,
- 46:11the overflow
- 46:12of our
- 46:13eternal
- 46:13security
- 46:14with the
- 46:15Father.
- 46:17So,
- 46:18that's A,
- 46:19praise for
- 46:19their spiritual
- 46:20protection.
- 46:22And then
- 46:22lastly,
- 46:23lastly,
- 46:24and in
- 46:25closing,
- 46:26he prays
- 46:27for their
- 46:27sanctification.
- 46:29See that
- 46:29in verses
- 46:3017 through
- 46:3119.
- 46:32So,
- 46:33he says,
- 46:34sanctify them
- 46:34in your
- 46:35truth.
- 46:35Your word
- 46:36is truth.
- 46:37And this
- 46:38is in
- 46:38terms of
- 46:39being set
- 46:39apart from
- 46:40sin,
- 46:41being set
- 46:42apart from
- 46:43evil in
- 46:44the world
- 46:44for a
- 46:45holy purpose.
- 46:46sin.
- 46:47So,
- 46:48that's why
- 46:49he's
- 46:49praying this.
- 46:50Jesus is
- 46:51saying,
- 46:51you sent
- 46:52me into
- 46:53the world,
- 46:53Father,
- 46:53I'm about
- 46:54to send
- 46:55them into
- 46:56the world.
- 46:57And so,
- 46:58holiness is
- 46:59key to
- 46:59mission here.
- 47:01He understands
- 47:01that them
- 47:02living holy
- 47:03lives will be
- 47:04very important
- 47:05to them going
- 47:06out into the
- 47:06world to
- 47:08live before
- 47:08a broken
- 47:09world.
- 47:10So,
- 47:12think about
- 47:13our mission
- 47:13that we
- 47:14have.
- 47:14Are we
- 47:14living holy
- 47:15lives before
- 47:16people?
- 47:17That doesn't
- 47:17mean too
- 47:18good,
- 47:19snotty,
- 47:19legalistic
- 47:20people.
- 47:20It just
- 47:21means free
- 47:21people that
- 47:23have been
- 47:23liberated by
- 47:24Jesus and
- 47:25living for
- 47:26Jesus.
- 47:27So,
- 47:28without holy
- 47:29living,
- 47:30our mission
- 47:30will be
- 47:31hindered.
- 47:32So,
- 47:33Christians are
- 47:34not of the
- 47:34world,
- 47:35right?
- 47:36It says here
- 47:37in our text.
- 47:39So then,
- 47:39but Jesus
- 47:39makes us
- 47:40point of
- 47:41him sanctifying
- 47:43himself.
- 47:44What does
- 47:45that mean?
- 47:46Well,
- 47:47it doesn't
- 47:47mean that
- 47:48he's trying
- 47:49to become
- 47:49more holy
- 47:50because we've
- 47:51already established
- 47:52that he was
- 47:52the perfect,
- 47:53sinless
- 47:54son of
- 47:54God.
- 47:55Rather,
- 47:56it does
- 47:57mean that
- 47:58Jesus has
- 47:58set himself
- 47:59apart to
- 48:00do the
- 48:00Father's
- 48:00will and
- 48:02his will
- 48:02alone.
- 48:03And that
- 48:03includes
- 48:04going to
- 48:05the cross,
- 48:06however
- 48:06repulsive
- 48:07that might
- 48:07be to
- 48:08him.
- 48:09He does
- 48:10this for
- 48:10the sake
- 48:10of his
- 48:11disciples
- 48:11and really
- 48:12for us
- 48:12as well.
- 48:13He goes
- 48:14before us
- 48:15to be
- 48:16secure.
- 48:16So,
- 48:17so Paul
- 48:18says in
- 48:191 Thessalonians
- 48:205,
- 48:2123,
- 48:22talking about
- 48:23sanctification
- 48:24and also
- 48:25us
- 48:25persevering.
- 48:28Now,
- 48:28may the
- 48:29God of
- 48:29peace
- 48:29himself
- 48:30sanctify
- 48:31you
- 48:31completely
- 48:32and may
- 48:33your whole
- 48:34spirit and
- 48:34soul and
- 48:35body be
- 48:35kept
- 48:35blameless
- 48:36at the
- 48:37coming
- 48:37of our
- 48:38Lord Jesus
- 48:38Christ.
- 48:40He calls
- 48:40you,
- 48:41he who
- 48:41calls you
- 48:42is faithful
- 48:42and he
- 48:43will surely
- 48:43do it.
- 48:45So,
- 48:46I pray
- 48:46that
- 48:46your hearts
- 48:49are rejoicing
- 48:50that Christ
- 48:50does stand
- 48:51on our
- 48:52behalf
- 48:52interceding
- 48:53for us
- 48:54before the
- 48:55throne of
- 48:55God.
- 48:57I,
- 48:57I'm just
- 48:58blessed,
- 49:01overwhelmed
- 49:02to know
- 49:02that a
- 49:03sinful man
- 49:05like me,
- 49:05and I
- 49:05don't say
- 49:06that with
- 49:06any false
- 49:07humility,
- 49:08I'm a
- 49:08wicked man.
- 49:09I mean,
- 49:09I feel a
- 49:10verse that
- 49:10just comes
- 49:11to my
- 49:11mind a lot
- 49:12is Peter
- 49:12when he
- 49:13tells Jesus,
- 49:14go away
- 49:14from me,
- 49:14I'm a
- 49:15sinful man.
- 49:16I feel
- 49:17that,
- 49:17but to
- 49:18know that
- 49:18he has
- 49:19accepted
- 49:20me,
- 49:21saved me,
- 49:22and is
- 49:22now changing
- 49:23me for
- 49:25some reason,
- 49:26I don't
- 49:26know why,
- 49:28but he's
- 49:28doing that
- 49:29for all
- 49:29of us,
- 49:29and he's
- 49:30standing
- 49:30before the
- 49:31Father
- 49:31saying,
- 49:32I died
- 49:33for them.
- 49:34My life
- 49:35belongs to
- 49:35them,
- 49:35my death
- 49:36belongs to
- 49:36them.
- 49:37So they
- 49:38are right
- 49:38before,
- 49:39or we
- 49:39are right
- 49:40before the
- 49:41Father.
- 49:42Look at
- 49:43I'm a
- 49:45part of
- 49:45this in
- 49:47our text
- 49:48where he
- 49:48calls him,
- 49:49Jesus calls
- 49:49him Holy
- 49:50Father.
- 49:52That's
- 49:53echoing this
- 49:54assertion of
- 49:54God's awesome
- 49:55purity,
- 49:56his otherness
- 49:56that's described
- 49:58in the Old
- 49:59Testament.
- 49:59But listen,
- 50:00this is the
- 50:00only time in
- 50:00the New
- 50:01Testament this
- 50:01title is
- 50:02used for
- 50:02God.
- 50:04And I
- 50:04just sort
- 50:05of think
- 50:05that's worth
- 50:05pointing out
- 50:06that Jesus
- 50:07has this
- 50:08unique
- 50:08relationship,
- 50:10very unique
- 50:11with the
- 50:11Father,
- 50:11where he
- 50:12can say
- 50:12Holy
- 50:12Father,
- 50:13I'm
- 50:13praying on
- 50:14behalf of
- 50:14these people,
- 50:16listen to
- 50:16me.
- 50:17And as we
- 50:18know,
- 50:19the Father
- 50:19honors what
- 50:20his Son
- 50:21says.
- 50:22So,
- 50:24let's pray
- 50:25together.
- 50:27A lot to
- 50:27chew on,
- 50:29but I pray
- 50:29that your soul
- 50:30is rejoicing
- 50:30in the fact
- 50:31that he
- 50:32has showed
- 50:32us mercy
- 50:33and that we
- 50:33have an
- 50:33advocate
- 50:34before the
- 50:34Father.