Five Timely Questions : How do we measure up?

John 17: 1-26.

John 17:1–26 (NLT)

1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.

2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.

3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you,

8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.

10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.

11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.

12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.

14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.

17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.

19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.

23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.

26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Introduction:

A- Jesus prayed for you and I, as his followers.

B- Notice five questions that naturally arise from Jesus’ prayer for us.

I. HAVE YOU RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE? (John 17:1-3)

John 17:1–3 (NLT)

1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.

2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.

3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

A. Eternal life is given to us by Christ. (John 17:2).

John 17:2 (NLT)

2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.

καθὼς ἔδωκας αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν πάσης σαρκός, ἵνα πᾶν ὃ δέδωκας αὐτῷ δώσῃ αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

1. Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. (John 3: 16-17).

John 3:16–17 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

B. Eternal life is bound up in a relationship with Jesus. (John 17:3)

John 17:3 (NLT)

3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωὴ ἵνα γινώσκωσι σὲ τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν θεὸν καὶ ὃν ἀπέστειλας Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν.

1. There is no other way of salvation. (1 John 5: 11-12).

1 John 5:11–12 (NLT)

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

II. Do you seek to obey God's Word? (John 17: 6-7).

John 17:6–7 (NLT)

6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you,

A. The principle: to keep God's word. (JOHN 17:6)

John 17:6 (NLT)

6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

Ἐφανέρωσά σου τὸ ὄνομα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις οὓς ἔδωκάς μοι ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου. σοὶ ἦσαν κἀμοὶ αὐτοὺς ἔδωκας, καὶ τὸν λόγον σου τετήρηκαν.

1. The term τετήρηκαν ( to keep) means to continue to obey orders or commandments—‘to obey, to keep commandments, obedience.’ (John 14:15)

John 14:15 (NLT)

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.

B. The process:

(Psalm 119:89)

Psalm 119:89 (NLT)

89 Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.

(Psalm 119:105).

Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

1. Claim it for yourself.

2. Understand its central character. (John 5: 39).

John 5:39 (NLT)

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

3. Commit wholly to God and His Word. (Psalm 37: 5)

Psalm 37:5 (NLT)

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

III. Do you live a separated life? (John. 17: 11-20).

John 17:11–20 (NLT)

11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.

12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.

14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.

17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.

19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

A. Recognize that this world is not your home. (John 17:16).

John 17:16 (NLT)

16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.

16 ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ εἰσὶν καθὼς ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου.

1. Our citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20)

Philippians 3:20 (NLT)

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

2. This world will not last forever. (2 Peter 3: 10-12).

2 Peter 3:10–12 (NLT)

10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,

12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

B. Refuse to become like the people in this world. (John 17: 17).

John 17:17 (NLT)

17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

17 ἁγίασον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ· ὁ λόγος ὁ σὸς ἀλήθειά ἐστιν.

1. Be set apart and separated.

(Romans 12:1-2).

Romans 12:1–2 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

(2 Corinthians 6:17).

2 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

IV. Do you promote the unity that Christ prayed for? (John 17: 20-22).

John 17:20–22 (NLT)

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.

20 Οὐ περὶ τούτων δὲ ἐρωτῶ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν πιστευόντων διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν εἰς ἐμέ,

21 ἵνα πάντες ἓν ὦσιν, καθὼς σύ, πάτερ, ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν σοί, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἡμῖν ὦσιν, ἵνα ὁ κόσμος πιστεύῃ ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας.

22 κἀγὼ τὴν δόξαν ἣν δέδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν καθὼς ἡμεῖς ἕν,

A. Unity of purpose.

1. To seek and save the lost. (Luke 19: 10.)

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

(Mark 16: 15.)

Mark 16:15 (NLT)

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

(John 20: 21).

John 20:21 (NLT)

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

2. To build up the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4: 16.)

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

3. To glorify God. ( 1 Corinthians. 6: 20 ).

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NLT)

20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

B. Unity in diversity. (1 Corinthians 12: 4-7)

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (NLT)

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

1. Different gifts all working together.

V. Do you live in open expectation of eternity? (John 17: 23-26.)

John 17:23–26 (NLT)

23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.

26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

A. Living in a way that makes others know whose you are. (John 17: 23)

John 17:23 (NLT)

23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

23 ἐγὼ ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ σὺ ἐν ἐμοί, ἵνα ὦσιν τετελειωμένοι εἰς ἕν, ἵνα γινώσκῃ ὁ κόσμος ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας καὶ ἠγάπησας αὐτοὺς καθὼς ἐμὲ ἠγάπησας.

1. Walking in obedience.

2. Walking in love. (Ephesians 5: 2).

Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)

2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

B. Living in expectation of Christ's return. (John 17:24).

John 17:24 (NLT)

24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

Illustration - Parable of the Three Servants (Matthew 25:14-30)

1. What will the Lord find you doing when he returns?

2. Where will you be for eternity?

a) Live like it!

CONCLUSION:

Five Questions that Jesus Wants Us to Answer:

I. Have you received eternal life?

II. Do you seek to obey God's Word?

III. Do you live a separated life?

IV. Do you promote the unity that Christ prayed for?

V. Do you live in open expectation of eternity?