The Identifying Marks of the Church Jesus Builds - pt 2

Every group of people have their own “Identifying Marks”

Language - Customs - Wardrobe - Gestures - Symbols

(ex) “Game Day” in Cols

John 17 - Jesus praying - Farewell Discourse

Pulling out 5 Identifying Marks of the Church He said He was going to build

Last Week: I. Has Reflective Glory

God “assigned” glory to His Creation - The “Imago De”

Sin shattered image

Through faith in Christ: Those who Follow/Fix eyes on Him, are Transformed into that same image - From “glory to glory” by the Spirit of God. 2 Cor. 3.18 -

PRAYER

II. Have been “Given” (v2b, 6, 9)

>2 ...you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him

>9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours

Do you realize you have been GIVEN from Father to Son?

A lot of layers to that truth:

HOW are we God’s to Give? - Talk: Creative right; Redemptive right; Sovereign right

WHY are they Given? - (debt owed - reward - challenge)

Short answer: As a GIFT (You are)

How “special” God sees you

WHEN were they Given? - Predestination or Free choice? — YES (Calvin/Arminious)

WHAT else has the Father Given the Son?

And Inheritance of “all things” - Heb. 1.2 -

As “joint-heirs” do we have “all things?” - Rom. 8.17 -

A Name - (going to discuss this)

An Eternal Bride - (the future we have in Him)

Stay in the text:

Biggest question: “WHO are given?”

Jesus identifies them: vs 6&8

vs6  “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

vs8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me

*There is a WORD by which a person can KNOW THE TRUTH

NOT: Social/Cultural truth - Legal - Political (oxymoron) - My - Your truth

THE TRUTH - Reality - Truth that is ALWAYS true

He is praying for those who have:

Kept God’s Word (v6)

Received the Words of Jesus (v8)

Dive a little deeper (not the same thing)

Kept God’s LOGOS - Totality of all God’s thoughts and decrees

Are immutable and irrefutable (agreement)

Received the RHEMA of Jesus - Specific utterance - Message - Teaching - Spoken or Written

3. Together they make up the WHOLE of God’s Word to us

4. Incarnation: The LOGOS of God put on flesh so that flesh could See and Hear the RHEMA of God

This is how a person comes to faith - Born again

By RECEIVING the Rhema of God so they can KEEP the Logos of God

Result: they know the truth - that I came from you and believe You sent Me.

*Who knows the truth today? - You are GIVEN as a GIFT from God the Father to His Son.

III. Are “Kept” (vs. 11 - 15)

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one

(Gk) “ter-e-o” - Watch, Observe attentively, Fix eyes upon, Guard,

Jesus knew in advance something we tend to forget

A walk of faith is often in Opposition to the things happening around us.

Temptation to Compromise, Adopt, Complacent

Forget we “have/need” a KEEPER

Prays 3 things we need Remember:

Our LOCATION can’t dictate our LOYALTY

vs. 11 - ...they are In the world - vs 14 - …they are not OF the world

Born IN the world - Reborn OF a different world

Pilgrims, Strangers, Sojourners, Aliens - Holy Spirit resident in us

The “world system” is stacked against us

...the world has hated them (v14)

Doesn’t mean neighbor is your enemy (co-worker, classmate)

But the “world system” - “course of this world”- stacked against us

The enemy is real

vs 15 - I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Someone is running the “world systems’ - A “real, literal” evil one

Your adversary prowls around like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour i Pet. 5

prince of power of air - Angel formerly known as Lucifer

Against everything God is for (vice versa)

Especially against “the Church Jesus is Building”

Jesus is being PROACTIVE on our behalf

Notice HOW we are Kept:

vs11b - .... Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me...

Really? - Why not 10 big angels? - Ability to call down fire? - Able to teleport out?

Why a Name?

Names have Power - Authority, Influence, Reputation,

Every kid knows this: “Dad said” or “Mom said...”

Names have "weight”: Carry all that a person Is and Has:

Ellon Musk; LaBron; Zuckerburg; Billy Graham;

Let’s remember God’s Name:

Jesus called Him, “HOLY Father” - Nothing can stand against His holiness

The Great I AM - The God who IS - Un-created; Self-existing; Omnipresent; Omniscient; Omnipotent; Immutable; Immortal; Eternal

Yahweh (Heb) or Jehovah (anglicized) - God above all gods

Covenant names - He’s a: Protector; Provider; Mighty One; Healer; Peace; Righteousness; Shepherd; One who is there…

(Isa) Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

…keep them in Your name, which you have given Me… (fullness of God)

Then God: Highly exalted the Son and gave Him a Name ABOVE every name:

Immanuel - Lamb of God - Alpha and Omega - Bread of Life - Light of World - True Vine - Way, Truth, Life - Resurrection and the Life - Dayspring - Great High Priest - Heir of all things - Horn of Salvation - Rock of Ages - Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Our Mediator - Messiah - Savior - Redeemer - Word made flesh - “Crowned, Seated, Enthroned, King of kings - Lord of lords

(Coming a day, when this Jesus will appear and every eye will see - Every knee will bow and every tongue confess, “Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God”)

Prov. 18.10 - The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe.

IV. Is “Sancitified” by His Word (vs 17,19)

vs17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth

19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Church word: Wonderful word:

“Set aside” for special use - Separated from the rest

Sanc. - Explores the depths of our New Life in Christ

Sanc. is “what comes next” after Salvation (begins our WALK)

Holy Spirit “moves in” to “walk with us”

Sent to: Lead, Direct, Convict, Encourage, Teach, Reveal, Remind

Purpose: Transform our lives into the Imago De - Christlikeness

This is the Process of Jesus is “building His Church” - Brick by brick - Phil. 1.6

It’s how we “grow up” in the Faith - Spiritual maturation

Sanc. is Supernatural - Mysterious - God “residing” in us - walking “in the Spirit”

*But it’s also, very Practical, Routine, - Not always “Glory and Goosebumps”

Like any good teacher - Holy Spirit has a “text book”

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth

No substitute for your Bible - The INSPIRED Word of God

Holy Spirit “breathed” it into the earth

Not ALL God has to tell/show us - Just all we need for time on earth

*Sanctification doesn’t happen outside of God’s Word

Rom. 10.17 - Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God

2 Timothy 3:16-17 -All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Ps 119:105 - Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Watch: The Holy Spirit controls the PROCESS but you control the PACE

He controls the CONTENT, we control the CONSISTENCY

The Holy Spirit is at work in us....But we have to work with Him

Spiritual Growth isn’t automatic - Continuous, Daily walk

There are no “short-cuts” to growing in God’s Word

There are all kinds of Resources and Helps

At the end of the day: Need to read, meditate and study FOR YOURSELF

(ex) I asked “AI” - "What are the benefits of studying the Word of God:

Deeper Understanding - Solid belief system - Spiritual growth - Success and Guidance - Unity of Faith - Assurance of Salvation - Cleansing and Sanctification

Challenge: “Remember, Bible study goes beyond mere reading—it involves an investigative approach to understanding the scriptures. So, take time to explore the Bible, seek its treasures, and allow it to transform your life”

Sanctification is the working of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life

It is Divine, Sacred, Supernatural

But it’s PRACTICAL - requires your participation

Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen according the Clock or Calendar...

Only by our Covenant and Commitment to be students of God’s Word

V. Is “One” in Christ (vs. 21-23)

21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me

ONENESS is the Relational Goal of Jesus prayer

Oneness is the “Relational Result” of Sanctification

The Oneness btwn Father and Son

The Oneness btwn Son and the Believer

The Oneness of ALL: vs 21

It forms in us an UNBREAKABLE UNITY

This kind of relationship is outside of just Human Capability - Don’t know how to “be one” on our own

Good News: God’s already done it for us through Christ:

- Eph. 2 - Even when we were dead in our trespasses, He Made us alive together with Christ - Raised us up together, Seated us in heavenly places, together!

Note - past tense - already done

Oneness isn’t something we have to Create - but Embrace

If you’re “in Christ” today - Listen to Jesus’ prayer:

20, 21 - I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me

No better practice of Oneness than coming to the Lord’s Table

Communion is about Christ sharing/imparting His life to us

Reminder of WHO/WHOSE we are

We are His CHURCH:

Reflectors of His glory - Elect, Called GIFTS to Christ - Kept in His Name - Sanctified by His Word - One with Him and each other..

Close service by coming together at the altar, around His Table.

INSTRUCTIONS

This is the Lord’s Table - For all believers

As we worship - Receive elements - Hold them and stay here

If you’re a new friend, this may feel like a stretch for you

Glad you’re here - Feel free to stay in seat or just come and stand with us

Let’s begin to come forward

COMMUNION

On the night Jesus was betrayed He took the BREAD and CUP and shared with disciples

BREAD - Oneness

CUP - Devotion of our lives to BE the Church He is Building

If you like, may want to: SHARE WITH EACH OTHER

PRAYER