The Church Is Built by Christ
Notes
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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. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage
Last time, we discussed the truth that our sanctification is never apart from the work of God in us.
We cannot sanctify ourself.
We cannot produce sanctification.
We cannot force God’s hand in our spiritual maturing.
God works in us.
And, we actively cooperate with God’s grace in our sanctification.
But, our sanctification is never disconnected from the Holy Spirit’s power in applying the benefits of Christ to His sheep.
So, we have no reason to boast in our sanctification.
We boast only in the cross of Christ.
And, if we have no reason to boast…
Then we have no reason to fall into deep despair over the lack of sanctification that we perceive we should see taking place in our lives.
I’m not saying our sin shouldn’t grieve us.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t confess/repent of sin.
But, I am saying it shouldn’t spiral us down into this joyless existence.
We should grieve, confess, repent, and then rejoice in the gospel.
And, we should not have some sort of expectation of sanctification in which we compare others to ourselves.
Sanctification is different for everyone.
This is important because so many people spend so much time in despair because they’re not living up to some outside of Scripture, traditions of men, expectation of sanctification.
And, sanctification is not taught as such in the Bible.
This is freeing and needs to be understood in the church.
Now let’s continue this morning in Christ’s prayer as we read…
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
The Father Sent the Son
The Father Sent the Son
In this prayer of Jesus, so far, we have learned that the Son of God has…
Revealed God, in a general sense, to the world.
But, in a specific sense to the disciples of Christ…
Manifested God to the people whom the Father gave the Son to redeem.
Gave them the words that the Father gave the Son to give.
The Father has taught them, internally.
How do we know?
They believed upon Christ.
Kept them, guarded them, not lost any.
Asks the Father to keep them as He dies on the Cross.
Not take them out of the world but sends the disciples into the world.
And, in that mission asks that God keep them from the evil one.
The Mission of Christ is to Reveal the Father.
To the world, generally.
To the elect, salvifically.
And, Christ is declaring here that He has done so successfully.
But, the mission of building Christ’s church is not finished.
There is still work to be done.
But, before we move to that work, I want us to see a critical truth for all the work of God…
The Work of Christ is the Source of all Good
The Work of Christ is the Source of all Good
This is why we cast our crowns back at His feet.
All our benefits and inheritance in Christ is because of Christ working in us.
No matter who He chooses to use, this truth abides…
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Two weeks ago, we looked at the doctrine of sanctification.
Based on what Jesus says in…
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
We looked at:
what sanctification is
a setting apart unto God
what takes place
transformation into the image of Christ
the power behind sanctification
God, the HS
the means that God uses
the Word of God
And, you’ll remember that all of our salvation is founded in and sourced from the work of Christ.
And, that is what Jesus is saying here in…
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Same root word for consecrate and sanctified.
—> However, used in different ways.
Jesus actively sets Himself apart not in some sort of progressive sanctification like we experience…
But, that Jesus is sets Himself apart in office…
As the Servant of the Lord to redeem His people.
In particular, in the role of Great High Priest in order to represent His people as a sacrifice to remove our sins and the condemnation they bring.
The end result of this official work of Christ is that His people can and will be sanctified in truth.
Set apart for the Lord and the service of the Lord by belief in the truth of God…
—> And, the One He sent.
So, Jesus actively and voluntarily sets Himself apart for the work of redemption…
And, actively sanctifies His people in the truth.
Without the finished work of Christ…
The sanctification of His people does not take place.
Justification—>Sanctification—>Glorification—>Eternal Life
From beginning to end, our salvation is a work of Christ.
And, from beginning to end it is the application of His work that produces and secures the outcome.
He consecrates Himself so that the work of redemption can and will take place in His people.
So, we go back to what Jesus says in…
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Based upon the finished work of Christ…
The Son Sends the Apostles
The Son Sends the Apostles
Remember, we’re not saved to be removed from this world.
We’re saved to be servants of the Lord (little s).
Christ doesn’t promise a lack of suffering, at all.
But, He does promise that He will not lose us.
He does promise to keep us from the Evil one.
The Apostles are set apart in a unique way in the truth…
To be used by Christ in the building of His church.
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
The Son was sent to reveal the Father.
The Apostles are sent to reveal the Son…after His ascension.
The instrument the Apostles will use is…
His Divine Word by the Holy Spirit
His Divine Word by the Holy Spirit
Remember, from what we’ve studied in previous chapters…
That there is an official representation that the Apostles will hold that is unique.
Jesus has promised them the HS that will do a specific work in them that is distinct from all other believers…
Jesus promises them the Spirit of God back in 14v.16
Jesus promises that the HS will dwell in them and with them in 14v.17
Jesus promises that the HS will teach them all things in 14v.26
This gives us the teachings of Christ.
The HS will bring to their remembrance all that they have heard and been taught by Christ.
This gives is the historical life of Christ.
The HS will bear witness to others through their word regarding the truth of Christ in 15v.26
As we saw last Sunday, this is the revealing to those whom the Father gives the Son, who is the Arm of the Lord.
The HS will convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment through the preaching of the Apostles declaration of Christ in 16v.8
The HS will guide the Apostles in all truth and future events in 16v.13
And, we see this very thing expressed in…
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
So, those who come to Christ after Christ’s ascension come by the preaching and teaching of the Apostles.
This is not new and made up stuff by the Apostles.
This is not some declaration that I’ve chosen you, now you get to say whatever you want and it’s okay because you’re my officials.
This is the whole counsel of God explained and taught by the Apostles…
without contradiction to any revelation…
Based upon the finished work of Christ…
Which guarantees the work of the HS in and through them.
To be sure…
The revelation of Christ, given to the Apostles by the HS is not just the NT, but the explanation of the OT…
And, how it pointed to and is fulfilled by and in Jesus Christ.
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
This has always been.
No true prophet of God prophecies their own interpretation of truth.
This is such a standard that in the OT, if a person were to declare themselves as a prophet and that prophecy did not come true…
They were to be labeled a false prophet and stoned to death.
A true prophet of God is God speaking to them and through them by the power of the HS.
And, whatever is spoken is true and that truth does not change.
There is no contradiction in God’s word, ever.
We see this example of God speaking to mankind…
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Christ is the perfect spokesperson for God, as God incarnate.
He has revealed God perfectly…
And, has promised that revelation be carried on by the work of the HS through the Apostolic word.
Which is part of what we’ve been studying in the last few chapters of John.
The Church Is Built on Christ through the Apostolic Word
The Church Is Built on Christ through the Apostolic Word
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
The Apostolic word regarding Christ, through the work and inspiration of the HS is the means God uses to build His church.
As Paul states regarding the building of the Church…
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The ground on which we stand as the redeemed people of God…
—> Is the person and finished work of Christ.
—> All other ground is sinking sand.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
The Apostles, by the very promise and finished work of Christ…
Have laid the foundation for the church, which is Jesus Christ.
That foundation that is Christ is the whole of Scripture being taught that Christ is:
the point of all Scripture
the point of all creation
the fulfillment of all the works of God
the fulfillment of all the promises of God
God builds His church through the means of the Apostles He used to declare the whole counsel of God in light of Christ.
And, He is the Master Builder…
21 in [Christ] the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Let’s think about this...
Let’s think about this...
How does this affect your every day life?
What does this mean when the comforts of this world are lessened?
How should this affect us when we gather on the Lord’s Day?
Brothers and sisters, it affects us in the deepest recesses of our being.
Because we stand on the sure foundation of the Word of God.
The comfort we have flows from certainty.
The apostles’ inspiration was guaranteed to them by Christ.
Christ promised to qualify them to be His messengers.
Christ promised to use them as instructors of mankind.
This means the church can trust that what the apostles taught rests on divine authority rather than human opinion.
So, we can rejoice and be sure that we are:
Saved by grace alone.
Justified by faith alone.
In the person and work of Christ alone.
According to God’s Word alone.
For the glory of God alone.
Our salvation is based upon the infallible, inerrant word of God.
Not the opinions of men.
Hallelujah, what a Savior and what a salvation!
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
