Union by Love
Notes
Transcript
Happy Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day
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20 “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.
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.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage
So we are looking at this theme in Christ’s prayer to the Father of our:
Unity by Union
Unity based upon Righteousness
It is a…
Unity Made Possible by the Removal of Sin
Unity Made Possible by the Removal of Sin
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.
that they may be perfectly one.
This is a positional perfection based upon the finished work of Christ…
In that positionally, it is a guarantee of future fulfillment.
And, at the same time, a future experiential perfection based upon future experienced glorification.
What keeps this perfect unity from happening in this life is sin.
So, in order for this perfect unity to be experienced…
—> Sin must be removed…
—> Which is a major benefit of eternal life…
—> Life without sin.
—> Experienced without sin.
And, this is why Jesus states His desire as...
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Last week, we looked at the glory given us is a glory that contains the revealing of the character of God in and through JC.
A revealing that we have been enabled by the HS to receive.
But, here Jesus desires that we be with Him where He is going…
Which, after the ascension, is heaven.
Christ will not only give us a new body.
One that is immortal and can exist in the presence of God.
But, Jesus will create a whole…
New Heaven & New Earth
New Heaven & New Earth
An environment that will no longer be under the dominion of sin.
An environment that is founded upon and exists for nothing other than an environment of perfect righteousness.
An environment that will allow us to see and enjoy the glory of Christ in all the splendor of it’s glory.
We cannot truly imagine what awaits us in Christ.
All of this is because of our union with Christ.
Last Sunday we looked at the fact that Unity is made possible by Union with God.
What makes Union with God possible?
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.
Notice the last phrase…
even as you loved me
So, the love that we experience flows, as it’s source, from the love that the Father has for His Son.
So, what we’re zeroing in on is…
The Love of God IN Christ Jesus
The Love of God IN Christ Jesus
We should understand that the One that is being spoken of here is the God-Man.
—> Not just the divinity of Christ.
The God-Man is the Head of the Church.
The God-Man elevates us and exalts us to an unfathomable, underserved, merciful, and gracious level of glory.
The God-Man at the throne of God.
The God-Man has elevated us to have access to the throne room of God.
Why?
—> Because the Father loves the Son.
The Father’s love for the Son, Christ…
—> Is the reason & source for His love.
This love only exists towards those who are in Christ.
All of the love of God is bound to Christ…
And is towards us because of what Jesus states here in…
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Notice this phrase…
because You [the Father] loved Me [Christ] before the foundation of the world
—> Before anything existed.
This is not the only place we see this phrase.
There are at least nine other places in the NT that this phrase…
Foundation of the World
Foundation of the World
—> Is used.
So, the Father loved Christ from before the foundation of the world.
So, the whole of redemption, and creation is founded upon the love of the Father towards Christ.
Paul states it like this…
16 For by him [Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
All of this, everything…
All of creation is a display of the fulfillment of the Covenant of Redemption...
Obtained by Christ and offered to His own in the Covenant of Grace…
A covenant that is completely fulfilled by Christ…
Which He brings us into by faith…
And, He keeps us in this covenant of grace forevermore.
Not only has the Father loved Christ from before the foundation of the world…
But, Paul tells us in…
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
This is exactly what Jesus has been teaching us in John’s gospel.
The Father has loved Him, sent Him to redeem those whom the Father has given Christ to redeem.
Those whom the Father has chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world.
But, not only are we chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world…
Something else must occur…and it has…
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
We must be reconciled to God.
—> Which is the work that Christ has accomplished.
—> But, that we lay hold of by faith.
When we believe upon Christ…
we are transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ.
which can be stated this way and is in the NT
we are no longer children of wrath and are now the children of God.
adopted in Christ.
We are not reconciled to God until we repent and believe upon Christ.
No person will ever feel that God is gracious to them, unless they perceive that God is pacified in Christ.
When a person understands this gospel truth, intellectually, and in the heart.
They then understand that nothing…
But refuge in Christ…
Union with Christ…
Can give them peace with God.
We must understand that our Unity is by Union with Christ…
And, that the love of God towards us…
—> Is because of the love of God towards Christ.
The love of God towards us flows from Christ.
And, the cause of our union with Christ is the love of God towards Christ that flows to us…
—>Through our union with Christ…by faith.
So, sure is our union with Christ in heaven…
—> Exalted with Christ…
That the Apostle Paul states with boldness under the inspiration of the HS…
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Where is it hidden:
in Christ
in heaven
in the Kingdom of God
in glory
where He’s prepared a place for us
where He desires us to be
with Him in the new Heaven & Earth
Christ has revealed God.
We reveal Christ.
The Father loves us through Christ.
We are trophies of that love of God.
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.
Our unity is a proof of the love of God towards Christ…
And the love of God to us, who are in Christ.
Through us…
God’s Love is ON Display
God’s Love is ON Display
So, our unity is a light unto the world as a proof text that the Father has sent the Son as the only Messiah and Savior.
Christ is the world’s only hope for redemption.
But, our unity also is a proof text that God is love…
And, that He loves His children…those who are in Christ…
Those who believe the testimony of Christ is true…
Show the world, by our unity, that God loves those who love His Son.
Unity is displayed in our love for one another.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
So, in Christ, our love for one another expresses itself in unity.
And, love working itself out in unity is a proof to the world that the Father loves the Son…
—> And the Father loves those who love His Son.
A huge part of being Ambassadors for Christ is loving one another, which will work itself out in unity.
We are putting off an aroma to the world with our words and deeds.
Be Cautious
Be Cautious
The next time someone advises you…
Whether the advisor be:
your own mind or heart
a family member(s)
a co-worker(s)
your neighbor
your friend
The next time you receive advice to stop loving someone…
Let your response be to go immediately back to the gospel…
And, be reminded of the love of God for you shown in the cross of JC.
And, then our circumstance, in which we are tempted to stop loving…
Will be put in it’s rightful place of paling in comparison to the love displayed by God for His elect in the cross of JC.
A candle to the sun is such a comparison.
And, when they say…
How can you keep loving that person after they have done you so much harm to you?
After they have caused you such discomfort?
After they have slandered your name?
Treated you so unkind?
Viciously attacked your character?
Slandered your reputation?
Turned people against you?
How can you still continue to love such a person?
Our Answer
Our Answer
—> is because Christ loves me!
And, that takes us to an opportunity to share the gospel with them.
We have treated One who is worthy of:
infinite praise
infinite worship
We have treated God far worse than anyone could treat us…
And, He is far more worthy of proper treatment than I…
Yet, God has forgiven me…
Continues to love me.
Reconciled me to Himself.
Made me an inheritor of eternal life.
All because of and through the person and work of JC.
—> That’s the point of Hosea.
God has called us to…
A Love that Transcends Human Understanding
A Love that Transcends Human Understanding
Man’s understanding is fallen, sinful, and selfish.
Only our union with Christ can motivate and enable us to love in a way that expose the world’s false:
definition of love
shallowness of love
selfishness of love
Only our union with Christ can enable us to love others in a way that sometimes:
leaves the world scratching their head
scoffing at the way we love
asking us for the reason we love in such a way
Although unbelievers cannot understand, nor do they experience this love…
It does influence them and causes them to be convicted.
And, be in awe of it, though they may never confess the awe or conviction.
Let’s think about this...
Let’s think about this...
Do you believe God loves you?
—> In Christ, He does.
And, to not believe such is blasphemy.
Do you want:
your unbelieving family
your unbelieving co-workers
your unbelieving neighbors
to know the love of God that you know?
Start by loving others like Christ loves you…
Undeserved, long-suffering, nothing in return kind of love.
And, watch those around you stand in awe.
And, let your testimony express:
that the Father sent the Son…
And He loves those who love His Son…
In a way that words cannot describe.
—> That human language can exhaust.
What a love!
What a Savior!
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
