Keeping our salvation & unity

PREPERATION FOR TAKE-OFF

The longest recorded prayer of Jesus, but why was it recorded? What is its purpose?

·        In Johns’ own words

The Gospel of John is different to the other Gospels for it was written for a specific audience and for a specific reason. It was written, in John’s own words, ‘that you might believe (go on believing) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’ (John 20v31). It was written for Christians to help them remain faithful, to help them grow in the faith. Understanding this is key to understanding the book of John and the text we are going to look at this morning.

·        In Jesus’ own words

"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them” (John 17:13)

LET US PRAY: As we come under the authority of your word, we ask that you would increase our faith, Let us experience life in your name. Enable us to receive your word so that we may have the full measure of your Joy within us. Amen.

TAKE-OFF

For me the key verse of the prayer is verse 11

CONTEXT: HANDOVR AT WORK

Key verse: “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.”

Who is Jesus praying for, who is the ‘they’?

·        They are the ones who have been given to Jesus by the father (v6)

·        Who have believed in and obeyed his word (v6)

·        Who have received eternal life (v2)

·        Ones to whom Jesus has revealed the Father (v6)

o       Philip (John 15 v8-9) “Show us the Father…”

o       Jesus replies “Don’t you know me Philip…anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”

·        The ‘they’ are his disciples and also all those who will believe in Jesus due to their message (v21) YOU AND I

What is Jesus praying for?

UNITY AND PROTECTION

We often think in terms of Jesus being the God’s gift to us (and he is), but here Jesus tells us we are God’s gift to Jesus.

JACOB AND ABIGAIL

Part of protection is salvation

READ “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.” (John 17:2)

We where chosen for salvation by the Father and the Son gives us eternal life.

We are a Chosen people, born of the Spirit of God. Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:13)

Jesus prays “Father protect them…” My literal translation of the Bible says “…Keep them...”

It is also good to know that we are kept in our salvation by the Father at the request of the Son. Jesus says in verse 12 “None has been lost…”

·        Good Shepherd does not lose his sheep

·        What can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8v38)

·        Abigail & Jacob will always be my Children

UNITY

·        “…that they might be one as we are one.” (v11)

·        Jesus compares this unity with that of the Trinity, in particular Father and Son. “…as we are one.”

o       Three persons, but one God in their essential essence.

o       We are many but we are one body. Diversity in unity.

o       One purpose, one faith, of one mind (how can two walk together unless they be agreed)

·        We talk about community, which is good when we want all people to feel included in our activities. But the unity expressed here is more akin to family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

·        We are one by BIRTH. We are born of his spirit; we are partakers of the divine nature. Spiritual unity is something that is by default.   Abigail / Jacob – Sister/Brother (like it or not?)

·        It can not be manufactured. It has nothing to do with institutions or organisations. In its creation it is has nothing to do with our effort.

·        Part of the protection asked for concerns our unity. He knows this is the Achilles heal of the Church verses 20 – 23 give us the reason why. It is our unity that reveals Christ to the world. Our actions speak louder than our words. Our behaviour towards each other must match (even surpass) our words.

LANDING

Through out his prayer Jesus only asks for the Fathers help. He makes no mention of the disciples and their part in either their salvation or their unity.

I am glad that I am Chosen

Amazed that I am eternally secure in him

These two facts alone taken from this text cause me to Worship.

God Choose me first but I also chose him. I believe in predestination and the election of the saints but I’m not a Calvinist. I know that I asked Jesus into my life. I had a part to play even though it was very small, but I’m not an Armenian.

In salvation God’s sovereign choice and mans free will co-exist. It is a mystery (just like the Trinity) but co-exist they do.

In the same way I know that our spiritual unity is God given and kept by God, but I also know we have a part to play. God does not take away our freedom when it comes to our behaviour. We have a choice.

John 15 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (not used)

SAVIOUR and LORD (not used)

THE WORD AND PEOPLE

WORD hate /love relationship – clay feet? Clay legs!

PEOPLE– working out our salvation together – loving the unlovable

John also wrote “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)