Out Of Many, One (part 2) - [John 17:20-26]

Let me ask you a question. How many of you know and I'm sure some of you do what is the official motto of the United States of America in God? We trust now. What's the unofficial motto and there was great muttering?

It's a pluribus unum. Which is actually on it's amazing that it's not our official motto because it's been around for a lot longer than our official motto I think. About 1782 great seal of the United States e pluribus unum, which means out of many one and I read that and I thought that's what a great picture that is of how the gospel brings people in and we all become united in one body and You know, so it's like all the people of all the nations come to the United States and they all become one people.

Okay, but that's not what it means it was a great picture it just was wrong. Because the picture actually or what that was about was out of many meaning 13 The colonies out of many colonies one nation.

But as we look around our nation today, it doesn't really seem like out of 50 One right? There's a lot of division. Sadly, that's also the case within the visible body of Christ as we look at the church today.

Do we see unity everywhere is unity breaking out when you read I Mean just between you and me because nobody else is watching. I recently canceled my subscription to Christianity Today and I did so because of some of the things that they published.

It was just like a long string of things and finally I just had enough because it was so far off of Biblical Christianity that I just had to cut it off. To be fair though. I mean for centuries there have been divisions doctrinal divisions between Believers right there Presbyterians and Baptists and they're all manner of denominations.

We even see from time to time denomination split sometimes for good reasons sometimes for not. But what is unique about today within the universal body of Christ, especially in the United States? Is we're watching a time when believers professing believers Christians are uniting themselves with Unbelievers with those who actually by their statement of faith as it were by their Constitution as it were hate God they hate everything he stands for and yet there they are Marching and shouting and chanting together with these people.

Those aren't your brothers and sisters. That's your mission field that you're marching next to you, right? I'm gonna say it again Believers yoking themselves with unbelievers and Citing against believers.

How do they do that? They do it by adding to the gospel. Now it's wrong to take away from the gospel, right? We don't want to take away from the deity of Christ or his humanity or his atoning work, but it's just as wrong.

Maybe more so to add to it. What do we call that? It's legalism when you add to the gospel when you add additional things that must be part of a gospel presentation. And we're not to be innovators. Right, you're gonna hear me read some old quotes and a little bit from the Confession today.

Why because we are preservers of the truth? There's a once for all delivered faith right when new things pop up. We don't go. Oh, that's nice. I think we'll add to the gospel. We don't ever do that. And as we turn to our text today in John 17, please open your Bibles to John 17, we're going to be.

I'm gonna read 20 through 26 in just a moment. Is this a major problem and the answer is yes. Because Jesus as he's praying here and really the controlling idea of 20 to 26 is unity of believers. That's what he's praying for.

The Unity of Believers in John 17

Just hours before he's going to be taken into custody and crucified. When he's talking to his disciples his friends for the last time on earth his last thoughts are of Unity of Their need for unity because they're going to need it after he's gone.

But also for the larger body of Christ the universal body of Christ. Let's read our text here John 17 verses 20 to 26. I do not ask for these only but also for those who will believe in me through their word.

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 the glory that you have given me. I have given to them.

That they may be one even as we are one. I Am them and you and me that they may become perfectly one. So that the world may know that you sent me and love them. Even as you love me 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 love me. Before the foundation of the world. Oh righteous father. Even though the world does not know you. I know you and these know that you have sent me.

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 now last week. We finished the book of Hebrews here. Today, we're finishing John 17.

This is the end of The Last Supper. It's the last of the Last Supper. It's the end of the upper room discourse which starts in John 13 and goes to verse or to chapter 17. And this section is unique to John meaning it's not in Matthew Mark or Luke and It emphasizes of course the deity of Jesus Christ and we're going to see that even today and That's central to John's overall purpose.

Why. Because he wants us to know that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that by believing in him You may have life in his name however, it also emphasizes this Section does the humanity of Jesus if you read these five chapters 13 to 17 and you're not just impressed by the fact that with the care That Jesus has for his disciples then you're sort of missing it and it's not just you know He's God and he loves them.

These are his friends. He has trained these eleven men. He spent day and night with them for more than three years. And if you don't get that you're missing some of the more important aspects of it in fact even at the beginning of this Section in John 13 we read this.

Now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world. To the father having loved his own who were in the world. He loved them to the end and that's the point.

He's going to love these disciples right until he just can't do anything more for them. This is Thursday evening. It's just before Passover and it's Thursday night they've had dinner he's praying for them and they're about to leave and As they leave there's going to be the betrayal.

Judas is gone and he's retrieved some Roman soldiers and and they're going to arrest Jesus and then he's going to be tried and he's going to be crucified Friday. He's gonna send Saturday in the two and Sunday.

He'll be raised. The disciples don't get this they don't understand it even though he's telling them. But these are his final instructions kind of a final exhortation a last encouragement as it were to them.

It's also a meant to be a comfort to them. We know that from John 14 the beginning of John 14. John 14 1. Listen, he says let not your hearts be troubled believe in God believe also in me. He knew their hearts were troubled, right?

That's why he says it. He knows that they're concerned. He's just told them that he's leaving. But he wants them to trust in God and to trust in him. He's both looking forward to the cross and looking to strengthen his friends one last time before he leaves.

This is a remarkable chapter of Scripture. It's the longest recorded prayer of Jesus anywhere in the Gospels. And it really gives us insights into his priorities into what was important to him and it also takes us into The relationship that he has with the father as I've said before it.

It almost like takes us behind the curtain into the workings of the Trinity so that we can understand something of the persons of the Trinity and their work together and It also reveals much to us about the plan of redemption the covenant of redemption.

Some highlights in chapter 17 just to kind of review and bring us up to where we are. Jesus establishes his deity in this prayer and Proclaims the success of his ministry the conclusion of it in verses 2 to 4 of chapter 17.

In verse 5 he asked the father to grant his eternal glory to be added to his humanity. He says listen in verse 5 and now father Glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Now I say, you know, it takes us kind of behind the curtain. Shows us the eternal nature of the covenant of redemption. Well in what sense what is the covenant of redemption first of all? It's an agreement between the father the son and the Holy Spirit to redeem right redemption a people the show those chosen by the father the elect and We see Jesus over and over again talking about those whom the father Gave him right?

Listen to verses 6 through 10 of John 17. I Believe me out of the world. Yours they were you gave them to me and they have kept your word now they know that everything you have given me is from you 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.

I am praying for them and Listen to this. I am NOT praying for the world. I'm not praying for everybody. But for those whom you have what? Given me for they are yours. All mine are yours and yours are mine.

I am glorified in them. There's this group the elect. The father gave them to the son the son shares them. You know redeems them ultimately and will bring them back to the father and Jesus says I am glorified in them and again in verse 20, I Do not ask for these only.

Not just these 11, but listen, but also for those who will believe in me through their word again, the elect throughout the ages who read the New Testament and Come to faith in Christ. So we have that stress this eternal Redemptive covenants.

We also have the emphasis on truth in John 17 17. Jesus says sanctify them sanctified the believers in the truth. Your word is truth. Now the last time we were in John, we know that Jesus is praying here for unity.

Unity of the disciples in unity of the body at large. Listen to 20 and 21. I do not ask for these only but for those who will believe in me through their word, right? We just read that Verse 21 that they may all be one.

Just as you father are in me and I and you that they may Also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me now. That's a high standard right the same unity that the son has with the father.

That's what he wants for us. Why so the world may believe that you the father has sent Jesus? This is the message that we bring that Jesus came from the father that he lived the perfect life that he died a sacrificial death that he rose on the third day in Order for that message to have credibility.

He says I want there to be unity in the body. Ultimately this unity puts the glory of Christ and the love of the Father on display. Listen to verses 22 and 23. The glory that you have given me I have given to them that they may be one even as we are one again.

Think of the level what what is that demand of us? I? And them and you and me that they may be come perfectly one. So the world may know that you sent me and love them even as you loved me now this morning.

We're going to look at three truths about biblical unity again. This this idea of unity sort of controls this passage from 20 to 26. So we're going to follow that train of thought and I pray that this morning will be encouraged to want more unity and I hope it will challenge this message will challenge us to think through these issues more carefully.

We ought to love the brethren that's a command of Scripture right even Jesus gave that by this the world will know that you are mine right how by. The fact that we love one another we have love for one another.

This is the command of our Lord. But we must give heed to the teachings and even the prayers of our Lord as we seek more unity of the body. Now first the first truth is the eternal unity. Eternal unity is the will of Jesus.

Eternal unity of his body right is the will of Jesus. Look at verse 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.

Now John 17 is known as the high priestly prayer. Why. Because Jesus as high priest as we just heard for few years in Hebrews is Interceding for his people for the elect. Specifically for the disciples, but also for all of us.

One writer describes this prayer this way he says it's like concentric circles in other words a Concentric circle is a circle inside of another circle, right? And so if you have Three circles that are concentric.

That's kind of the picture of this prayer. The one through five would be Jesus referring to himself. That'd be the smallest circle. Then the second circle would be of The disciples the 11 and then the third circle would be of all the elect.

Now, why are they concentric because there's some overlap in some of these? Verses. But the point is by the time we get to 20 through 26, they pretty much apply to all of us all together. Now when Jesus says I desire in 24.

When you see that word it kind of sounds if I if I could say it this way it sounds a little bit weak. Right, I desire it's like I want. Like, you know, I tell my wife I want a new car. Hint. It sounds kind of like just sort of an ethereal ephemeral sort of a wish.

But that's not the idea. In fact if I could turn to a King James only person for a moment here I'd say the King James has the the flavor of it, right? The King James says what I will. Not I want but I will in the sense that this is going to come about.

This is Jesus in his deity saying this is my will. Not what I want. But what will come about? This is the eternal Son of God the second person the Trinity expecting or expressing his will the believers see his glory.

And guess what? We will for all eternity. This is where we really see. I mean we've seen this expressed before. Where the will of Jesus is what the will the Father he came to do. The will of the Father right?

He always does that in John chapter 6 Verses 38 to 40. I'm gonna read that. This was his purpose for coming listen for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me and.

Listen, if this doesn't sound like exactly what he's praying for right now. And this is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of all he has given me this elect. But raise it up on the last day.

Every single one of the chosen ones from the father will be raised up on the last day. He's going to accomplish the will of his father. For this is the will of my father that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in him should have eternal life.

And I will raise him up on the last day. And now he's saying my will is that of all these the father gave me? Not only will I raise them up on the last day, but I want them to be with me. I want them to see my glory Eternally.

The father chose them from before the foundation of the world. Jesus has redeemed them or will is about to redeem them right? Through his life his death. He's about to go to the cross his resurrection.

Then raised to eternal life and that's exactly what he's praying for here in verse 24. Look the second part of it here. They also whom you have given me may be with me where I am. Well, what does he mean where I am in the upper room?

No. He's referring to oh. To see my glory that you have given me. Skip that. But even earlier this evening let's go back to John chapter 14 for a moment and you'll you'll see what he's talking about the same sort of idea.

John 14 verses 1 to 3 let not your hearts be troubled. Why do you say that because they were troubled? He told them he was leaving they didn't they didn't understand it said he was going to the father verse 2.

Or I'm sorry. Back to verse 1. Believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many rooms. If it were not. So would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you listen I will come again and I will take you to myself that where I am.

Where I am you may be also. In other words, he's talking about His resurrection as if it's already taken place and he said you are going to be with me in my glory. Where I already am it's so Complete it's so done that I'm going to talk about it in present tense.

And again, this petition of Jesus is in keeping with the promise of the father to him. Covenant of Redemption. The father gives the son redeems the Holy Spirit both convicts and keeps right. This is the plan and it's always been the plan.

Listen to Isaiah 53 verses 10 and 11. Tell me this doesn't sound like exactly what we're talking about. Isaiah 53 verses 10 and I'm gonna read the beginning of 11 yet. It was the will of the Lord the father to crush him Jesus.

He has put him to grief. But listen when his soul makes an offering for guilt when Jesus dies on the cross. He shall see his offspring his spiritual children the results of his labor. He shall prolong his days.

The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand and listen verse 11 out of the anguish of his soul out of his suffering out of his pain on the cross out of everything that he suffers. Out of the anguish of his soul.

He shall see and what and be satisfied. Jesus work doesn't go to waste. It redeems every single one that the father has given him. Can you imagine talking just talking about this satisfaction? And we'll talk more about this the Old Testament satisfaction New Testament propitiation, can you imagine the concept of Jesus dying of suffering for the ones that the father gave him and Then on Judgment Day those same people the ones that he died for the ones whom he was thinking about as he went to the cross.

For whom he paid the price for all their sins. The father says I can't accept that payment. Never out of the anguish of his soul. He shall see and be satisfied. That's the Word of God. That's what happens payment accepted.

Now Jesus is going to return to the father. He's going to ascend to heaven right ascensions coming up in 42 43 days. He desires wills wants What the father does. That we the elect this larger circle be with him beholding his glory forever.

Again verse 24 to see my glory that you have given me now in what sense? Has the father? Given glory to the center. Can he give glory to the Sun right if we think back? He said I want the glory that I had what when I was with you in 17, you know the Before the foundation of the world I had glory and I want that glory back in.

What sense does he now talk about this glory given to him? Jesus is no created being we're not Aryans meaning. We're not those who say that Jesus There was a time where he didn't exist. He's eternal. Unlike some who call themselves Christians.

We believe that Jesus is the creator. Now for all eternity the glory will be upon His human nature his humanity. Jesus is a person with two natures he has he is truly God and he is truly man and For all eternity.

We are going to be transfixed by his glory this glory that is not Resident in him but is resident upon him that the father grants him. Because it's mission accomplished. He did what he was charged to do.

He redeemed a people for God's glory and We will experience the reality of this promise for 1st John 3 2. I love this verse. Beloved we are God's children now. Right. We belong to him. But we know that when he appears what Jesus appears we shall be like him because what?

We shall see him as he is we shall see his glory. We're going to see the reality of Jesus. And what will this glory be like in heaven? John the beloved Apostle tells us he tells us in Revelation 21. He gets this vision of Jesus.

Verses 22 and 23 towards the end of the Bible Says and I saw no temple in the city. For its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb that is to say Jesus Christ. Verse 23 and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it for the glory of God gives its light and listen and its lamp is The Lamb the central point the focal point of the glory of God is what?

Jesus Christ forever. We're going to be in his presence and we're going to be transfixed forever by the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as One writer put he said heaven is no doubt very desirable, but Christ is more when we get to heaven.

What are we going to see? I mean a lot of us even in talking to Jack, you know. We we have these thoughts of heaven and we have these priorities of heaven. We have the people that we want to look for.

I mean, wait, it's like we make a list. I want to find out if you know, grandma made it and if you know, so-and-so made it and you know as if right. Because the truth is we'll walk in and we'll just be like Jesus.

There's no sin. That's true. I mean, I can't wait for that but Jesus. Without Jesus heaven is not heaven and he's going to be the very focal point of heaven so that Eternal unity is the will of Jesus.

We will forever be unified with him transfixed by his glory. Second. Earthly unity demands knowledge of Jesus. What does that mean? It means we shouldn't be unified on earth with people who are not Christians.

That's a principle that's taught throughout scripture, but just listen to how Jesus is praying here. There's a shift in his emphasis. He's no longer making requests or petitions he's saying. Things about the nature of God listen he says in verse 25.

Oh righteous father. Even though the world does not know you. I know you and these know that you have sent me. Now we can almost miss a few things. One is oh righteous father. Because it's the only time that jesus ever says that the only the only time that he ever refers to the father as righteous.

The father is of course righteous, but he never Says that except for right here. Now what that does? And right away we we can sort of see that if we if we look again at the text. He says oh righteous father and then notice that there are two groups of people he describes.

Even though the world does not know you. Right if you ever want to know what the world means. This is one definition. There's a world Of people that don't know you. Jesus says I know you again. We're going back to the smallest concentric circle.

And these know that you have sent me whom. Well, we could say it's the second concentric circle the disciples. And ultimately we know through them, right? Believers are those who know that jesus was sent by the father.

And this is a knowledge that can only be granted to them by what being born again. The 11 acknowledged the divine origins of jesus mission right before he started praying in 1630. Not the year 1630. But john 1630 he says or uh John records this we believe that you came from god they said.

And just then he starts praying. They know who he is now. Not perfectly. Because they're going to disintegrate here in just a few hours. And peter more so than anybody else. But is that knowledge that knowing is that belief?

Is that god-given spirit and planted faith that makes all the difference? Turn for a moment if you would for to romans chapter 3. Romans chapter 3 and we're going to look briefly at romans chapter 3 verses 20 to 26 the apostle paul writes for by works of the law.

No human being will be justified and just kind of think about The justice of god the righteousness of god as we read this for by works of the law. No human being will be justified in his sight since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of god has been manifested apart from the law. Although the law and the prophets bear witness to it the righteousness of god through faith in jesus christ for all who believe.

For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of god and are justified by his grace as a gift. Through the redemption that is in christ. Jesus Whom god put forth as a propitiation.

Which means out of satisfaction? Right, we saw that in isaiah. Same kind of concept here a propitiation by his blood. He means satisfaction what by his death by the cross. To be received by faith. This was to show god's righteousness.

Because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins it was to show his righteousness at the present time so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in jesus. Now what is the world we're talking about these two groups, what does the world do?

If we think about Unbelievers, and I don't care what unbeliever you talk to in some way or another. They're going to justify themselves. They're going to declare their own righteousness their own goodness by what.

The works of the law even if they don't You know say I obey the ten commandments. They've got their own set of standards and they declare themselves righteous by their own standards. This is what they do.

They deny in effect the necessity for jesus to be sent by the father. To redeem a people for himself, right? They don't need jesus. They're good. They're fine on their own. But the righteousness of god is demonstrated By the father's putting forth jesus as a propitiation by his blood.

Our sins every single thought and deed that we do that doesn't meet the standards of perfection of god. Every single one of those put us under the just condemnation of god. And since he is just since he is righteous as jesus says He must do what is right.

He has to judge every single sin. He must punish each and every sin every transgression of his law. Look at verse 26 in romans 3 the word righteous. Greek word righteous is at the root of three different words here.

Only one of which appears to be Righteous it's righteousness, but it's righteousness then just and then justifier. So 326 could be just or it could be justified. Could be justifiably translated this way.

Right could be translated this way and i'm doing it for emphasis. It was to show his righteousness at the present time. So that he might be righteous. And the one who declares righteous the one who has faith in jesus.

It's not because we are righteous that god declares us righteous. It's because of our faith in jesus our god-given faith in jesus. And this is a term we call what? Imputation right. When god looks at believers, he says I see jesus.

I see his righteousness. Not your sin. He imputes he accounts the righteousness of christ to us the righteousness that we need to enter heaven. So salvation. Was and always will be. By faith alone in christ alone.

There is no other way to the father, but through the son john 14 6, right? These are all trues taught throughout scripture. Our confession of faith puts it this way the lord jesus by his perfect obedience.

We need his righteousness and sacrifice of himself for our sin. Which he through the eternal spirit once offered up unto god. Hath fully satisfied. There's that word the justice of god procured Reconciliation and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven.

For all those whom the father hath given unto him. Again given unto him, right? Redeem these people. So again back to john chapter 17. Two groups. Those who believe in jesus. Those who recognize the necessity of the father sending jesus to earth to redeem people to die for their sins.

And those who don't and those who don't. In other places, we would see them called children of wrath or children of satan. So it's stunning to see to watch professing children of god believers christians.

Yoke themselves tie themselves. To those who scoff at the notion of personal sin. Who laugh at the idea of an eternal father? Who deny his son? Who deny everything about christianity and the bible. And then lock arms with these people and march and protest with them.

It's very very Odd and one could say not in keeping with this passage of scripture. Not in keeping with a lot of passages of scripture. It's implied here after all Jesus does not pray for the non-elect right those he doesn't pray for the ones.

The father didn't give him. And here in verse 20 he or 26. He draws a sharp line between those who believe and those who do not. And so does all of scripture. Whether it is the separation of sheeps and goats or noah and his family.

Or the constant judgment of israel for adopting the standards of the surrounding world. The bible never suggests Or promotes the idea of believers. Tying themselves to unbelievers in some kind of ecumenical jihad to make the world a better place.

I mean when I think of unbelievers and believers working together, I mean it almost sounds to me like the tower of babel so whether it is abortion or a political movement promoting ungodly behavior like Transsexuality the lgbtq agenda.

Or rioting looting other criminal activity. Why would we want to be involved in that? Whatever we think of their agenda the unbelievers that we're marching next to or that believers are now marching next to are the mission field.

Let me put it this way if we could outlaw and i'd be in favor of this if we could outlaw abortion. That would be good If we could ban marriage. In any sense, that's not what god ordained. If we could legislate Ethnic equality and by the way, I believe that we have Somehow that didn't end the problem did it?

What is it the false religions do and I was part of a false religion for the first half of my life. What? What do they do. They give external commands. Or commands that change external behaviors. So when we say we're marching because we want people to stop doing this.

We want to stop doing okay. And then what? Have you affected the human heart? And the answer is you can't. Only god can change the human heart. And he gave us the means to do that. Right. I'm not saying you should never do anything about injustice or anything like that.

I mean, I think believers throughout the centuries have been rightly outraged by Slavery and different sins of man against man. I think those are good things to be outraged by. What I am saying is and i've said it before if you find yourself looking to the left and looking to the right.

And locking your arms and jolly, you know, mary. Merrily walking down the street and you realize that none of these people are believers and you have to ask yourself What am I really doing? I'm putting my stamp of approval on their External jihad on their behavioral changes that they want to impose on people.

How does that compare with the righteousness of god. It doesn't. And it is because of his righteousness that he's going to send everyone who fails to believe in his son to hell. There's nothing more important than that, right?

I'm, sorry. I said earlier 26 we're in 25. There's nothing more important than that. So we've seen the eternal unity. Is the will of jesus. Earthly unity demands knowledge of jesus. In other words, we can't tie ourselves to those who don't know jesus.

And finally evangelical unity demands the love of jesus. We need to have the love of jesus. Verse 26. Jesus says I made known to them your name the father's 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.

Jesus came to earth. Why? To show us the father right to declare his name when he shows us the the father when he Proclaims the name of the father. What's he really doing? He's teaching us about the character the nature the fullness of the father's being.

We want that we need that. In fact jesus in john 5 19 said. So jesus said to them truly truly I say to you the son can do. Nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the father doing for whatever the father does the son does likewise.

He also said that whatever He said was directly from the father. When we think about his doing you know when we see jesus in fact, uh in scripture. Um. He was asked he by one of the disciples. He said, uh, you know if if we.

If we could see the father that is enough for us. Jesus says what? You've seen me if you've seen me you've seen the father that's enough for you. The exact image of god is his son. And what jesus says next is fascinating in light of his death being only a few hours away.

Look at verse 26. I will continue to make it known. He's going to continue to make the father's name known. Well How's he going to do that when he's dying? And he gives us the answer rather obliquely in verse at the end of verse 26.

He says that the love with which I or which you have loved me may be in them and I in them. Now, how is jesus going to be in the believers? How is he, you know after he dies, how is he going to be in there in them?

Well, there have been other places where he's talked about Taking up resonance in us in believers. And there are two answers here, I think the first is the cross itself. John 15 13 again this same context of this last evening this last supper greater Love has no one than this then someone laid down his life for his friends.

That's what he's going to do and there's no greater Testimony to the love of jesus christ for us than he laid down his life. And by that he declares the love of the father for us because the father sent the son.