1 00:00:01,307 --> 00:00:04,260 John 17. 2 00:00:04,260 --> 00:00:07,102 I'm going to be guided by my notes this morning. 3 00:00:07,102 --> 00:00:08,958 I'm going somewhere with this - 4 00:00:08,958 --> 00:00:10,589 three messages, the Lord willing, 5 00:00:10,589 --> 00:00:13,101 on the subject of Christian unity. 6 00:00:13,101 --> 00:00:17,115 I want to do some clarifying hopefully this morning, 7 00:00:17,115 --> 00:00:18,486 laying some foundation, 8 00:00:18,486 --> 00:00:21,063 and then we'll get into some more practical things 9 00:00:21,063 --> 00:00:23,581 tonight and tomorrow. 10 00:00:23,581 --> 00:00:27,285 And this is another one of those subjects 11 00:00:27,285 --> 00:00:30,527 that can be difficult. 12 00:00:30,527 --> 00:00:32,639 I don't claim to have all the answers. 13 00:00:32,639 --> 00:00:35,193 I imagine that if you're like me, 14 00:00:35,193 --> 00:00:37,280 if you have any age on you at all, 15 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,555 you've had to work through some of these things 16 00:00:39,555 --> 00:00:41,955 and try to come to conclusions. 17 00:00:41,955 --> 00:00:44,916 And some of the conclusions you've come to 18 00:00:44,916 --> 00:00:46,522 may not be exactly right. 19 00:00:46,522 --> 00:00:49,583 You may continue to grow 20 00:00:49,583 --> 00:00:53,960 and maybe shift some in your understanding 21 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,475 and the outworking of this. 22 00:00:56,475 --> 00:00:58,278 That's kind of where I see myself. 23 00:00:58,278 --> 00:01:01,511 I'm 59 and I still haven't arrived. 24 00:01:01,511 --> 00:01:03,679 I'm still a work in progress. 25 00:01:03,679 --> 00:01:05,787 (incomplete thought) 26 00:01:05,787 --> 00:01:07,783 I don't think fundamentally I've changed 27 00:01:07,783 --> 00:01:09,368 from my younger years. 28 00:01:09,368 --> 00:01:11,054 Fundamentally, I mean, the truths, 29 00:01:11,054 --> 00:01:12,392 the doctrines of Scripture - 30 00:01:12,392 --> 00:01:15,781 I'm fundamentally now where I was 31 00:01:15,781 --> 00:01:18,188 twenty or thirty years ago. 32 00:01:18,188 --> 00:01:21,453 But the working out of that doctrine 33 00:01:21,453 --> 00:01:27,396 has definitely changed in my own life. 34 00:01:27,396 --> 00:01:30,467 So I say all that at the outset. 35 00:01:30,467 --> 00:01:32,877 I want this to be a help to you. 36 00:01:32,877 --> 00:01:35,320 I'm going to John 17. Did I tell you that already? 37 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:37,396 We're starting there. 38 00:01:37,396 --> 00:01:41,814 Let me just read a couple of verses here 39 00:01:41,814 --> 00:01:45,188 that we're going to be hopefully gleaning 40 00:01:45,188 --> 00:01:48,680 our thoughts from. 41 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,747 I honestly feel when I come to this chapter 42 00:01:50,747 --> 00:01:55,205 that we're sort of approaching holy ground. 43 00:01:55,205 --> 00:01:56,966 And I know all of Scripture is holy. 44 00:01:56,966 --> 00:02:01,169 It's the holy Scriptures, but there's something about John 17. 45 00:02:01,169 --> 00:02:03,396 We are actually being given the privilege 46 00:02:03,396 --> 00:02:08,549 of listening in on a prayer of our Savior. 47 00:02:08,549 --> 00:02:11,856 And that's an amazing thought. 48 00:02:11,856 --> 00:02:14,616 And it's one of those passages of Scripture 49 00:02:14,616 --> 00:02:17,122 that you don't want to read quickly, 50 00:02:17,122 --> 00:02:19,612 and I don't want to read quickly 51 00:02:19,612 --> 00:02:21,443 the words that I'm going to read. 52 00:02:21,443 --> 00:02:23,752 And I'm not going to read all of the prayer. 53 00:02:23,752 --> 00:02:26,681 I would encourage you to take time to do that, 54 00:02:26,681 --> 00:02:30,250 perhaps even later today. 55 00:02:30,250 --> 00:02:32,427 But I'm just going to read verse 11, 56 00:02:32,427 --> 00:02:40,799 and then 20 through 23. 57 00:02:40,799 --> 00:02:43,094 We can speculate about what all is going on 58 00:02:43,094 --> 00:02:44,573 in the mind of Christ. 59 00:02:44,573 --> 00:02:48,009 He's the Son of God. He's the Son of Man. 60 00:02:48,009 --> 00:02:51,583 He is speaking as the Son of God. 61 00:02:51,583 --> 00:02:53,674 This is a high priestly prayer, 62 00:02:53,674 --> 00:02:56,198 but He's speaking also in the context 63 00:02:56,198 --> 00:02:59,744 of His being as a man. 64 00:02:59,744 --> 00:03:02,959 So He has thoughts going through His mind. 65 00:03:02,959 --> 00:03:05,497 It wouldn't be exactly like your thoughts or mine, 66 00:03:05,497 --> 00:03:07,201 but they certainly are thoughts 67 00:03:07,201 --> 00:03:09,687 of a man as He prays, 68 00:03:09,687 --> 00:03:13,815 even as they are thoughts of the very Son of God. 69 00:03:13,815 --> 00:03:15,485 He's reflecting on the glory 70 00:03:15,485 --> 00:03:18,664 that He had with the Father before the world began. 71 00:03:18,664 --> 00:03:21,276 He's reflecting on all that He left. 72 00:03:21,276 --> 00:03:23,708 And all of that is in Him. 73 00:03:23,708 --> 00:03:25,696 There's more in Him than any of us know. 74 00:03:25,696 --> 00:03:28,397 There's great mystery in this prayer. 75 00:03:28,397 --> 00:03:29,949 There's depths in this prayer 76 00:03:29,949 --> 00:03:34,906 that I still am seeking to enter into. 77 00:03:34,906 --> 00:03:37,538 I would encourage you that you need the Holy Spirit 78 00:03:37,538 --> 00:03:39,901 to enter into the depths of God. 79 00:03:39,901 --> 00:03:43,835 Your own spirit is not capable. 80 00:03:43,835 --> 00:03:46,944 That's what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2. 81 00:03:46,944 --> 00:03:51,414 It's the Spirit of God that teaches us who God is 82 00:03:51,414 --> 00:03:53,683 and leads us - I would encourage you 83 00:03:53,683 --> 00:03:56,324 to ask God to lead you. 84 00:03:56,324 --> 00:03:59,245 Ask the Spirit of God to teach you, 85 00:03:59,245 --> 00:04:02,496 to show you more fully, more clearly 86 00:04:02,496 --> 00:04:06,984 the things pertaining to God. 87 00:04:06,984 --> 00:04:10,557 Jesus says, verse 11, 88 00:04:10,557 --> 00:04:17,401 "And now, I am no more in the world." 89 00:04:17,401 --> 00:04:18,879 Speaking prophetically - 90 00:04:18,879 --> 00:04:20,351 it's speaking as if it is, 91 00:04:20,351 --> 00:04:23,020 but this is what is coming. 92 00:04:23,020 --> 00:04:25,170 And in His prayer, He's thinking of this. 93 00:04:25,170 --> 00:04:28,040 (incomplete thought) 94 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:32,941 He's coming to the cross. 95 00:04:32,941 --> 00:04:34,789 But He's seeing beyond that, 96 00:04:34,789 --> 00:04:36,089 but He can't go beyond that 97 00:04:36,089 --> 00:04:37,964 without going through the cross. 98 00:04:37,964 --> 00:04:42,739 So that's where He is as He's praying. 99 00:04:42,739 --> 00:04:44,745 "And now I am no more in the world, 100 00:04:44,745 --> 00:04:46,764 but these are in the world." 101 00:04:46,764 --> 00:04:48,756 His disciples. 102 00:04:48,756 --> 00:04:56,201 "And I come to Thee, Holy Father. 103 00:04:56,201 --> 00:05:00,969 Keep through Thine own name 104 00:05:00,969 --> 00:05:04,479 those whom Thou has given Me, 105 00:05:04,479 --> 00:05:09,425 that they may be one as We are." 106 00:05:09,425 --> 00:05:19,876 That they may be one as We are. 107 00:05:19,876 --> 00:05:22,450 Verse 20. 108 00:05:22,450 --> 00:05:25,532 "Neither pray I for these alone..." - 109 00:05:25,532 --> 00:05:28,319 the disciples, the apostles - 110 00:05:28,319 --> 00:05:31,711 "...But for them also which shall believe on Me 111 00:05:31,711 --> 00:05:37,239 through their word, 112 00:05:37,239 --> 00:05:42,637 that they all may be one, 113 00:05:42,637 --> 00:05:46,077 as Thou Father art in Me, 114 00:05:46,077 --> 00:05:50,151 and I in Thee, 115 00:05:50,151 --> 00:05:54,169 that they also may be one in Us, 116 00:05:54,169 --> 00:05:56,298 that the world may believe 117 00:05:56,298 --> 00:06:01,472 that Thou hast sent Me, 118 00:06:01,472 --> 00:06:03,525 and the glory which Thou hast given Me, 119 00:06:03,525 --> 00:06:04,908 I have given them, 120 00:06:04,908 --> 00:06:08,759 that they may be one, 121 00:06:08,759 --> 00:06:12,905 even as We are one, 122 00:06:12,905 --> 00:06:20,993 I in them, and Thou in Me, 123 00:06:20,993 --> 00:06:24,868 that they may be made perfect in one 124 00:06:24,868 --> 00:06:26,653 and that the world may know 125 00:06:26,653 --> 00:06:29,155 that Thou hast sent Me and hast loved them 126 00:06:29,155 --> 00:06:34,488 as Thou hast loved Me." 127 00:06:34,488 --> 00:06:38,619 Amazing words. 128 00:06:38,619 --> 00:06:41,516 Unity. 129 00:06:41,516 --> 00:06:43,878 Unity among the saints 130 00:06:43,878 --> 00:06:48,046 is an ultimate concern of the Triune God. 131 00:06:48,046 --> 00:06:55,095 An ultimate - ultimate concern. 132 00:06:55,095 --> 00:06:57,102 Jesus uses language in this portion 133 00:06:57,102 --> 00:06:58,561 of His high priestly prayer 134 00:06:58,561 --> 00:07:04,851 that I'm still seeking to fully appreciate. 135 00:07:04,851 --> 00:07:09,165 What is He saying? 136 00:07:09,165 --> 00:07:13,385 I in them, and Thou in Me. 137 00:07:13,385 --> 00:07:16,451 There's something about the relationship 138 00:07:16,451 --> 00:07:17,751 with the Father and Son 139 00:07:17,751 --> 00:07:21,162 that Jesus is praying that we may experience, 140 00:07:21,162 --> 00:07:28,088 we may enter into that unity. 141 00:07:28,088 --> 00:07:29,597 It's the pattern of the unity 142 00:07:29,597 --> 00:07:32,792 for which Jesus prays. 143 00:07:32,792 --> 00:07:36,845 There is an expression called "the community of properties." 144 00:07:36,845 --> 00:07:39,962 I don't want to get too complicated here, 145 00:07:39,962 --> 00:07:42,091 partly because I can't, 146 00:07:42,091 --> 00:07:45,997 but I want to introduce this idea to you. 147 00:07:45,997 --> 00:07:47,747 The community of properties. 148 00:07:47,747 --> 00:07:49,735 And I think it's important to see 149 00:07:49,735 --> 00:07:52,400 that when Jesus says, 150 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,891 as the Father is in Me - 151 00:07:54,891 --> 00:07:58,217 "I in Thee, Thou in Me," 152 00:07:58,217 --> 00:08:00,441 what is He saying? 153 00:08:00,441 --> 00:08:03,483 There is something about the Being of God 154 00:08:03,483 --> 00:08:07,206 in the Person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 155 00:08:07,206 --> 00:08:11,307 that is essentially one. 156 00:08:11,307 --> 00:08:15,290 Essentially, there is a sameness, 157 00:08:15,290 --> 00:08:17,253 so that Jesus could say, 158 00:08:17,253 --> 00:08:19,715 "if you've seen Me, 159 00:08:19,715 --> 00:08:21,008 you have seen the Father." 160 00:08:21,008 --> 00:08:24,984 There is something about Jesus Christ, 161 00:08:24,984 --> 00:08:27,040 something about the Father, 162 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,959 something about the Holy Spirit 163 00:08:29,959 --> 00:08:34,570 that is one. 164 00:08:34,570 --> 00:08:37,652 There is something that is distinct as well 165 00:08:37,652 --> 00:08:40,883 so that the Son can be praying to the Father, 166 00:08:40,883 --> 00:08:49,093 so that the Father is not the Son. 167 00:08:49,093 --> 00:08:51,667 Amazing - there are people who teach that, 168 00:08:51,667 --> 00:08:53,564 that the Father is the Son, 169 00:08:53,564 --> 00:08:56,217 and the Son is the Father. 170 00:08:56,217 --> 00:08:59,586 The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Father. 171 00:08:59,586 --> 00:09:01,668 But there is a community of properties 172 00:09:01,668 --> 00:09:03,645 in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 173 00:09:03,645 --> 00:09:05,584 so that They are one. 174 00:09:05,584 --> 00:09:10,915 There's something that is the same, 175 00:09:10,915 --> 00:09:13,467 and there is something that is distinct 176 00:09:13,467 --> 00:09:16,470 so that They are three Persons 177 00:09:16,470 --> 00:09:21,707 that function in three different capacities 178 00:09:21,707 --> 00:09:25,863 in absolute, total unity. 179 00:09:25,863 --> 00:09:29,384 That's what we call the Trinity. 180 00:09:29,384 --> 00:09:32,954 He says that they - talking about the disciples 181 00:09:32,954 --> 00:09:36,374 or those who will believe the words of the apostles - 182 00:09:36,374 --> 00:09:43,234 "they all may be one..." in Us. 183 00:09:43,234 --> 00:09:44,387 That's what He says. 184 00:09:44,387 --> 00:09:45,374 That's the prayer 185 00:09:45,374 --> 00:09:46,983 that they all may be one in Us. 186 00:09:46,983 --> 00:09:50,319 Every believer is brought 187 00:09:50,319 --> 00:09:53,924 into a mystical, spiritual union 188 00:09:53,924 --> 00:09:57,148 with the Triune God 189 00:09:57,148 --> 00:10:01,485 as Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. 190 00:10:01,485 --> 00:10:04,815 Did I just step onto some controversial thought there? 191 00:10:04,815 --> 00:10:06,861 I hope not. 192 00:10:06,861 --> 00:10:09,110 Regardless of all of our fleshing out 193 00:10:09,110 --> 00:10:11,521 of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, 194 00:10:11,521 --> 00:10:14,811 we know that Jesus said He would do it. 195 00:10:14,811 --> 00:10:16,317 He would baptize. 196 00:10:16,317 --> 00:10:19,443 In fact, in Acts 1:5, He says not many days from then, 197 00:10:19,443 --> 00:10:20,590 He would baptize. 198 00:10:20,590 --> 00:10:22,814 Then 1 Corinthians 12:13, 199 00:10:22,814 --> 00:10:25,109 it's a past reference there - 200 00:10:25,109 --> 00:10:27,886 something that has happened 201 00:10:27,886 --> 00:10:29,698 that we participate in. 202 00:10:29,698 --> 00:10:33,518 We drink of the same Spirit. 203 00:10:33,518 --> 00:10:37,015 There is a sameness that exists 204 00:10:37,015 --> 00:10:39,923 in every single believer. 205 00:10:39,923 --> 00:10:48,354 Every believer possesses the same Holy Spirit. 206 00:10:48,354 --> 00:10:50,644 There is one body. 207 00:10:50,644 --> 00:10:52,761 There is no longer Jew or Gentile. 208 00:10:52,761 --> 00:10:55,206 There is no longer a division. 209 00:10:55,206 --> 00:11:00,822 Ephesians 1-3 speak of this significantly. 210 00:11:00,822 --> 00:11:05,035 Paul makes this point. 211 00:11:05,035 --> 00:11:08,872 In Christ, we are one. 212 00:11:08,872 --> 00:11:11,523 In Christ. 213 00:11:11,523 --> 00:11:13,081 We have one Shepherd. 214 00:11:13,081 --> 00:11:17,170 There is one fold. 215 00:11:17,170 --> 00:11:19,889 Jesus does not view us - 216 00:11:19,889 --> 00:11:23,663 and as He prays here, 217 00:11:23,663 --> 00:11:25,496 there is a sense in which Jesus, 218 00:11:25,496 --> 00:11:30,322 He told Peter, "I have prayed for you." 219 00:11:30,322 --> 00:11:32,561 So there is a sense in which we can say 220 00:11:32,561 --> 00:11:34,285 Christ prays for me, 221 00:11:34,285 --> 00:11:39,202 but here Jesus is praying for us. 222 00:11:39,202 --> 00:11:42,944 He's not viewing us as autonomous, 223 00:11:42,944 --> 00:11:47,615 isolated believers. 224 00:11:47,615 --> 00:11:49,805 But joined together by the Father and Son 225 00:11:49,805 --> 00:11:53,662 through the Spirit as a spiritual temple, 226 00:11:53,662 --> 00:11:57,432 living stones as Peter calls it, 227 00:11:57,432 --> 00:11:59,034 who are joined together with all 228 00:11:59,034 --> 00:12:05,441 who are believers in Heaven and in earth. 229 00:12:05,441 --> 00:12:10,342 I think of this as the eschatological church - 230 00:12:10,342 --> 00:12:13,033 that glorious church without spot or wrinkle, 231 00:12:13,033 --> 00:12:16,376 which is the hope, the ultimate culmination 232 00:12:16,376 --> 00:12:19,938 of Jesus' prayer here, I believe. 233 00:12:19,938 --> 00:12:23,284 In fact, He says in v. 24, 234 00:12:23,284 --> 00:12:24,846 "Father, I will that they also 235 00:12:24,846 --> 00:12:26,126 whom You have given Me 236 00:12:26,126 --> 00:12:27,377 be with Me where I am 237 00:12:27,377 --> 00:12:28,790 that they may behold My glory 238 00:12:28,790 --> 00:12:30,790 which You've given Me, for Thou lovest Me 239 00:12:30,790 --> 00:12:32,575 before the foundation of the world." 240 00:12:32,575 --> 00:12:34,953 That's where it's all headed. 241 00:12:34,953 --> 00:12:40,815 Ultimately, the glorious church. 242 00:12:40,815 --> 00:12:43,042 But every New Testament church 243 00:12:43,042 --> 00:12:45,424 is supposed to reflect that glorious church 244 00:12:45,424 --> 00:12:49,412 now in this age. 245 00:12:49,412 --> 00:12:52,264 And that's really what I want to ultimately focus on 246 00:12:52,264 --> 00:12:54,380 as we proceed through our thoughts 247 00:12:54,380 --> 00:12:57,459 this morning, tonight, and tomorrow. 248 00:12:57,459 --> 00:12:59,769 But today, right now, 249 00:12:59,769 --> 00:13:01,794 I want to establish this foundation 250 00:13:01,794 --> 00:13:05,151 because the unity that we experience 251 00:13:05,151 --> 00:13:07,456 doesn't happen in the energy of our flesh; 252 00:13:07,456 --> 00:13:09,093 it doesn't come out of thin air - 253 00:13:09,093 --> 00:13:10,420 it comes from a foundation, 254 00:13:10,420 --> 00:13:14,972 and that foundation is who we are in Christ. 255 00:13:14,972 --> 00:13:18,544 In verse 22, Jesus says, 256 00:13:18,544 --> 00:13:24,426 "And the glory which You gave Me, 257 00:13:24,426 --> 00:13:28,820 I have given them, 258 00:13:28,820 --> 00:13:30,149 that..." in order that - 259 00:13:30,149 --> 00:13:31,924 and you'll see a number of those 260 00:13:31,924 --> 00:13:34,454 in verses 20-23 - the word "that" 261 00:13:34,454 --> 00:13:35,724 or "in order that" - 262 00:13:35,724 --> 00:13:37,712 I don't know what your translation says. 263 00:13:37,712 --> 00:13:40,881 It may say "in order that," but that's the idea. 264 00:13:40,881 --> 00:13:43,727 In order that "they may be one, 265 00:13:43,727 --> 00:13:46,326 even as We are one." 266 00:13:46,326 --> 00:13:49,185 So here's another basis for unity among His people. 267 00:13:49,185 --> 00:13:51,864 A shared glory. 268 00:13:51,864 --> 00:13:55,640 Jesus says, "And the glory which You gave Me, 269 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,790 I have given them." 270 00:13:58,790 --> 00:14:02,376 What's He talking about? 271 00:14:02,376 --> 00:14:06,604 What is the glory that His Father 272 00:14:06,604 --> 00:14:08,292 has given Him? 273 00:14:08,292 --> 00:14:11,134 Because that's what Jesus says 274 00:14:11,134 --> 00:14:13,827 has been given to believers, 275 00:14:13,827 --> 00:14:17,185 which then results in essential unity 276 00:14:17,185 --> 00:14:19,823 comparable to the Father and the Son. 277 00:14:19,823 --> 00:14:22,894 So there's something about the Father - 278 00:14:22,894 --> 00:14:25,507 the glory that the Father gave to the Son 279 00:14:25,507 --> 00:14:28,019 that is comparable to the glory 280 00:14:28,019 --> 00:14:31,176 that we are receiving that then is the basis - 281 00:14:31,176 --> 00:14:36,443 one of the bases for our experience of unity. 282 00:14:36,443 --> 00:14:39,136 So what is that? 283 00:14:39,136 --> 00:14:43,093 What glory did the Father give to the Son 284 00:14:43,093 --> 00:14:46,194 in His humiliation? 285 00:14:46,194 --> 00:14:47,985 He honored His Son. 286 00:14:47,985 --> 00:14:53,048 And He honored His Son as His Son. 287 00:14:53,048 --> 00:14:54,888 He pronounced that. 288 00:14:54,888 --> 00:14:56,459 He pronounced it at His baptism. 289 00:14:56,459 --> 00:14:58,789 He pronounced it at the Transfiguration. 290 00:14:58,789 --> 00:15:00,621 He pronounced it in the resurrection: 291 00:15:00,621 --> 00:15:07,886 This is My beloved Son. 292 00:15:07,886 --> 00:15:14,268 2 Peter 1:17, 293 00:15:14,268 --> 00:15:16,477 Peter alludes to this 294 00:15:16,477 --> 00:15:21,542 as he's referring to the Transfiguration. 295 00:15:21,542 --> 00:15:25,183 And he says, 296 00:15:25,183 --> 00:15:29,165 "For He received from God the Father 297 00:15:29,165 --> 00:15:32,021 honor and glory." 298 00:15:32,021 --> 00:15:35,517 The glory which the Father has given - 299 00:15:35,517 --> 00:15:38,877 Father, the glory You've given to Me. 300 00:15:38,877 --> 00:15:41,438 "For He received from God the Father 301 00:15:41,438 --> 00:15:43,638 honor and glory when there came 302 00:15:43,638 --> 00:15:46,800 such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, 303 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:51,644 'This is My beloved Son 304 00:15:51,644 --> 00:15:56,289 in whom I am well pleased.'" 305 00:15:56,289 --> 00:16:00,009 You see, the Son did not glorify Himself. 306 00:16:00,009 --> 00:16:03,307 And this was a major point that Jesus made 307 00:16:03,307 --> 00:16:06,676 while He was upon the earth. 308 00:16:06,676 --> 00:16:12,414 In John 8:54, Jesus answered, 309 00:16:12,414 --> 00:16:17,471 "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. 310 00:16:17,471 --> 00:16:21,295 It is My Father that honors Me, 311 00:16:21,295 --> 00:16:24,720 of whom you say that He is your God." 312 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,373 It is My Father that honors Me. 313 00:16:28,373 --> 00:16:32,155 The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 5:5 says 314 00:16:32,155 --> 00:16:35,218 that Christ did not bring the glory 315 00:16:35,218 --> 00:16:38,276 of this high priestly appointment upon Himself. 316 00:16:38,276 --> 00:16:42,663 He didn't glorify Himself. He didn't appoint Himself. 317 00:16:42,663 --> 00:16:47,547 This came from His Father. 318 00:16:47,547 --> 00:16:51,357 And then, in His resurrection, 319 00:16:51,357 --> 00:17:02,117 what does Paul say in Romans 1:4? 320 00:17:02,117 --> 00:17:05,525 "...And declared to be the Son of God 321 00:17:05,525 --> 00:17:08,898 with power according to the Spirit of holiness 322 00:17:08,898 --> 00:17:12,336 by the resurrection from the dead." 323 00:17:12,336 --> 00:17:14,269 And then in Acts 13:33, 324 00:17:14,269 --> 00:17:16,027 that same concept - 325 00:17:16,027 --> 00:17:19,810 in the resurrection of Jesus Christ 326 00:17:19,810 --> 00:17:25,296 there is that declaration: This is My Son. 327 00:17:25,296 --> 00:17:31,362 In Acts 13:33, 328 00:17:31,362 --> 00:17:34,136 "God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children 329 00:17:34,136 --> 00:17:35,996 in that He hath raised up Jesus. 330 00:17:35,996 --> 00:17:38,606 Again, as it is also written in the second Psalm 331 00:17:38,606 --> 00:17:41,769 "Thou art My Son. This day have I begotten Thee.'" 332 00:17:41,769 --> 00:17:44,137 You see, this is the glory 333 00:17:44,137 --> 00:17:46,081 the Father gave to the Son. 334 00:17:46,081 --> 00:17:48,722 He pronounced Him His Son. 335 00:17:48,722 --> 00:17:55,821 He announced this relationship 336 00:17:55,821 --> 00:17:59,320 with Jesus Christ His Son. 337 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,380 See, the point is that this glory 338 00:18:02,380 --> 00:18:07,361 has been given to every believer. 339 00:18:07,361 --> 00:18:10,870 This glory, this honor of sonship. 340 00:18:10,870 --> 00:18:12,667 We are called the children of God. 341 00:18:12,667 --> 00:18:15,774 We're adopted into His family. 342 00:18:15,774 --> 00:18:19,275 "But as many as received Him, 343 00:18:19,275 --> 00:18:22,021 to them gave He power (authority) 344 00:18:22,021 --> 00:18:23,548 to become the sons of God, 345 00:18:23,548 --> 00:18:25,410 even to them that believe on His name 346 00:18:25,410 --> 00:18:27,147 which were born not of blood 347 00:18:27,147 --> 00:18:28,678 nor of the will of the flesh 348 00:18:28,678 --> 00:18:34,046 nor of the will of men, but of God." 349 00:18:34,046 --> 00:18:37,316 We have been given the right to be called the children of God. 350 00:18:37,316 --> 00:18:40,510 He has pronounced us His children. 351 00:18:40,510 --> 00:18:43,121 He has adopted us. 352 00:18:43,121 --> 00:18:45,285 He's given us the Spirit of adoption. 353 00:18:45,285 --> 00:18:49,596 I love Romans 8 - the whole chapter. 354 00:18:49,596 --> 00:18:52,961 But Romans 8, the description that's given 355 00:18:52,961 --> 00:18:57,581 here in verses 14-17. 356 00:18:57,581 --> 00:18:59,249 We're thinking here of this glory. 357 00:18:59,249 --> 00:19:01,907 Jesus prays, "Father, the glory 358 00:19:01,907 --> 00:19:06,816 that You have given Me may be in them." 359 00:19:06,816 --> 00:19:08,961 What is that glory? 360 00:19:08,961 --> 00:19:14,656 We've been called sons - every believer. 361 00:19:14,656 --> 00:19:18,051 We have a common bond here in this. 362 00:19:18,051 --> 00:19:21,041 Romans 8:14, "For as many as are led 363 00:19:21,041 --> 00:19:24,161 by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, 364 00:19:24,161 --> 00:19:27,155 for you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, 365 00:19:27,155 --> 00:19:32,037 but you have received the Spirit of adoption 366 00:19:32,037 --> 00:19:36,991 whereby we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" 367 00:19:36,991 --> 00:19:38,499 We do. 368 00:19:38,499 --> 00:19:42,716 Every child of God has the same relationship. 369 00:19:42,716 --> 00:19:46,557 The greatest saint in this room 370 00:19:46,557 --> 00:19:47,821 has no greater privilege 371 00:19:47,821 --> 00:19:52,151 than the least saint in this room. 372 00:19:52,151 --> 00:19:54,026 We'll talk about that Saturday morning, 373 00:19:54,026 --> 00:19:58,376 about what it is to be great. 374 00:19:58,376 --> 00:20:03,320 It's a level playing field, we might say. 375 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:07,286 This is the glory that has been placed upon us. 376 00:20:07,286 --> 00:20:12,460 We're children. We're sons. We have access. 377 00:20:12,460 --> 00:20:15,920 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit 378 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,901 that we are the children of God, 379 00:20:19,901 --> 00:20:21,880 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God 380 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,056 and joint heirs with Christ." 381 00:20:25,056 --> 00:20:31,525 This is what He's praying. 382 00:20:31,525 --> 00:20:37,871 And then we share in the resurrection glory don't we? 383 00:20:37,871 --> 00:20:41,471 "That we may be also glorified together. 384 00:20:41,471 --> 00:20:44,250 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time 385 00:20:44,250 --> 00:20:46,679 are not worthy to be compared to the glory 386 00:20:46,679 --> 00:20:48,443 which shall be revealed in us, 387 00:20:48,443 --> 00:20:51,462 for the earnest expectation of the creature 388 00:20:51,462 --> 00:20:57,063 waits for the manifestation of the sons of God." 389 00:20:57,063 --> 00:21:03,144 That's us 390 00:21:03,144 --> 00:21:06,884 who have been joined to Christ; 391 00:21:06,884 --> 00:21:10,450 who are possessors of the Spirit of Christ. 392 00:21:10,450 --> 00:21:13,268 So we are now one with God. 393 00:21:13,268 --> 00:21:16,351 Now. Right now. We are one with God. 394 00:21:16,351 --> 00:21:18,524 And also one with every other believer 395 00:21:18,524 --> 00:21:20,957 as the children of God in the family of God 396 00:21:20,957 --> 00:21:23,856 which does extend beyond our own local churches. 397 00:21:23,856 --> 00:21:30,449 It's every believer - we are one with every believer - 398 00:21:30,449 --> 00:21:38,510 whether we agree on everything or not. 399 00:21:38,510 --> 00:21:40,922 And Jesus prays for this. 400 00:21:40,922 --> 00:21:43,373 And then He died for it. 401 00:21:43,373 --> 00:21:44,750 Then He rose again, 402 00:21:44,750 --> 00:21:45,935 and then He ascended, 403 00:21:45,935 --> 00:21:47,600 and then the Spirit came. 404 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:54,005 The Spirit was sent to unite us 405 00:21:54,005 --> 00:22:00,584 in order to accomplish what He prays for. 406 00:22:00,584 --> 00:22:03,590 So believer, I say, be overwhelmed by this. 407 00:22:03,590 --> 00:22:06,564 Be overwhelmed by what God has done. 408 00:22:06,564 --> 00:22:09,836 Be overwhelmed as you read Jesus' prayer here. 409 00:22:09,836 --> 00:22:13,647 He's praying for you, not in isolation 410 00:22:13,647 --> 00:22:16,018 from your brothers and sisters in Christ, 411 00:22:16,018 --> 00:22:23,892 but as part of an incredibly large family really. 412 00:22:23,892 --> 00:22:27,500 Although sometimes it seems that we're so small and isolated. 413 00:22:27,500 --> 00:22:33,765 We're really not in the big picture. 414 00:22:33,765 --> 00:22:36,320 The blessings that are yours now and forever. 415 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:37,707 You are one. 416 00:22:37,707 --> 00:22:40,092 You're one in God. 417 00:22:40,092 --> 00:22:42,150 You are in God and God is in you. 418 00:22:42,150 --> 00:22:46,792 Isn't that an amazing thought! 419 00:22:46,792 --> 00:22:52,341 Eternal life is in you. 420 00:22:52,341 --> 00:22:55,059 This is why you have the desires you have. 421 00:22:55,059 --> 00:22:58,843 This is why you have the longings that you have. 422 00:22:58,843 --> 00:23:04,188 This is why you have relationships 423 00:23:04,188 --> 00:23:06,827 that are not of this world; 424 00:23:06,827 --> 00:23:10,816 relationships that go beyond this life. 425 00:23:10,816 --> 00:23:13,604 You're part of a family that transcends 426 00:23:13,604 --> 00:23:18,889 genealogical relationships. 427 00:23:18,889 --> 00:23:21,584 One in Christ. 428 00:23:21,584 --> 00:23:23,180 I dare say some of you have 429 00:23:23,180 --> 00:23:28,281 closer relationships with fellow blood-bought believers 430 00:23:28,281 --> 00:23:35,420 than you do your own biological family. 431 00:23:35,420 --> 00:23:37,752 Thankfully, some of us have 432 00:23:37,752 --> 00:23:40,790 biological family members who are in Christ as well, 433 00:23:40,790 --> 00:23:43,188 so the bond is double. 434 00:23:43,188 --> 00:23:45,855 The relationship is enhanced, 435 00:23:45,855 --> 00:23:50,260 but it's a struggle having biological family 436 00:23:50,260 --> 00:23:52,914 that you must relate to. 437 00:23:52,914 --> 00:23:54,155 Sometimes it's a spouse. 438 00:23:54,155 --> 00:23:56,677 Sometimes it's children. You must relate to them. 439 00:23:56,677 --> 00:23:58,563 It's a godly thing, biblical thing. 440 00:23:58,563 --> 00:23:59,801 You must relate to them, 441 00:23:59,801 --> 00:24:05,788 but it comes with its difficulties. 442 00:24:05,788 --> 00:24:10,720 Though when Christ comes 443 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,318 and you're made one in Christ, 444 00:24:13,318 --> 00:24:14,761 everything changes. 445 00:24:14,761 --> 00:24:16,948 But this is the essential unity 446 00:24:16,948 --> 00:24:19,521 that Jesus has in view as He prays. 447 00:24:19,521 --> 00:24:23,971 The essential unity. 448 00:24:23,971 --> 00:24:28,861 This is really a unity that doesn't depend on you. 449 00:24:28,861 --> 00:24:31,115 This is a unity that depends upon Him. 450 00:24:31,115 --> 00:24:34,959 He has established this unity. 451 00:24:34,959 --> 00:24:37,087 It's the foundation 452 00:24:37,087 --> 00:24:39,676 from which we are to experience unity 453 00:24:39,676 --> 00:24:42,810 in this world with other believers. 454 00:24:42,810 --> 00:24:44,514 And it's most clearly witnessed 455 00:24:44,514 --> 00:24:47,533 in relationships formed in churches, 456 00:24:47,533 --> 00:24:49,082 which is really what is unfolded 457 00:24:49,082 --> 00:24:50,835 in the rest of the New Testament, 458 00:24:50,835 --> 00:24:55,527 how this all fleshes out, works out in our lives. 459 00:24:55,527 --> 00:24:58,584 I was talking to a brother this morning about this, 460 00:24:58,584 --> 00:25:03,783 and as we can talk about our unity 461 00:25:03,783 --> 00:25:05,699 with our brothers all over the world, 462 00:25:05,699 --> 00:25:08,083 but the reality is it's where we live 463 00:25:08,083 --> 00:25:10,863 that we experience this unity. 464 00:25:10,863 --> 00:25:13,610 So it's one thing to talk about the idea of unity; 465 00:25:13,610 --> 00:25:15,506 it's another thing to work it out, 466 00:25:15,506 --> 00:25:17,107 and that's where we need to be - 467 00:25:17,107 --> 00:25:19,773 working out this unity, 468 00:25:19,773 --> 00:25:22,656 in particular, those that we are in relationship with 469 00:25:22,656 --> 00:25:24,346 on a regular basis. 470 00:25:24,346 --> 00:25:27,530 Now, let me give some points of clarification here. 471 00:25:27,530 --> 00:25:30,687 I think it's necessary. 472 00:25:30,687 --> 00:25:32,253 This portion of Jesus' prayer 473 00:25:32,253 --> 00:25:37,761 has been very misunderstood and abused by many. 474 00:25:37,761 --> 00:25:40,997 Unity for some has displaced truth 475 00:25:40,997 --> 00:25:45,521 and the distinctives of biblical Christianity 476 00:25:45,521 --> 00:25:48,004 so that unity becomes - 477 00:25:48,004 --> 00:25:50,344 or at least their concept of unity, 478 00:25:50,344 --> 00:25:54,053 and oftentimes I think it's more of a unity of humanity 479 00:25:54,053 --> 00:25:59,277 than it is a unity in Christ. 480 00:25:59,277 --> 00:26:03,871 And while I know it's possible to ignore unity 481 00:26:03,871 --> 00:26:05,987 as we fight and divide with everyone 482 00:26:05,987 --> 00:26:09,476 who holds a different point of view or practice - 483 00:26:09,476 --> 00:26:10,859 maybe that's where we are. 484 00:26:10,859 --> 00:26:13,579 Maybe that's where we need to most guard ourselves, 485 00:26:13,579 --> 00:26:15,175 but the greater danger I believe, 486 00:26:15,175 --> 00:26:21,416 at least, on a larger scale is to become all-inclusive. 487 00:26:21,416 --> 00:26:23,926 All religions lead to God. 488 00:26:23,926 --> 00:26:25,901 So that we're even coming to the table 489 00:26:25,901 --> 00:26:29,477 to try to find out where at least do we agree 490 00:26:29,477 --> 00:26:31,676 with let's say Muslims, 491 00:26:31,676 --> 00:26:33,451 so that we can at least live together 492 00:26:33,451 --> 00:26:35,327 and work together, because after all, 493 00:26:35,327 --> 00:26:38,316 there is only one God and they believe there's only one God, 494 00:26:38,316 --> 00:26:41,857 and so we're moving together toward this one God. 495 00:26:41,857 --> 00:26:44,345 They have a different path - we have our path, 496 00:26:44,345 --> 00:26:51,227 but you know, Christ prayed that we'd be one. 497 00:26:51,227 --> 00:26:53,988 So there is that ecumenical spirit 498 00:26:53,988 --> 00:26:58,778 and movement that exists, 499 00:26:58,778 --> 00:27:01,116 and sometimes we can be pulled over into that 500 00:27:01,116 --> 00:27:02,847 more than we should. 501 00:27:02,853 --> 00:27:05,817 And I'll comment on this a little more 502 00:27:05,817 --> 00:27:08,780 probably in the next message. 503 00:27:08,780 --> 00:27:10,607 We cannot promote or participate 504 00:27:10,607 --> 00:27:12,296 in a unity that is not based upon 505 00:27:12,296 --> 00:27:14,631 the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 506 00:27:14,631 --> 00:27:16,809 We just can't. Flat out can't. 507 00:27:16,809 --> 00:27:18,680 Now there are other areas we have to 508 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:20,857 flesh out, work out, how far can we go, 509 00:27:20,857 --> 00:27:23,893 how much can we join, etc. 510 00:27:23,893 --> 00:27:25,182 I get that. 511 00:27:25,182 --> 00:27:27,155 I still struggle with that. 512 00:27:27,155 --> 00:27:28,946 But I know this for sure, 513 00:27:28,946 --> 00:27:30,743 we cannot join together in fellowship 514 00:27:30,743 --> 00:27:33,475 with those who are not agreed upon us 515 00:27:33,475 --> 00:27:37,766 in the basic doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ; 516 00:27:37,766 --> 00:27:41,810 the grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. 517 00:27:41,810 --> 00:27:43,621 An attempt to experience unity 518 00:27:43,621 --> 00:27:45,951 that ignores the essential unity 519 00:27:45,951 --> 00:27:48,408 expressed by Jesus in this prayer 520 00:27:48,408 --> 00:27:51,521 is dangerous and actually works against 521 00:27:51,521 --> 00:27:57,141 the unity for which He prays. 522 00:27:57,141 --> 00:27:59,930 So let's think for just a few moments 523 00:27:59,930 --> 00:28:05,590 about what Jesus prays here. 524 00:28:05,590 --> 00:28:12,065 In v. 20 in particular, 525 00:28:12,065 --> 00:28:15,575 "...Neither pray I for these alone, 526 00:28:15,575 --> 00:28:18,774 but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word." 527 00:28:18,774 --> 00:28:21,819 You see who He's praying for. 528 00:28:21,819 --> 00:28:23,782 He's not praying for everybody. 529 00:28:23,782 --> 00:28:25,075 He's already said earlier, 530 00:28:25,075 --> 00:28:27,662 "I pray not for the world, I pray for these," 531 00:28:27,662 --> 00:28:30,206 at that point focusing in on His disciples. 532 00:28:30,206 --> 00:28:31,784 Here, He expands it to those 533 00:28:31,784 --> 00:28:35,345 who believe the words of the apostles. 534 00:28:35,345 --> 00:28:38,675 It's a unity based upon apostolic doctrine then. 535 00:28:38,675 --> 00:28:40,398 It's a unity based upon the word 536 00:28:40,398 --> 00:28:42,928 that comes to us through the apostles. 537 00:28:42,928 --> 00:28:45,657 The Scriptures. 538 00:28:45,657 --> 00:28:47,945 This is the Word that Jesus said in v. 6, 539 00:28:47,945 --> 00:28:49,464 "they had kept." 540 00:28:49,464 --> 00:28:54,035 He said to His father, "They have kept Thy Word." 541 00:28:54,035 --> 00:28:56,061 In v. 8, He says, 542 00:28:56,061 --> 00:28:59,785 "They believed that You sent Me." 543 00:28:59,785 --> 00:29:02,822 Others didn't, but these did. 544 00:29:02,822 --> 00:29:06,461 Essential doctrine. 545 00:29:06,461 --> 00:29:10,894 You see, Jesus spoke that which was given to Him. 546 00:29:10,894 --> 00:29:14,647 In John 12:49, He said, "I've spoken that 547 00:29:14,647 --> 00:29:16,303 which the Father has given to Me." 548 00:29:16,303 --> 00:29:18,347 I am speaking that which is in agreement 549 00:29:18,347 --> 00:29:20,708 with My Father. 550 00:29:20,708 --> 00:29:22,812 And the Jews of that day rejected Him. 551 00:29:22,812 --> 00:29:24,557 They called Him a blasphemer, 552 00:29:24,557 --> 00:29:26,815 but these believed that He came down. 553 00:29:26,815 --> 00:29:31,821 These believed that He was sent. 554 00:29:31,821 --> 00:29:35,261 They believed that He was the Son of God. 555 00:29:35,261 --> 00:29:36,981 You remember, the Apostle Peter, 556 00:29:36,981 --> 00:29:38,989 when Jesus says, "Will you also go away?" 557 00:29:38,989 --> 00:29:40,325 said, "To whom shall we go? 558 00:29:40,325 --> 00:29:43,046 You have the words of eternal life." 559 00:29:43,046 --> 00:29:45,616 And though I understand that the apostles 560 00:29:45,616 --> 00:29:47,938 were lacking in a full understanding 561 00:29:47,938 --> 00:29:51,996 of Gospel truth, 562 00:29:51,996 --> 00:29:54,705 they had the Gospel truth they had 563 00:29:54,705 --> 00:29:56,510 and believed what Jesus said. 564 00:29:56,510 --> 00:29:59,657 More was revealed and it's written to us 565 00:29:59,657 --> 00:30:05,267 in the completed record of Scripture. 566 00:30:05,267 --> 00:30:07,405 But what I am saying here is that godly unity 567 00:30:07,405 --> 00:30:08,757 cannot disregard the faith 568 00:30:08,757 --> 00:30:12,678 once delivered to the saints. 569 00:30:12,678 --> 00:30:14,505 You cannot lay the Scriptures aside 570 00:30:14,505 --> 00:30:21,718 in favor of an experience called unity. 571 00:30:21,718 --> 00:30:24,947 I like to get along with everybody. 572 00:30:24,947 --> 00:30:29,657 I don't like to feel that spirit of division, 573 00:30:29,657 --> 00:30:32,502 that unwelcomed, unwelcoming spirit. 574 00:30:32,502 --> 00:30:37,140 I don't like that. 575 00:30:37,140 --> 00:30:40,324 But we can't be gullible. 576 00:30:40,324 --> 00:30:41,931 The Bereans were not charged 577 00:30:41,931 --> 00:30:43,434 with being disrupters of unity 578 00:30:43,434 --> 00:30:45,093 when they searced the Scriptures 579 00:30:45,093 --> 00:30:49,833 to see if the things that Paul was preaching were so. 580 00:30:49,833 --> 00:30:52,934 So don't think that you're fighting against the prayer of Jesus 581 00:30:52,934 --> 00:30:55,634 when you are seriously searching the Scriptures 582 00:30:55,634 --> 00:30:59,016 to see if what you're hearing - even what you're hearing this morning - 583 00:30:59,016 --> 00:31:00,764 is it really true? Is it really so? 584 00:31:00,764 --> 00:31:02,526 Search it out. 585 00:31:02,526 --> 00:31:04,770 I'm not going to call you a disrupter of unity 586 00:31:04,770 --> 00:31:08,119 if you're honestly searching out the truth of God's Word. 587 00:31:08,119 --> 00:31:10,235 And if you're asking honest questions, 588 00:31:10,235 --> 00:31:11,633 I'm not going to say to you, 589 00:31:11,633 --> 00:31:13,506 well, you're a disrupter of the unity. 590 00:31:13,506 --> 00:31:15,796 You need to keep those questions to yourself. 591 00:31:15,796 --> 00:31:16,857 Why would I say that? 592 00:31:16,857 --> 00:31:22,905 If I perceive that your spirit is right? 593 00:31:22,905 --> 00:31:25,541 Teaching on the experience of unity in Ephesians 4, 594 00:31:25,541 --> 00:31:32,710 Paul pressed the church toward unity of the faith 595 00:31:32,710 --> 00:31:37,515 which would protect against every wind of doctrine. 596 00:31:37,515 --> 00:31:40,045 So it's important that we grow in the faith. 597 00:31:40,045 --> 00:31:42,394 It's important that this unity is established 598 00:31:42,394 --> 00:31:46,401 upon the truth that is found in these Scriptures 599 00:31:46,401 --> 00:31:49,827 properly understood. 600 00:31:49,827 --> 00:31:58,084 As you know, the devils know this book very well. 601 00:31:58,084 --> 00:32:01,327 Godly unity in Christ is expressed 602 00:32:01,327 --> 00:32:04,799 by mutual submission to the authority of God 603 00:32:04,799 --> 00:32:07,143 through His Word. 604 00:32:07,143 --> 00:32:10,731 As I speak every week at the prison, 605 00:32:10,731 --> 00:32:12,791 that's the one thing I tell those guys. 606 00:32:12,791 --> 00:32:14,902 By the time I leave them - 607 00:32:14,902 --> 00:32:17,575 they have a six month rotation in that room - 608 00:32:17,575 --> 00:32:19,413 by the time I leave them, I want them 609 00:32:19,413 --> 00:32:23,036 to know that this is the authority. 610 00:32:23,036 --> 00:32:27,061 And then I recently had one of the prison guards 611 00:32:27,061 --> 00:32:29,404 meet me out and he's interacting with me, 612 00:32:29,404 --> 00:32:32,559 and he's challenging me on that. 613 00:32:32,559 --> 00:32:36,216 And he's saying this can't be the final authority. 614 00:32:36,216 --> 00:32:37,488 I mean, don't you know 615 00:32:37,488 --> 00:32:39,112 that when these words were given, 616 00:32:39,112 --> 00:32:40,571 they had to carry them around 617 00:32:40,571 --> 00:32:44,046 and they couldn't carry the whole binding 618 00:32:44,046 --> 00:32:45,226 of these words. 619 00:32:45,226 --> 00:32:49,255 So only a little bit was given then. 620 00:32:49,255 --> 00:32:53,264 So over time, since the book of Revelation, 621 00:32:53,264 --> 00:32:54,938 over time, there's been more given. 622 00:32:54,938 --> 00:32:56,601 Of course, he was Roman Catholic 623 00:32:56,601 --> 00:32:59,530 and he was giving me the Roman Catholic dogma 624 00:32:59,530 --> 00:33:01,227 that the church has authority. 625 00:33:01,227 --> 00:33:03,800 What the church says is authoritative. 626 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:09,035 And the Word of God is not the final authority. 627 00:33:09,035 --> 00:33:13,238 This is the final authority. 628 00:33:13,238 --> 00:33:15,159 And so the unity must be based upon 629 00:33:15,159 --> 00:33:17,041 the final authority. 630 00:33:17,041 --> 00:33:20,099 And then, I want you to see that Christ - 631 00:33:20,099 --> 00:33:21,721 what He says in v. 20, He says, 632 00:33:21,721 --> 00:33:23,835 "For them also which shall believe on Me..." 633 00:33:23,835 --> 00:33:25,277 not only through their word, 634 00:33:25,277 --> 00:33:27,270 but "believe on Me." 635 00:33:27,270 --> 00:33:28,856 So He's talking about believers. 636 00:33:28,856 --> 00:33:31,347 It's a unity of saints. 637 00:33:31,347 --> 00:33:33,535 True believers. 638 00:33:33,535 --> 00:33:36,309 It's a unity of eternal life believers. 639 00:33:36,309 --> 00:33:39,106 Those who, as He prays in the beginning, 640 00:33:39,106 --> 00:33:43,644 that You've given Him - Jesus has power, 641 00:33:43,644 --> 00:33:45,269 authority over all flesh, 642 00:33:45,269 --> 00:33:46,885 that He should give eternal life 643 00:33:46,885 --> 00:33:48,614 to as many as You've given Him. 644 00:33:48,614 --> 00:33:51,712 And this is life eternal, that they might know 645 00:33:51,712 --> 00:33:53,656 You, the only true God, 646 00:33:53,656 --> 00:33:56,275 and Jesus Christ whom You've sent. 647 00:33:56,275 --> 00:33:57,889 Eternal life believers. 648 00:33:57,889 --> 00:33:59,813 Not those who simply believe the fact 649 00:33:59,813 --> 00:34:01,385 that He's the Son of God, 650 00:34:01,385 --> 00:34:04,284 like the demons in Luke 4, 651 00:34:04,284 --> 00:34:06,737 being cast out, they cried out, 652 00:34:06,737 --> 00:34:08,257 "We know who You are! 653 00:34:08,257 --> 00:34:12,200 You are the Christ, the Son of God." 654 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:15,327 So just knowing that Jesus is the Messiah; 655 00:34:15,327 --> 00:34:17,192 knowing that He's the Son of God 656 00:34:17,192 --> 00:34:21,534 doesn't mean you have eternal life. 657 00:34:21,534 --> 00:34:24,075 Jesus is not praying for unity 658 00:34:24,075 --> 00:34:28,734 of a cultural or political nature; 659 00:34:28,734 --> 00:34:31,337 those who just are professing to be Christians. 660 00:34:31,337 --> 00:34:34,565 We're a "Christian culture." 661 00:34:34,565 --> 00:34:36,871 We're Christians. They're Jews. 662 00:34:36,871 --> 00:34:40,447 They're Muslims. That sort of thing. 663 00:34:40,447 --> 00:34:42,651 Or family - you know, my family's Christian. 664 00:34:42,651 --> 00:34:44,082 They've always been Christian. 665 00:34:44,082 --> 00:34:47,031 I was born a Christian. 666 00:34:47,031 --> 00:34:48,588 Well, that's just simply untrue. 667 00:34:48,588 --> 00:34:50,204 That's a lie. 668 00:34:50,204 --> 00:34:53,732 It's not possible to be born a Christian. 669 00:34:53,732 --> 00:34:55,595 The eternal life believers are those 670 00:34:55,595 --> 00:34:58,970 who have experienced union with God. 671 00:34:58,970 --> 00:35:03,785 Have you experienced union with God? 672 00:35:03,785 --> 00:35:06,098 Have you been a receiver 673 00:35:06,098 --> 00:35:09,742 of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus? 674 00:35:09,742 --> 00:35:13,948 Is that the Spirit that's living in you? 675 00:35:13,948 --> 00:35:19,456 That's working in you? 676 00:35:19,456 --> 00:35:23,756 Jesus is not praying for unity 677 00:35:23,756 --> 00:35:25,681 among those who believe 678 00:35:25,681 --> 00:35:29,423 in a Jesus of their own making. 679 00:35:29,423 --> 00:35:31,564 I don't want to spend much time on that one 680 00:35:31,564 --> 00:35:34,302 because I think you understand what I'm saying there. 681 00:35:34,302 --> 00:35:38,405 There is another Jesus. 682 00:35:38,405 --> 00:35:39,571 Paul warned about that. 683 00:35:39,571 --> 00:35:40,927 He was concerned about that 684 00:35:40,927 --> 00:35:42,129 even with the Corinthians 685 00:35:42,129 --> 00:35:44,182 and the Corinthian church among the saints. 686 00:35:44,182 --> 00:35:45,610 He was concerned about them 687 00:35:45,610 --> 00:35:51,998 getting their eyes off of the true Jesus. 688 00:35:51,998 --> 00:35:53,438 There are a lot of folks today 689 00:35:53,438 --> 00:35:55,246 who are using the name Jesus 690 00:35:55,246 --> 00:35:56,965 and it's another spirit. 691 00:35:56,965 --> 00:36:01,724 Try the spirits whether they are of God. 692 00:36:01,724 --> 00:36:03,619 He's not praying for unity among those 693 00:36:03,619 --> 00:36:07,505 who are believing a message that is not 694 00:36:07,505 --> 00:36:09,824 the apostolic Gospel of the Son of God. 695 00:36:09,824 --> 00:36:13,158 Like Paul says in Galatians 1:6-9 - 696 00:36:13,158 --> 00:36:14,454 is it another gospel? 697 00:36:14,454 --> 00:36:16,438 Are you hearing another gospel? 698 00:36:16,438 --> 00:36:18,452 As you listen to those who are saying 699 00:36:18,452 --> 00:36:19,552 they believe in Jesus; 700 00:36:19,552 --> 00:36:21,854 saying that they believe in salvation - 701 00:36:21,854 --> 00:36:23,034 as you listen to them, 702 00:36:23,034 --> 00:36:25,961 what are they really saying? 703 00:36:25,961 --> 00:36:27,563 And you need to listen to them. 704 00:36:27,563 --> 00:36:30,615 You don't just seek for unity 705 00:36:30,615 --> 00:36:33,906 with those who say "Jesus" 706 00:36:33,906 --> 00:36:39,205 or even use the word "gospel." 707 00:36:39,205 --> 00:36:42,135 Is it truly a Gospel of grace? 708 00:36:42,135 --> 00:36:47,137 Are you hearing additions? 709 00:36:47,137 --> 00:36:50,425 Maybe even subtly or slightly. 710 00:36:50,425 --> 00:36:53,825 Be careful. 711 00:36:53,825 --> 00:36:55,682 We don't want to lay burdens on people 712 00:36:55,682 --> 00:36:57,096 that God hasn't laid. 713 00:36:57,096 --> 00:36:59,427 God has laid burdens upon His people 714 00:36:59,427 --> 00:37:01,724 to seek to be justified by their own works. 715 00:37:01,724 --> 00:37:04,099 Why would we lay that burden on people? 716 00:37:04,099 --> 00:37:08,694 We believe that we will all be justified 717 00:37:08,694 --> 00:37:12,273 by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. 718 00:37:12,273 --> 00:37:20,913 Jew and Gentile - it makes no difference. 719 00:37:20,913 --> 00:37:24,204 So we must stay clear of that spirit 720 00:37:24,204 --> 00:37:26,906 which embraces everyone who simply says 721 00:37:26,906 --> 00:37:28,868 they believe in God or believe in Jesus 722 00:37:28,868 --> 00:37:31,316 or believes in a gospel. 723 00:37:31,316 --> 00:37:32,798 Tim Challies said this, 724 00:37:32,798 --> 00:37:37,882 "Ecumenism is not true unity. 725 00:37:37,882 --> 00:37:41,014 It is a lie. 726 00:37:41,014 --> 00:37:44,230 It is a lie agreed upon." 727 00:37:44,230 --> 00:37:48,458 It is a lie agreed upon. 728 00:37:48,458 --> 00:37:52,619 "One that inoculates lost souls 729 00:37:52,619 --> 00:37:56,905 to the life-transforming truth of the Gospel." 730 00:37:56,905 --> 00:38:00,936 One that inoculates lost souls. 731 00:38:00,936 --> 00:38:04,197 They're deceived. 732 00:38:04,197 --> 00:38:06,778 "To the life-transforming truth of the Gospel." 733 00:38:06,778 --> 00:38:08,866 Thinking they are something they're not. 734 00:38:08,866 --> 00:38:15,615 Thinking they have something they don't. 735 00:38:15,615 --> 00:38:17,334 No, Jesus is praying for those 736 00:38:17,334 --> 00:38:19,349 to whom He gives eternal life. 737 00:38:19,349 --> 00:38:22,677 Eternal life believers. 738 00:38:22,677 --> 00:38:24,754 These are the ones who believe on Him 739 00:38:24,754 --> 00:38:26,133 because they know Him, 740 00:38:26,133 --> 00:38:27,760 and because they want to know Him. 741 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:33,390 Christ is everything. 742 00:38:33,390 --> 00:38:36,662 Take what you will from my life - 743 00:38:36,662 --> 00:38:38,780 possessions, relationships, 744 00:38:38,780 --> 00:38:41,094 whatever it may be, but Jesus Christ - 745 00:38:41,094 --> 00:38:47,613 I must have You! I must have You! 746 00:38:47,613 --> 00:38:50,940 These are the kinds of believers Jesus is praying for. 747 00:38:50,940 --> 00:38:52,622 These are the ones who possess 748 00:38:52,622 --> 00:38:58,864 the transforming life of God in their souls. 749 00:38:58,864 --> 00:39:00,328 I'm not what I was, 750 00:39:00,328 --> 00:39:03,160 and I'm still seeing things in my life 751 00:39:03,160 --> 00:39:05,891 that disturb me because I see that they 752 00:39:05,891 --> 00:39:08,584 disturb a holy God that I love and worship 753 00:39:08,584 --> 00:39:11,653 and want to serve. 754 00:39:11,653 --> 00:39:14,749 I'm mortifying, I'm putting to death. 755 00:39:14,749 --> 00:39:17,010 This is an active thing in my life. 756 00:39:17,010 --> 00:39:18,745 These are the kinds of believers 757 00:39:18,745 --> 00:39:25,137 that Jesus is praying for. 758 00:39:25,137 --> 00:39:27,539 These are the ones that not only come to Christ 759 00:39:27,539 --> 00:39:30,592 to meet their desperate need of forgiveness of sins 760 00:39:30,592 --> 00:39:32,073 to be one with God, 761 00:39:32,073 --> 00:39:33,523 but ones who follow Him 762 00:39:33,523 --> 00:39:36,792 because they are truly united with Him. 763 00:39:36,792 --> 00:39:39,502 Forgiveness of our sins - oh, don't underestimate that. 764 00:39:39,502 --> 00:39:40,505 Don't belittle that. 765 00:39:40,505 --> 00:39:41,945 Sometimes I hear people say, 766 00:39:41,945 --> 00:39:44,236 oh, you just believe in the forgiveness of sins. 767 00:39:44,236 --> 00:39:47,181 Don't talk like that. 768 00:39:47,181 --> 00:39:48,568 Are you kidding me? 769 00:39:48,568 --> 00:39:50,806 Do you know what Jesus did 770 00:39:50,806 --> 00:39:53,040 that our sins would be forgiven? 771 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:55,801 Huge! That's huge! 772 00:39:55,801 --> 00:39:59,602 But the life of the believer doesn't stop 773 00:39:59,602 --> 00:40:02,449 with that reality. 774 00:40:02,449 --> 00:40:05,278 The life of the believer goes on with Christ. 775 00:40:05,278 --> 00:40:07,605 Follows Him. 776 00:40:07,605 --> 00:40:11,676 Pursues Him. 777 00:40:11,676 --> 00:40:15,827 Not in order to become more justified, 778 00:40:15,827 --> 00:40:17,877 but in order to be more like Him. 779 00:40:17,877 --> 00:40:18,751 That's our desire. 780 00:40:18,751 --> 00:40:20,771 These are the ones for whom Jesus prays. 781 00:40:20,771 --> 00:40:24,105 This is the unity that He's praying for. 782 00:40:24,105 --> 00:40:25,631 These are the kinds of people 783 00:40:25,631 --> 00:40:26,950 that we want to be with. 784 00:40:26,950 --> 00:40:28,355 These are the kinds of people 785 00:40:28,355 --> 00:40:30,080 that we want to join together with. 786 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:31,917 These are the kinds of people we want 787 00:40:31,917 --> 00:40:33,294 to have fellowship with. 788 00:40:33,294 --> 00:40:35,234 Eternal life believers 789 00:40:35,234 --> 00:40:38,526 who are in the family of God. 790 00:40:38,526 --> 00:40:40,352 We need to willingly and continually 791 00:40:40,352 --> 00:40:44,025 confess Him in practical ways in our lives. 792 00:40:44,025 --> 00:40:47,352 We need to confess this unity in practical ways, 793 00:40:47,352 --> 00:40:52,563 like this weekend - these few days right here. 794 00:40:52,563 --> 00:40:55,053 Hey listen, if you and I sat down long enough, 795 00:40:55,053 --> 00:41:00,049 you know, we'd disagree somewhere, right? 796 00:41:00,049 --> 00:41:03,737 Right? So, we could focus on that. 797 00:41:03,737 --> 00:41:05,701 And it may be something serious enough 798 00:41:05,701 --> 00:41:09,925 that needs to be focused upon. 799 00:41:09,925 --> 00:41:14,095 But that's not where our unity is grounded. 800 00:41:14,095 --> 00:41:15,900 Our unity is not grounded 801 00:41:15,900 --> 00:41:17,491 in our agreement or disagreement. 802 00:41:17,491 --> 00:41:21,941 Our unity is grounded in who we are in Christ 803 00:41:21,941 --> 00:41:24,781 and do we have the same Spirit 804 00:41:24,781 --> 00:41:28,223 working in us. 805 00:41:28,223 --> 00:41:31,168 So we want to experience godly unity 806 00:41:31,168 --> 00:41:34,294 on a true Gospel foundation. 807 00:41:34,294 --> 00:41:35,607 I'm going to stop here. 808 00:41:35,607 --> 00:41:38,505 I'm going to pick this up in the next message 809 00:41:38,505 --> 00:41:42,278 and kind of explore this a little bit more - 810 00:41:42,278 --> 00:41:44,187 the experience of unity 811 00:41:44,187 --> 00:41:47,459 in the context of regular church life 812 00:41:47,459 --> 00:41:49,471 in particular. 813 00:41:49,471 --> 00:41:52,663 We confess our eternal union 814 00:41:52,663 --> 00:41:56,803 with God in Christ by our experience. 815 00:41:56,803 --> 00:42:00,405 It's kind of like everything else we confess. 816 00:42:00,405 --> 00:42:03,247 We confess to believe in Christ. 817 00:42:03,247 --> 00:42:04,543 But do we really? 818 00:42:04,543 --> 00:42:07,669 We confess to be one with Christ, 819 00:42:07,669 --> 00:42:11,535 one in Christ, but are we really? 820 00:42:11,535 --> 00:42:13,659 And one way we know that 821 00:42:13,659 --> 00:42:20,205 is by it being worked out in our lives experientially. 822 00:42:20,205 --> 00:42:23,371 See, we are the visible manifestation of Christ 823 00:42:23,371 --> 00:42:25,569 now in this world. We are. 824 00:42:25,569 --> 00:42:27,670 We're going to see that in that prayer, 825 00:42:27,670 --> 00:42:30,464 "that the world may believe," 826 00:42:30,464 --> 00:42:32,342 "that the world may know..." 827 00:42:32,342 --> 00:42:35,595 We are His manifestation. 828 00:42:35,595 --> 00:42:37,293 So we must not underestimate 829 00:42:37,293 --> 00:42:40,491 the significance of living out this unity 830 00:42:40,491 --> 00:42:42,125 that we have together in Christ. 831 00:42:42,125 --> 00:42:44,786 Sadly, there are a lot of folks 832 00:42:44,786 --> 00:42:46,667 who have been steered away 833 00:42:46,667 --> 00:42:51,296 from anything to do with the Gospel 834 00:42:51,296 --> 00:42:53,760 because they've seen too much 835 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:57,880 within particular churches of people 836 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:01,082 who are hating on one another, 837 00:43:01,082 --> 00:43:02,796 and they run from that 838 00:43:02,796 --> 00:43:07,523 as if that's the true representation of Christ. 839 00:43:07,523 --> 00:43:09,587 We need to be careful. 840 00:43:09,587 --> 00:43:11,722 May God help us. 841 00:43:11,722 --> 00:43:14,924 Father, I pray that You would give us 842 00:43:14,924 --> 00:43:20,385 eyes to see, understanding, 843 00:43:20,385 --> 00:43:25,022 to be able to work these truths out in our lives. 844 00:43:25,022 --> 00:43:28,931 Oh, that we would contemplate more fully, 845 00:43:28,931 --> 00:43:32,247 Lord Jesus, what You have done, 846 00:43:32,247 --> 00:43:37,125 and hear the words of Your prayer 847 00:43:37,125 --> 00:43:43,503 and how our Father, unity delights You. 848 00:43:43,503 --> 00:43:49,220 We are one in You, with You, 849 00:43:49,220 --> 00:43:51,448 and You with us. 850 00:43:51,448 --> 00:43:53,566 I pray that You would bless us 851 00:43:53,566 --> 00:43:58,130 in the meditations upon this truth 852 00:43:58,130 --> 00:44:03,907 that is deeper than we can fully comprehend. 853 00:44:03,907 --> 00:44:05,913 Please help us. 854 00:44:05,913 --> 00:44:10,522 Grant to us the ministry of the Holy Spirit 855 00:44:10,522 --> 00:44:14,125 as we not only think through these matters. 856 00:44:14,125 --> 00:44:16,065 We're not interested in simply having 857 00:44:16,065 --> 00:44:18,272 a deeper academic understanding; 858 00:44:18,272 --> 00:44:22,391 we want to know the reality 859 00:44:22,391 --> 00:44:24,459 of what You have prayed. 860 00:44:24,459 --> 00:44:25,631 Help us. 861 00:44:25,631 --> 00:44:27,721 In Christ's name I pray, Amen.