Tuesday 17th June, 2008. John 17 vs. 17 to 23
Father Sanctify them- John 17:17-19
What is the primary meaning of the word “sanctify” ?
- Set apart for God
- And, therefore, set apart from the world, sin and the devil
Sanctification is holiness in action,
in one aspect it means that we are being drawn close to God
and conversely it means being drawn away from the world’s standards and morality.
Jesus wants that we should daily be purified in body, soul and spirit.
He wants that we should become more like him,
who was tempted just like us but without sin.
What is the purpose of our sanctification ?
What is the means of our sanctification?
See Titus 2:14 and Eph 5:25-27
18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
[John 17:18 NIV]
What is the meaning of this verse ?
Father Make them one- John 17:20- 23
How often Christians have wasted their strength in contending against their brethren, instead of contending against sin and the devil. J C Ryle
What is the means of Unity ?
What is the purpose of unity ?
Some commentators belief this to be the unity of Jew and Gentile
and the breaking down of the wall of partition.
It surely includes this but has a much wider application for us today.
Paul wrote:
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:3-6 [NIV]
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:11-14 [NIV]
15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:15-16 [NIV]
Our Lord prays for unity and Paul urges unity.
Spiritual unity, unity of faith and knowledge
and unity in the Body of Christ-an organic unity.
It is this organic unity that our Lord seems to be praying for.
“that they may be one as we are one” John 17 v. 22
Note that organic unity is not the same as organisational unity
the church is principally an organism and not an organisation.
We are called to unity of Spirit
not uniformity of style or organisation.
We should always have unity of Spirit and fellowship
with those who are like minded
even if we differ in doctrine and practices.
