(08-08-07) That they may be one - John 17.18-end
“That they may be one” – John 17:18-end
· “I’m/We’re praying for you...”
o lovely to hear
o lots of cards
o prayer chains
· Who is Jesus praying for?
o you and me specifically, explicitly
o and for all who believe in Him
· Always praying for us (Hebrews 7:25)
o a specific record of Jesus praying for you and for me
§ as individuals and collectively
· What is He praying for?
o holiness & unity
· Why does He pray this?
o that we would know the Father’s love
§ a love which is naturally shared
· Holiness
o justified – “just as if I’d...”
§ completed on the Cross
o sanctified/holified!
§ begun on the Cross
§ made the process possible
· access to holiness itself – the Father
o people who radiate holiness...
o why is it important?
§ paradox of now and not yet – 98% holiness is not enough
· don’t have to live a perfect, sinless life to get into heaven
· but are being changed by God’s Holy Spirit within us
· Unity
o fields, walls and wheat
§ growing together
o united in Christ
§ following our captain – KP!
o that the world may believe
§ “This is how all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other” (13:35)
§ “...to let the world know that you have loved them...”
§ loving as family; loving as God loves
· sanctification
o seeing the world with new eyes – one another with new eyes
§ glasses
§ the eyes of the Gospel
· being one in Christ
o a quick caveat...
§ what we believe and how we behave it is still important!
o what would the Church look like?
§ a single structure / common leadership?
§ uniformity of worship, liturgy and theology?
§ a group of people who love one another?
· Knowing the Father’s love
o “Righteous Father...”
§ love of Father and Son within us
§ Jesus within us
· having a love from before creation within us
o comes partly from loving one another
§ caring for one another shows the Father’s care
o many people find accepting love difficult
§ sanctified/unconditional love
· “Righteous Father...”
§ perfect love breaks down barriers
· Jesus’ prayer for unity begins with holiness and ends with love
o both are evident throughout
o may God help us to let Him work those within us