January 21, 2018 Dr. Jim Cecy “A Prayer for World-Changing Unity” (John 17:20-23) Series: Dining With Jesus: Lessons from the Upper Room (John 13-17) Introduction: • John 17:20-26 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

I. The Prayer For Our Earthly Unity • John 17:20-21 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You…” • John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” • Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.” The beauty of the Body of Christ is its unity amidst diversity!

II. The Character Of Our Earthly Unity 1) Jesus did NOT pray for UNANIMITY among believers. • cf. Isaiah 52:6-8 tells us that it is only when we are all with the Lord in His kingdom when we will see eye to eye. • “How foolish I have been to think that I could make all men believe alike about religion when I cannot even make two clocks run together.” (Charles V, King of France) 2) Jesus did NOT pray for UNIFORMITY among believers. • “…there is scarcely any church which has not retained some remnants of former ignorance.” (John Calvin) • “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” (Augustine of Hippo) • The essentials are the things that matter for salvation. • The non-essentials are the things that do not matter for salvation. • To remain divided is sinful! Did not our Lord pray, that they may be one, even as we are one”? (John 17:22). A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, “Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless...Unite, unite!” Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord’s prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the Gospel. (Charles Spurgeon) The beauty of the Body of Christ is unity amidst diversity; not unity amidst uniformity. • John 17:21 “…that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us...” John 17:22b “...that they may be one just as We are one.” Unity of purpose means having the same righteous goals as the Triune God. • Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. • Philippians 2:1-2 “…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. • Acts 4:22-23 “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul...and abundant grace was upon them all.”

III. The Basis Of Our Earthly Unity • John 17:22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one…” • 2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we ALL with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” Unity is developed in the Body of Christ when we insist on overlooking the imperfections of our fellow Christians and look for the glory (i.e. the attributes of Christ) in them.

• Philippians 1:15-18 “Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latterdo it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice…”

IV. The Perfection Of Our Earthly Unity • John 17:23 “I in them, and You in Me that they may be perfected in unity...” There needs to be supernatural intervention in order to accomplish supernatural unity. 1. Christ perfects our earthly unity through the ministry of suffering. • 1 Peter 5:9 But resist him (the Devil), firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. • 1 Corinthians 12:26 “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it…” • “Persecute Christians and they will unite. Leave them alone and they will die fighting among themselves.” (Mahatma Ghandi) 2. Christ perfects our earthly unity through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. • Ephesians 4:1-6 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” • Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.” • Acts 4:32-33 “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.” • Psalm 133:1 “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.”

V. The Result Of Our Earthly Unity • John 17:23 “...so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” The Results of Our Earthly Unity 1. The world will grow in its understanding that Jesus Christ really is from God. John 17:23 “...so that the world may know that You sent Me...” • Philippians 1:27 “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel…” Our unity is a supernatural event that causes unbelievers to take a supernatural look at our supernatural Savior. 2. The world will also know that God has a special love for Christians • John 17:23 “...and loved them (i.e. all future believers) even as You have loved Me.” • John 13:35 “By this shall all men know you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” “I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field.” (John Wesley)

Conclusion: This portion of the High Priestly Prayer (John 17:20-23) can rightly be called, “The Prayer That Changed The World.”

Discussion Questions: 1. Why did you think Jesus focused His prayer to His Heavenly Father on our earthly unity? 2. Respond to the words of Augustine: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” What are the essentials? What are the non-essentials? 3. In what areas do you struggle the most with unity with other born-again Christians? 4. What did you get most out of this message?

© 2018 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA 93726 | www.campusbiblechurch.com