Intro to John 17:20-23

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/21/2017 8:54 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus: Intro to John 17:20-23

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  John 17:20-23

            Message of the verses:  “20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 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, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22  "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 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.”

            John MacArthur entitles this section in his commentary “Jesus Prays for All Believers—Part 1:  That They Would Be Presently United in Truth.”  Now we will be talking about unity in the days ahead as they pertain to these verses, but as we talk about unity it will be perhaps different than what you may understand it to be.  MacArthur writes “the unity Christ prayed for is not an outward, organizational unity, but the inward, spiritual unity based on believer’s life in Christ.”  True believers are one with Christ and also one with each other.  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).”  “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17).”  The following quote is from the Westminster Confession of Faith as recorded in MacArthur’s commentary:  “The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered intone, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (25:1).

            We will now look at four marks of the unity that characterizes the true church that Paul writes of in Philippians 2:2 “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

1.     Being in the same mind.  We do not consist in the body of Christ like clones, all doing the same thing, think the same thoughts, having the same likes and dislikes, nor do we all always in complete agreement on the secondary doctrinal issues that godly men differ over.  MacArthur adds that “rather, it signifies that true believers are controlled by a deep knowledge of the Word of Christ that is energized in them by the power of the Spirit (cf. Col. 3:16) ‘Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.’  Because they walk in the Spirit, they maintain the same spiritual attitude.”

2.     “Maintain the same love” is our second thing that results in unity.  This love is not the emotional love, but is agape love, the love that is not of emotional attraction, however it is of the will and choice.  An example of this is found in Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”  This kind of love comes from being “poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5).

3.     Our third characteristic Paul speaks of is that unity results in believers being “united in spirit.”  The word “united” as seen in my English/Greek dictionary says “This word is made up of two words "sun" (together with) and psuchos (soul, self, inner life, or the seat of the feelings, desires, affections).  So the word refers to being united in spirit or harmonious (A&G).  Paul desired the Philippians to be united in their affections-one in Christ in all desires!  Used only here in the NT. (Wayne Steury)” MacArthur states that this means “one-souled.”  “It refers to a passionate, common commitment to the same spiritual goals.  By definition it excludes such divisive attitudes as personal ambition, selfishness, hatred, envy, jealousy, and the countless other manifestations of the evil fruit of self-love.”

4.     Or last character of unity that Paul writes of is being “intent on one purpose.”  This is a result of having the same mind, same love for each other, and also united in spirit, as this results in being united in the same goal or purpose.  This goal is advancing the kingdom of God.  MacArthur cautions “But believers can interrupt their spiritual unity by fleshly behavior and need to be exhorted to have ‘one mind striving together for the faith for the gospel’ (Phil. 1:27).” 

While attending the Moody Bible Institute’s “Founders Week” in Chicago many years ago I listened to Josh McDowell speak on something that at the time was new and that was tolerance, stating or predicting it would become a large problem in our country.  I remember that McDowell had come in from speaking in Russia after the Soviet Union fell, but broke up his trip by coming to speak at this “Founder’s Week.”  He returned soon after speaking on the new tolerance.  As believers in Jesus Christ and being a part of His body the church, and belonging to local churches there are some things that we must never compromise on, the truths of the faith cannot be compromised because of tolerance, which unfortunately is happening today in the churches across our land and around the world.  We as believers must stand up for the truth of the Word of God, and as stated earlier we must know what this is by studying the Word of God in a systematic way, and be committed to its truth.

MacArthur concludes his introduction to this section by writing “As He concluded His magnificent High Priestly Prayer, the unity of His followers was very much on the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Having prayed for His glory (vv. 1-5) and for His disciples (vv. 6-19), the Savior expanded His prayer to include all future believers—those who would come to Him through the power of the Word (v. 17), the witness of the disciples (v. 18), and the sacrifice of the cross (v. 19).  The Lord made two requests on their behalf; that they would be united in the truth, and that they would be reunited with Him in eternal glory.  The first of those requests in the subject of this chapter.

“The Lord’s first request may be examined under four headings:  the root of the true unity, the request for true unity, the representation of true unity, and the result of true unity.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Jericho” (Mark 10:46).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who wrote out the words of God and had his writings burned up by the king?”

Answer in our next SD.

3/21/2017 9:57 AM