Out Of The World

Prelude

In all the world’s religions and philosophies are there real alternatives or just varieties of the same worldly way of life? Purpose: Let’s see that there are only two ways, God’s and the world’s. Plan: Let’s look at John 17:6-19.

Out of the World

John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

“They were Yours,” these disciples out of the world which God created, were believers, yet their faith had also been mixed with some false ideas of the world, as is ours (Revelation 2-3). In the rest of this context the “world” (kosmos) refers to the ungodly inhabitants of the world, alienated from God, hostile to the cause of Christ. Christ’s disciples are in and sent into the world but are not of the world.

John 17:7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.

This applies to His whole ministry. His words (John 12:49) and deeds (John 5:36) are from the Father.

John 17:8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

Jesus’ words are often called the logia, meaning those parts of the New Testament where Jesus is quoted, but here the plural of rhema, the rhemata is used, meaning the words He spoke or sayings.

John 17:9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

Jesus did at other times pray for those in the world (John 17:23), for his enemies (Luke 23:34), and we are to pray for those who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44).

The disciples were given to Jesus out of the world, this being not a prayer for the world, yet the disciples still lived in the world; the world hates true disciples because we are not of the world, yet are sent into the world. These ideas about the world are a major theme.

John 17:10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.

What a compliment to us, that Jesus would be glorified in us!

John 17:11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

Disciples are one through God’s Name (authority, character and reputation), not the name of any man (Polycarp, Chrysostom, or Luther), not the name of any sect (Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant), not the name of any doctrine (Sabbatarian, Baptist, or Charismatic), but in God’s name.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Jesus guarded the apostles safe from counterfeit authority, false teachings, the apostasy of the religious leaders. Only Judas was lost. Is true joy found in Jesus?

John 17:13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

Does the joy of Christ mean that the world will love true disciples?

John 17:14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

True Christians need not be shocked that they are hated. Should God take us out of the world?

John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

How does God protect us from the evil one? What are martyrs protected from? Are we of the world?

John 17:16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Made Saints

How are we made holy?

John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Should Christians hide from the world in exclusive communities or monasteries? What is our responsibility to the world?

John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

We are called to be holy, sanctified, saints. What makes us saints?

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Following the Bible sanctifies us. Jesus is “Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world.” (John 10:36) Jesus also said that Christians are “sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:18) Paul wrote that Gentiles are “sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:16), “by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13), “sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:5), that the church is “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2) and sanctified “by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).