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      "Jesus' Burden for Future Converts"
      John 17:20-23
      Theme: Jesus prayed that His disciples would be used as proof of the reality of reconciliation to God.

        1. The Prospect for Influence - 17:20

          1. The Confidence in His Word

            1. In the previous section, Jesus indicates that it is the Word of God that will provide His followers with the ability to remain true despite being in the world.
            2. They would not only be preserved and protected by the power of God through the Word, they would also be able to be witnesses as they take the Word to the world.
            3. Jesus indicates that He is sending them "into the world" armed with the truth that sanctifies men – with the expectation that the Word would not return "void" – Isaiah 55:11
            4. Here is the proof – the confidence that Jesus Christ possesses in the effectiveness of those He sends out – "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word."
            5. His work of redemption would extend farther than the mere handful of those men listening to this prayer – they would go as they’ve been sent and will see converts.
            6. Thus, Jesus is praying here for you and me – those who would come to faith as the have the opportunity to hear the Gospel message delivered through the Apostles.

          2. The Communication of His Word

            1. "… those who believe in Me through their word" – describes the basis for the faith of all Christians – the message delivered through the ministry of the inspired authors of Scripture.
            2. Everyone who comes to faith will do so as they have opportunity to hear the Word of God that was communicated through the ministry of those sent forth by God – beginning with the Apostles – Romans 10:14-17
            3. The Apostles who authored Scripture served as the conduit through which the Word of God was delivered – cp. 2 Peter 1:21
            4. Once again, we have an ability to see that the foremost means that God has intended men to be saved is through individuals taking the truth of the Gospel to other individuals – cp. 1 Corinthians 1:18-21
            5. The result of the delivery of the Word of God is that men will believe – the means by which all men are brought to God.
            6. When the Spirit of God applies the Word of God to the heart of a man, a person obtains faith unto salvation, faith in the person of Jesus Christ and in the facts of redemption which center in Him – cp. Acts 4:4.

        2. The Plan for Integrity – 17:21-22

          1. The Tuning of Unity – v. 21a

            1. The impact of the Word in the hearts of men conforms them to a new image – and image that is not arbitrary and individualistic, but singular and universal – the image of Christ – "that they may all be one;"
            2. Jesus is not talking here about unity that focuses on incidentals or externals – but on an essential unity – cp. John 17:11
            3. The Word of God calls all men to fulfill that for which God has predestined the believer – absolute and total conformity to the Person of Jesus Christ – cp. Romans 8:29
            4. The more that a person grows into Christlikeness, the more comprehensive the unity is with others in whom Christ is being formed – cp. Ephesians 4:13
            5. It is the sanctifying power of God’s Word that will work this unity of essence out in our lives so that our unity will be found in perfect conformity to Christ – even as the unity between the Father and Son exists due to perfect conformity – "even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You."

          2. The Testimony of Unity – v. 21b

            1. Thus, essentially the unity to which Jesus refers is not at the expense of truth, but as a result of truth bringing diverse men into conformity with God – "… that they also may be in Us."
            2. This is synonymous with the truth given to us in Peter whereby through the agency of God’s Word, we are made partakers of the Divine nature – cp. 2 Peter 1:3-4
            3. When the Word has had this impact in our lives, the world takes note of it – "… so that the world may believe that You sent Me." – cp. John 17:14
            4. Thus, the impact of the unity caused by believers being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ will convince the world of Christ’s integrity – He is indeed who He says He is.
            5. Every deviation in doctrine, life, and practice from the Word mars, disrupts, and hinders our oneness and therefore damages the credibility of Christ
            6. Would the world believe that the Father sent the Son and Jesus Christ has changed your life by listening to and observing you?

          3. The Triumph of Unity – v. 22

            1. As we seek to be conformed to Christ, we are made more powerful in our ability to be used as witnesses who can convince the world of their need.
            2. Notice that the emphasis is not on the attempt to project a particular image, nor is it to conform to another group or person, but is on the careful progression toward Christlikeness that provides the testimony that will make the difference.
            3. When we concentrate horizontally on the attempt to establish a testimony we will always know disaster – comparing ourselves to ourselves – or feeling like we don’t quite make it.
            4. However, when we simply yield to the Word of God in our lives which sanctifies us and brings us into conformity with Jesus Christ, the testimony is an automatic.
            5. This is why people who have no impact on the world around them, who fail to possess an ability to convince people who are lost that Jesus Christ is the answer need to evaluate the degree to which they are truly being conformed to Him through the power of the Word.

        3. The Power of Indwelling – 17:23

          1. The Perfection of Unity

            1. This process of yielding and being fashioned into Christ’s likeness is ongoing and ever-increasing – "I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity."
            2. What Christ prays for here is that we will manifest in practice, experience, and living what is being accomplished in us.
            3. Again, this unity is not despite truth as varying groups down-play the importance of doctrine for the sake of putting up a façade of unity.
            4. Rather, it is speaking about genuine unity around the Person of Christ Jesus as revealed throughout the doctrines of Scripture.
            5. As we grow in grace and accept the truth of God’s Word, we are perfected in the unity with the Son of God – being found in His likeness.

          2. The Perception of Unity

            1. As Christ is made prominent in our lives, our conformity to Him becomes evident – "… so that the world may know that You sent Me, and love them, even as You have loved Me."
            2. This speaks of the uniqueness of redemptive love that provide sinners with the ability to be forgiven and reconciled to God.
            3. Whereas God truly loves the world, His unique love for men is available only through the devotion He possesses for His Son, Jesus Christ.
            4. When a man is in Christ, He is through Christ made acceptable to God and the special object of God’s love.
            5. This is made clear as sinners are converted through faith in Christ Jesus and brought into conformity to Him.

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