Study the Bible with Pastor Gregory

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1. The Permanence of Fellowship – 17:24a
   
   
1. The Priority of the Location
   
   
1. In this section, we find the climax of this prayer – the expression of Jesus’ innermost desire – "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am."
2. Nowhere else in Scripture are we given such a clear view of Christ’s desire for us – that we be brought safely to Heaven as reconciled to God.
3. Jesus wants us to be eternally where He is – an event that will occur through either:
1. Our death – cp. Psalm 116:15
2. Our Rapture – cp. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
4. No longer will the focus be "Emmanuel" – God dwelling with men; but, it will be our dwelling with Him in glory.
   
   
2. The Privilege of the Fellowship
   
   
1. We must recall that the great value that is placed on us – generating the passion by Christ – is derived from the fact that God the Father has given us to Christ as the fruit of His suffering - "... whom you have given Me".
2. Essentially, what Jesus asks for here is for us to be rendered fit to behold Him in unveiled glory – "… so that they may see My glory which You have given Me…"
3. This desire for us to see Him in the fullness of glory is not born out of a conceit, but love for us – to have us realize all that is awaiting us – cp. 1 John 3:1-3; Romans 8:28ff
4. Thus, He desires that all restrictions be lifted and that our fellowship be complete – He desires the intimacy in glory.
   
   
2. The Premise for Fellowship – 17:24b-25
   
   
1. The Relationship between the Father & Son – v. 24b
   
   
1. The basis of this fellowship is the love that exists between the Father and the Son – "… for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
2. It is the deep love the Father has for the Son that sees our conformity to the Son as the object of redemption.
3. Without conformity to the Son, we can not know the love of the Father. .
   
   
2. The Response by the Faithful to the Son – v. 25
   
   
1. Because of the darkness of the world – and the inability to know God apart of God revealing Himself to them, the world is dependent upon the work of Christ – "O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me."
2. Thus, the fellowship referred to by Christ is exclusive to those who respond to the light of the knowledge of Christ.
3. Notice the position of Christ Jesus, He is the mediator between the Righteous Father and the world – cp. 1 Timothy 2:5
   
   
3. The Preservation of Fellowship – 17:26
   
   
1. The Perpetuation of Christ’s Initiative
   
   
1. Christ commits Himself here to continuing to do His part in the process of "bringing many to glory" – "… and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known …"
2. In effect, He is saying that He will continue to complete that which has been committed to Him by the Father – a reiteration of His zeal for the Will of God.
3. This will be something that is accomplished throughout the rest of time via the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
   
   
2. The Permanence of Christ’s Indwelling
   
   
1. What guarantees the permanence of God’s work in us is His love – not our worthiness – "so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
2. Here we are told that what God loves in us is our Christlikeness as we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit – cp. Ephesians 1:6
3. This love is accomplished as the presence of the Lord is maintained with us by the power of God.
4. This is primarily a reference to the indwelling of His Spirit that Jesus had already promised to the Disciples.

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