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      "The Characteristics of Those for Whom Christ Died"
      John 17:6-8
      Theme: The true disciples of Jesus Christ recognize that the source of Christ’s authority is from God & therefore are not only open to Christ’s leadership but actively yielded to it.

        1. They are Owned by God – 17:6

          1. Their Original Features

            1. Jesus gives commentary here in His address to the Father concerning the original condition of those who are saved.
            2. One of the first issues that that they start or ignorant of the truth about God – "I have manifested Your name to the men …"
              1. "I have manifested (fanero,w) …" - reiterates to us that God the Father cannot and will not be known except through the knowledge of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
              2. "Your name" – does not merely refer to the titles of God, but goes beyond that to indicate the nature and essence of who God is – cp. Hebrews 1:3.
            3. It is interesting that it was while they were still in the world as unregenerate sinners when this manifestation of the glory of God through Jesus occurred – cp. John 15:16 .
            4. "the men you gave me out of the world" – displays that this manifestation was open to everyone, but the ones who benefited were given by the Father to the Son.
            5. Jesus recognizes that these men do not warrant the care-taking of God because of their character, but because God "chose" them out of the world.
            6. Thus, it was by means of the knowledge of God that enables sinners to be brought -"out of the world" – cp. 1 Corinthians 6:6-9

          2. Their Ultimate Fate

            1. Jesus speaks to the Father regarding those that were given to Him and says "they were Yours and You gave them to Me …"
            2. This is a description of God’s having "staked a claim" on those who have been chosen before the foundation of the world –
            3. This process being described by Jesus here is that by which God, in time, applies special grace to men in order to bring them to Christ and present them as a gift to Him – cp. John 6:44; 6:37
            4. Thus, they are selected out of the world by special grace, owned by God, and given eternally to Jesus Christ
            5. This results in the knowledge of God – both the Father and the Son – which is the essence of eternal life – cp. v. 5 .

        2. They are Obedient to God – 17:6b

          1. The Sign of Discipleship

            1. The issue of salvation is a two-sided coin that creates in us problems because we can only see one side at a time.
            2. The Divine side of salvation is mentioned above, the human side is seen here by means of their obedience – "… and they have kept Your word."
            3. It is the sign of the true believer for a person to begin a career of obedience to the Lord – beginning with the obedience of faith.
            4. The first and foremost act of obedience is the response to the call to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of men – cp. 1 Peter 4:17
            5. The context here is the spiritual responses of the Apostles specifically – who serve representatively of all believers.
            6. Their obedience had been "spotty" at best as they continued to stumble and stagger through to the resurrection of the Lord, but here Jesus shows His tenderness and toleration of our imperfections.

          2. The Sincerity of Disciples

            1. The mark of sincerity in discipleship is the perseverance of obedience – to begin the relationship, but also it is still there at the end.
            2. Many people can take Jesus up to a point, but when the issues of personal sin and repentance are addressed, they cannot tolerate the intrusion – cp. John 6:15, 26-27, 66
            3. But here, they are seen as enduring and persevering through to the end.

        3. They are Open to God – 17:7-8

          1. The Realization of Christ’s Authority – vv. 7, 8b

            1. The key to being open to God is to realize the origin and commission of Christ – "Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You." - cp. John 6:67-69; 16:30
            2. The disciples here accept from Jesus everything He has to give them – knowing from where He has received it.
            3. Given the knowledge of Jesus concerning how faint-hearted the disciples were at this moment in time, and how shallow their spiritual attainment had been, He provides them a glowing report – what an encouragement to us!
            4. All of this because "they believed that You sent Me" - this awareness creates openness for the influence of Jesus Christ’s authority in your life.

          2. The Reception of Christ’s Answers – v. 8a

            1. Thus, as a result of the realization of Christ’s authority, there exists a willingness to obey (receive) His Word – "… for the words which You gave Me I have given to them."
            2. They received them not as the words of a mere man, but as the word of God itself – cp. 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
            3. As disciples receive the Word of God, they do not merely hear the words, but are dramatically affected by them – in such a way as to alter the courses of their lives – "… and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You."
            4. Notice the progression that demonstrates that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God – cp. Romans 10:17:

              5. "for the word which You gave Me I have given to them …"

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              "… and they received them …"

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              "… and truly understood that I came for the from You …"

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              "… and they believed …"

            5. This curtails the attempts through various alternatives sources of answers and focuses on the true source of Truth – Jesus Christ – cp. Acts 4:12

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