Welcome to Reign of Grace. This
program is brought to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries,
an outreach ministry of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany,
Georgia. It is our pleasure and privilege
to present to you the gospel message of the sovereign grace
and glory of God in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that today's program
will be a blessing to you. Thank you for listening. And
now for today's program. Welcome to our program today.
I'm glad you could join us. If you'd like to follow along
in your Bibles, I'm going to continue preaching through the
book of John. And here we are in John chapter
17, which is the Lord's prayer, Christ praying to his father
on behalf of his people, the elect of God, the sheep. And
I began this message last week in verse 20, where he's talking
about who he's praying for. And he's very specific here in
telling us his prayer, his intercessory prayer here, is for God's people,
the elect of God, the redeemed of the Lord, the justified. So
this is part two of those who shall believe. Who's going to
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? The Bible teaches that when Adam
fell, He brought the whole human race into a state of sin, spiritual
death, and depravity. And that state of spiritual death
and depravity is known basically by one specific issue. When we talk about sin and depravity,
I mean, we can talk about the immorality of man and all of
that. But even believers now have fallen
into some awful, pitiful states as far as that's concerned. We
can talk about it in the Bible. Most people always immediately
go to David's sin with Bathsheba. for example. And that was a bad
sin. And it showed that David was
a sinner saved by grace, left to himself. He would never be
saved. But the reality of sin and depravity
and spiritual death is known specifically by man's stubborn
unbelief of the gospel of God's grace in Christ Jesus. Now that's
the one thing that no sinner will do as far as salvation. If left to ourselves in our spiritual
death and depravity, none of us would believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ. None of us would receive Him.
We would remain in unbelief. And a lot of times that unbelief
is expressed in false gospels, false religion, counterfeit Christ. So we need to understand that.
If you hear the gospel, and as it is identified and distinguished
and defined in the scriptures, the gospel wherein the righteousness
of God is revealed, and you walk away in unbelief, you may be
religious, you may be sincere, you may be charitable, you may
have been baptized, whatever. You may be trying to be the best
you can be. But if you hear that gospel and walk away in unbelief,
you're a spiritually dead, totally depraved sinner. Now you need
salvation from that sin. And if God ever brings you into
that salvation, you will believe it by the power of God. And this
is why we have to see the reality of the will of man, or what people
call free will. You know, our wills are connected
to our mindset, our nature, what we desire because of our nature. And if we're born into this world
spiritually dead and depraved, sinful, then our wills will rise
no higher than that. And the Bible teaches us that
man is not saved by any free will decision. In other words,
and I'll show you that over in John chapter one. And this is
talking about the new birth. And it says in verse 11, In talking
about Christ, it says in verse 11, Christ came unto His own
and His own received Him not. They didn't receive Him. Now,
some people say that's His own nation and that's true because
He in His humanity was a Jew and the Jewish nation as a whole,
not every individual, rejected Him. There were some who did
receive Him and believe on Him. What made the difference between
those who received Him not and those who received Him? Was it
those who received Him? Was it that they chose Him of
their own free will? Well, the Bible doesn't teach
that. In fact, the Bible teaches that the natural man, I quote
it all the time, 1 Corinthians 2.14, the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them,
and that knowing there means know them unto belief, because
they're spiritually discerned. And man by nature has no spiritual
life, he's dead. Ephesians 2.1, you hath he quickened,
given life, who were dead in trespasses and sins. So the Bible
teaches that left to our own natural desires, our will, we
would not receive Him. We would not believe. So what
made the difference between those who received Him and those who
didn't? Well, look at verse 12 of John 1. But as many as received
Him, to them gave He power. to become or to be called the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Now that
word power there is an interesting word. That word power is not
ability. If you go to Romans 1 16, it
says the gospel is the power of God. That word power there
is a Greek word that we get our English word dynamite, dynamo. And it's talking about power
and ability. But here it's not talking about
power and ability, that them gave he power, it's talking about
the right, the privilege. In other words, what gives me
the right to say that I'm a son or a child of God? What gives
me the right to say that I'm saved? Well, he says that those
who receive Christ, believe in Christ, believe on His name.
His name is that which identifies and distinguishes Him from all
idols and counterfeits. Those are the ones who have the
right, the God-given right to claim to be a child of God. All
right? And then he says, how did they
get that right? How did they come to faith in
Him, to receive Him? Look at verse 13. Which were
born, not of blood. In other words, it didn't have
anything to do with your physical, natural birth. Because in your
physical, natural birth, all you were brought in as, is a
spiritually dead, depraved sinner, who has no desire for the things
of God. So which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh." That's the works of the flesh.
You could not work your way into this state or this right. Then he says, nor of the will
of man. It wasn't your free will decision that gave you this right.
But you were born, but of God. And that's the new birth that
Christ spoke of when He spoke to Nicodemus. You must be born
again. Now, over here in our text, John
17 and verse 20, let me read these two verses again to get
us caught back up. Christ says here in verse 20,
neither pray I for these alone. Now he's talking about the disciples
that were with him on earth at that time. And what he's saying,
Christ is praying for his people here, his church, his brethren,
the elect of God. And when he's praying to the
Father, he does pray for those disciples that are with him,
the 11 disciples. That's the 12 minus one, that's
Judas. I believe Paul became the 12th
apostle, but he said, I'm praying for these, I've sent them out.
And those others, there were others, not right there in the
upper room with him, but they were there on earth. There were
other evangelists, disciples, followers of Christ. He said,
I'm praying for those who are on earth presently. But he said,
neither pray I for these alone, but for them also, which shall
believe on me through their word. That is through the profession
of their word, we believe the gospel. We believe in Christ,
the true Christ. We repent of our own dead works
and idolatry and self-righteousness, and we cling to Him for all salvation,
the forgiveness of my sins only by the blood of Jesus Christ.
My justification before a holy God declared righteous. because
of Christ's righteousness, imputed, charged, accounted to me. I have
none of my own. I stand before God, washed in
the blood of Christ, clothed in His righteousness. And that's,
He's my only hope. One God and one mediator between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus. It's all in Christ. He's my all
in all. And I find my completeness in
Him. and in Him alone. And so he says
in verse 21 of John 17, that they all may be one as thou father
art in me and I am thee. That's the union, the unity,
the communion, our fellowship with the Father and the Son and
the Spirit. And he said that they also may be one in us that
the world may believe that thou hast sent. And the world there
can refer to God's elect all over the world. Some commentators
say that refers to the end time when the judgment comes, and
even the world that's condemned, those who die in unbelief, who
die in their sins and are condemned forever, that they will recognize
that God the Father sent the Son into the world to save His
people from their sins. He's talking about those who
shall believe and it's a guarantee that they shall believe because
He died for them. Back up in verse 19, I showed
that last week in John 17. He said, for their sakes I sanctify
myself, speaking of setting himself apart to do the work of redemption
to save them from their sins and he says that they also might
be sanctified through the truth that they all might be set apart
as the spirit brings them under the gospel and gives them spiritual
life in the new birth and brings them to believe on Christ's name
whereby they have the right to be called the sons of God to
become the sons of God Last week, we concluded by going over to
John 6, and I want you to go back there. John 6. And here he's talking about himself
as the bread of life. He told them in John 6, 36, I
said unto you that you also have seen me and believe not. That's
the natural man. Believe not. That's me by nature. I wouldn't believe the gospel
except for God's power and grace in my life. And it wasn't based
upon my cooperation. God brought me to cooperate.
God made me willing in the day of his power. And so he says
in verse 37, all that the father giveth me shall come to me. That's the elect of God. That's
his sheep. I'll show you that in just a moment. And he says,
and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Now don't think that the doctrine
of election means that God turns away sinners who really desire
the salvation that He freely gives and provides for His people.
Any sinner and every sinner who desires and wants and begs for
salvation God's way shall be received. And you know who they
are? the ones that Christ prayed for in John 17, those who shall
believe. They're the elect of God. My
friend, if you're not chosen of God, you won't choose Him.
You won't want salvation His way. This message will be obnoxious
to you. You'll say, just like Paul anticipated
in Romans 9, the objections of the natural man, the unbelieving
religious world, oh, that's not fair. Oh, God's not fair. And he said, who are you to reply
against God? This is the God of the Bible.
And here's what the Bible tells us, that if God hadn't chosen
his people to be saved, nobody would be saved. We would all
perish. But my friend, you say, well,
how am I to approach this thing? How am I to react? Seek the Lord. Are you interested? Do you have
an interest to find out? You claim to be a Christian.
Are you sure, 100%, based upon Biblical testimony,
that the Christ, the Savior you're trusting, is the true Christ
of this book? That you believe on His name,
His name identifies and distinguishes Him from counterfeits? There
are false Christs. The Lord Himself stated that
in Matthew chapter 24 and Mark 13. 2 Corinthians 11 speaks of
those who preach another Jesus. So understand that. Well, let's go on. He says in
verse 39 of John 6, this is the Father's will which is sent me,
that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but
should raise it up again at the last day. And then verse 40,
he says, and this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone
which seeth the Son Seize him with the eyes of faith. Remember Christ in Matthew 13
when he was talking about the kingdom parables? He told them,
he said, these unbelievers, they have eyes, physical eyes, but
they don't see. They don't have spiritual eyes.
They have ears, but not spiritual ears. But he said, blessed are
your ears for they hear, blessed are your eyes for they see. You
see things that they don't see. And why do you see them and they
don't? Because God has graced you. God has appointed you and given
you those eyes to see the things that they don't see. They refuse
to see them. They don't want to be converted.
They don't want to turn from their works. and their own supposed
righteousness, to submit to the righteousness of God in Christ.
And so he says this, verse 40 of John 6, this is the will of
Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son and believeth
on Him may have everlasting life, and I'll raise Him up at the
last day. That's who Christ is praying
for. And look over at verse 44 of John 6. Now, I know I've gone
over these verses, but these need, this, you know, what did
Isaiah say? Line upon line, precept upon
precept. Listen to verse 44. He says,
no man can come to me. Now that word can there means
ability. It's that Greek word that's translated
into English as dynamite or dynamo. And he says, no man can come
to me. "'Except the Father which hath
sent me, draw him.'" That word draw means to drag. Now that
doesn't mean that God drags you to himself against your will.
The Bible says he draws his people with cords of love. He draws
them by changing their will, changing their heart. He said,
I'll give you a new heart. I'll cause you. to follow me,
to obey me, to walk in my statutes. I'll put a new spirit within
you. A spirit that you don't have naturally, a heart that
you don't... The natural heart is desperately wicked. Even in
religion now. Even in the most moral in the
eyes of men who don't know Christ. So he says, he draws us by making
us willing in the day of his power. And he says, except the
father which has sent me draw him, and I'll raise him up at
the last day. And look at verse 45. It is written
in the prophets, they shall be all taught of God. God's gonna
teach them. Now how's he gonna do that? Well,
he says, every man therefore that hath heard, and that hearing
has to be the spiritual ear, of a born-again person. Faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, and hath
learned of the Father." Now how do we learn of the Father? In
the gospel we are taught by the ministers of God, the preachers
of the gospel, in the gospel we are taught in the power of
the Spirit how God can be both a righteous judge and punish
our sins in the person of Christ, and at the same time, a willing,
loving, gracious, merciful Father. That's stated, for example, in
the book of Isaiah, chapter 45, I believe it's verse 20. He is
both a just God and a Savior. Have you learned that? Has the
Spirit, through the preaching of the Word, taught you that?
How can God be both just and justify? How can He save me,
a sinner, who deserves nothing but hell, damnation and hell? How can He be honest with His
own holiness and justice and still save me in mercy? Well,
His mercy is founded upon, grounded upon, justice satisfied by Christ
in my place. And that's what the word propitiation,
have you ever heard that word? It's used four times in the New
Testament. Actually, it's used more than
that, but one time it's translated mercy seat. Remember the mercy
seat in the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant? The broken law
was inside and covered by that gold lid. The mercy seat, and
the high priest sprinkled the blood over it. The blood means
the death of the Lamb, the death of the sacrifice, that's Christ,
the Lamb of God, in Christ our mercy seat. God shows mercy to
His people in Christ. And it's not mercy, it's mercy
not without justice, it's mercy based upon justice. Grace based
upon righteousness. Romans 5.21, for as sin hath
reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness,
justice satisfied, righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord. And that's how you learn of the
Father. And he says, everyone that's heard and learned of the
Father cometh unto me, cometh to Christ. God teaches them. We'll look over at John 10. Now
Christ said in John 17, verses 19 and 20, He said, I'm praying
not just for these disciples who are present in the world
in that time, but I'm praying for all those who shall believe
on me. He knew who they were, and this
is what He says. For example, in John 10, 11,
He tells us who He died for. Did He die for all without exception
in the world, every human being? No. The Bible doesn't teach that. He says it here, verse 11. I
am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep. Now there are lost sheep who
have yet to be brought into the kingdom and heard the gospel
and believed it. And then there are found sheep, saved sheep. And he goes on, look at verse
14 of John 10. I am the good shepherd and know
my sheep. He knew them. Their names were
written in the Lamb's Book of Life. That's not a literal book,
that's the heart and mind of God. And Christ is God, manifest
in the flesh. He knew his people. You know,
over in John chapter 4, he told his disciples, when he was leaving
that area, he said, I must needs go through Samaria. Why? Because he had one of his sheep
there, a lost sheep, a woman, an adulterous woman at the well.
And later on he talks about other sheep he has which are not of
this foal, that Jewish foal. Them also I must bring, he said. Well here, he says in verse 15,
we'll read verse 14 again. I'm the good shepherd, I know
my sheep and am known of mine. How do you know if you're one
of his sheep? Do you know him? This is life eternal, that they
might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou
sent. John 17, and he says, verse 15
of John 10, as the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father,
and I lay down my life for the sheep. Think about it. And this is where he says that,
where I quoted a while ago, verse 16. Other sheep I have which
are not of this fold, this Jewish fold. He's got some of his elect
are Jews, others are Gentiles. And he said, them also I must
bring and they shall hear my voice, those who shall believe,
and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. Think about it. And then over here, look at verse
22 of John 10. It says, and it was at Jerusalem,
the feast of the dedication, and it was winter, and Jesus
walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round
about him and said unto him, how long dost thou make us to
doubt? If thou be the Christ, the Messiah,
tell us plainly. Well, look at verse 25, Jesus
answered them, I told you and you believe not. The works that
I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But look
at verse 26. But you believe not because you're
not of my sheep. As I said unto you, my sheep
hear my voice, I know them, they follow me. They receive me, they
shall believe in me. And he says in verse 20, I give
unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall
any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me
is greater than all, and none are able to pluck them out of
my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Now
go back over to the text, John 17, verse 20. Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on me through their word."
God is going to bring them to faith in Christ and they're going
to express that with their word. Child of God. Paul said it so
many ways in the New Testament. He said, for I know whom I have
believed, and I'm persuaded that He is able to keep that which
I've committed unto Him against that day. 2 Timothy 1.12. Well, what have I committed to
Him? I'll tell you exactly what I've
committed to Christ. My whole salvation. and he's able to keep what I've
committed on him. I don't commit any of it to myself.
I'm committed because God has brought me to be committed, committed
to Christ. I hope you'll join us next week
for another message from God's Word. We are glad you could join us
for another edition of Reign of Grace. This program is brought
to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries, an outreach ministry
of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany, Georgia. To receive
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today and may the Lord be with you.