Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

The Sermon for This Week is: That The World May Know - John 17:20-23 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1. Shortly before His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father...

a. For Himself - John 17:1-5 - These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

b. For His disciples - John 17:6-19 - I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

c. For all His future believers - John 17:20-26 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

2. His prayer is truly remarkable...

a. It has been called “The Lord’s High Priestly Prayer”

b. It is truly “The Lord’s Prayer”, a title normally given to the sample prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. - Luke 11:2-4 - And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

 

3. We learn what weighed heavily on our Lord’s mind, knowing that “the hour has come:...

a. He sought to be glorified by His Father

b. He was concerned for the well-being of His disciples

c. He wanted His followers to be one, even as He and the Father were one - John 17:20-23 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

 

4. It is our Lord’s concern for unity that I want us to examine in this study...

a. Why was unity so important to Jesus?

b. What has Jesus done that it might be accomplished?

c. In our religiously divided world today, how can we maintain unity among those who believe in Jesus?

 

[As we look closer at our text (John 17:20-23 – See Above), we are immediately impressed with...]

 

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY

 

A. “THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE”... - John 17:21 - That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

 

1. Without unity, it is difficult to persuade unbelievers that Jesus came from God

a. Those in the world care little about doctrine and theological distinctions

b. But in a world with racial, ethnic and cultural divisions, unity can capture their attention!

 

2. This is not to say that doctrine is not important!

a. Jesus had already emphasized the importance of abiding in His word - John 8:31 - Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

b. But the proclamation of truth must be accompanied by unity

 

3. When we are united in Christ, it gives credence to our claims

a. That Jesus was sent from God

b. That as the Son of God who rose from the dead...

1) He lives in our hearts

2) He has transformed our lives by the power of His resurrected life!

 

-- Which is why some have referred to unity as “The Final Apologetic” (Schaeffer)

 

B. “THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW”... - John 17:23 - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

 

1. Jesus again emphasizes the power of unity among His disciples to convince an unbelieving world!

 

2. Not only that they may know God sent Jesus...

a. But that God has also loved them! - John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - 1 John 4:9-10 - In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

b. Indeed, even as God loves His only begotten Son (“as You have loved Me”)!

 

3. What a powerful message we have to share with the world!

a. God loves them even as He loves His Son!

b. But to convince the world of such love, unity among disciples is imperative!

 

[In light of Jesus’ prayer for unity, no true disciple can be content with religious division as it exists today (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.). Paramount in our discipleship should be efforts to eliminate any kind of religious division that is contrary to the will of Christ! But how can we be one, even as the Father and the Son are one? Here are some thoughts on...]

 

II. THE ATTAINMENT OF UNITY

 

A. JESUS HAS PROVIDED “GLORY” FOR US TO BE ONE...

 

1. “Glory” which He had received from the Father - John 17:22 - And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

a. Which He had given to His disciples

b. Which enabled them to be one just as He and the Father were one!

 

2. What is this “glory” to which Jesus refers?

a. It may involve the idea of Jesus abiding in us

1) I.e., the glory of Jesus abiding in us even as the Father abides in the Son

2) Through such abiding, we may be made perfect in one - John 17:23 - I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

b. Certainly without abiding in Jesus, we can do nothing - cf. John 15:4-5 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

[Whatever the “glory” refers to, we should note that true unity comes from Jesus Himself; with this in mind, note the following...]

 

B. JESUS ATTAINED UNITY THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS...

 

1. As Paul expounded in Ephesians 2:14-16 - For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

a. The division between Jew and Gentile ended at the cross

b. Jesus died to make it possible for us to be one body! - Ephesians 4:4 - There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

 

2. When we come to Christ through obedience to His gospel, we are united with all believers in His one body!

a. We are baptized into one body - 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

b. Thus we begin the Christian life united with all believers in Christ!

 

[When it comes to attaining unity, Jesus accomplished the unity for which He prayed! Our challenge is maintaining this unity if we wish to honor Jesus’ prayer...]

 

III. THE MAINTENANCE OF UNITY

 

A. REQUIRES THAT WE OBEY THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST...

 

1. Unity is impossible without adherence to the same standard

a. Unless there were standards regarding weights and measures, confusion and division would result every time we went to the store

b. Religious division occurs because people accept different standards of authority

1) Some accept the authority of a pope, presbytery, prophet, or preacher

2) We cannot maintain the unity for which Jesus died unless we can agree on the same standard

 

2. For Christians our standard of authority must be that which...

a. Originated from Christ - cf. John 8:31 - Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; - Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

b. Was delegated to His apostles - cf. John 13:20 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. - Matthew 28:20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. - Acts 2:42 - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

c. Was proclaimed and written by His apostles - cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 - For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. - 1 Corinthians 14:37 - If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

 

3. Taught by His apostles, we must be careful to...

a. Observe all that He has commanded - Matthew 28:20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

b. Not allow traditions of men to make void the commandments of God - Matthew 15:3-6 - But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

c. Not teach as doctrine the commandments of (uninspired) men - Matthew 15:9 - But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

-- The “apostles’ doctrine” (i.e., the New Testament) must be our standard of authority, even as Jesus acknowledged when He prayed “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” (i.e., the apostles' teaching) - John 17:20

 

B. REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST...

 

1. As Paul instructed the Philippians - Philippians 2:2-5 - Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

a. There is no place for selfish ambition or conceit

b. We must esteem others highly, and look out for their interests

 

2. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians - Ephesians 4:1-3 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

a. We must manifest lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering, forbearance in love

b. With such diligence, we "keep" (maintain) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

 

-- Without this “mind” of Christ, we will misuse the word of God and destroy the unity Jesus attained through His death on the cross!

 

[With His doctrine before us, His mind in us, we can maintain the unity Jesus attained. With lives transformed by His teachings and His attitude, we provide visible proof to the world that Jesus did come from God and that the Father loves them also. Finally, some thoughts about a providing a visible unity (“That The World May Know”)...]

 

IV. THE DEMONSTRATION OF UNITY

 

A. MUST BE MANIFESTED IN THE LOCAL CHURCH...

 

1. It is in the context of the local congregation that unity will be most evident

a. For that is where interaction of Christians most often occurs

b. Note that the warnings against division were often addressed in the context of the local church - e.g., 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? - 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 - For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? - 1 Corinthians 11:18 - For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

 

2. Therefore unity truly begins “at home”

a. We may rightly deplore the religious division elsewhere

b. But our first concern must be preserving unity in our own congregation!

c. How sad when those who condemn religious division in the denominations can’t even preserve unity in their own congregation!

 

B. PRECLUDES ORGANIZATION ABOVE THE LOCAL CHURCH...

 

1. In the New Testament, each congregation was self-governing and independent

a. Governed by a plurality of elders (bishops, pastors) whose authority was limited to the flock of God among them - cf. Acts 14:23 - And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. - Acts 20:28 - Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. - 1 Peter 5:1-2 - The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

b. There was no authority above the local congregation other than that of Christ and His apostles

 

2. It was only after the apostles died that things soon changed

a. “During the second century A.D. churches came to have a single bishop, and then that bishop came to exercise oversight over nearby rural churches as well as the city church so that his ecclesiastical territory became known as a “diocese” or “see” (“eparchy” in the East). Bishops of churches that had been founded by apostles were said to be in succession to the apostles, and hence their teaching was held to be authentic and their authority collegial. By 400 A.D. in the West, the bishop of Rome began to assume extraordinary authority above other bishops.” (Holman Bible Dictionary)

b. “Ignatius shows that in the early second century the office of bishop over the elders had developed, but Lightfoot has shown that it was not so in the first century.” (Word Pictures, A. T. Robinson)

 

3. Such changes were not only unscriptural, but set the stage for denominational division

a. Churches were expected to line up under one bishop, patriarch, or council

b. Rather than let the Lord Himself judge each church (cf. Re 2-3), religious hierarchies began determining which churches were faithful

c. This has led to the denominational division so rampant today, and which presents a religiously divided picture to the world!

 

-- As long as the denominational practice of organizing churches under some hierarchy above the local church continues, religious division will remain!

 

CONCLUSION

 

1. No true disciple of Jesus should treat religious division with nonchalance...

a. It is contrary to our Lord's prayer for unity - John 17:20-23 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

b. It is condemned by Paul as a manifestation of carnality - 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 - For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

 

2. Unity among disciples of Christ must be a primary concern, for Jesus...

a. Died on the cross to attain unity

b. Believed it to be “The Final Apologetic” to convince the world that He came from God

 

3. Since Jesus attained unity through His death, our task is to maintain it by...

a. Following the doctrine of Christ as communicated through His apostles

b. Displaying the mind of Christ as we interact with one another in our local churches

c. Honoring the New Testament pattern of church organization, which is designed to slow the growth of religious division whenever it occurs

 

It is not always possible to avoid religious division (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:19 - For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.), but may we do all we can to preserve the unity we enjoy in Christ!

 

Prayer: Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. - Lord I truly thank You for giving the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will keep them in Your blessings and accept them into Your heart - this  I pray in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen

 

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. - Ephesians 6:23-24

 

This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement: That it never be used for profit.