Passage To
Study:
John 17:6-8
[6] “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. [7] “Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. [8] “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. What are the facts of the passage?:
What do those facts mean?: (Verse
6) - The idea
here is that Jesus fulfilled the task God gave Him to do with the
disciples. God sent Christ to accomplish several goals. One of those goals
was to take a group of men whom God had called out of the world and teach
them the truth about Who the Father was and what He was really like. At
this point in Christ's career He has finished that work completely, as He
says in the next verse. That task was completed and He was ready to move
on to the next task. This
is related to the idea earlier of Him finishing the task of securing
salvation for those whom God gave Him to save. The same language is used
for both. Note the use of the same phrase have given me
here in regard to the choosing of the disciples. It is the same phrase as
was used a verse or two ago in regard to those given to Christ to save.
Just as Christ finished completely and satisfactorily the task of training
the disciples, so also will He complete the task of saving those whom God
gave Him in the same full and complete fashion. Note
the tense of this phrase is past. The giving here is an accomplished fact
from the point of view of the speaker. These were given to Christ prior to
the time that Christ was speaking. This transaction is finished, it is not
awaiting completion. Many think that it awaits completion and is not
accomplished until the sinner completes the the transaction. That would
obviously be in contradiction of this (and other) passage. Given
itself is an interesting word as well. It is the same word that elsewhere
refers to the giving of salvation to the elect children of God. We like to
make that a conditional giving dependent on the response of men. This very
obviously is not the way it is used here. They
were yours means that they were chosen God for the purpose
of being disciples. All men are God's to do with as He pleases. These, He
chose to make disciples. The point here is that God had chosen them out of
the larger group and had given them special place and privilege. Manifested
is a word meaning to make known, reveal, or make evident. The tense is
past and indicates a finished action. The action is finished and
accomplished. Manifested Your Name is an interesting phrase. Again, the point here is that God had given Christ a job to do with the training of the disciples. That job was completely and effectively accomplished. The intent is that we understand that Christ will also complete and secure the job of saving the ones God gave Him to save as well. (Verse 7) - This verse underscores the point that, just as the disciples were shown that all that Christ had was of God, so also is the work of salvation all of God as well. It cannot be stated strongly enough how very important this concept truly is. The pride and arrogance that flows out of the taking of credit for salvation is truly terrifying. Thinking honestly we must admit that such pride is truly frightening. At this pivotal point in the development of the disciples we see the Lord emphasize this idea to them. That cannot be an accident. How do those facts apply to my life?: It is important that I understand that salvation is of God. Jesus was sent to accomplish a definite task. This He did completely and certainly. That Christ accomplished His work for God in these areas was a part of His faithfulness to God. Proclaiming it as truth is a part of ours. What should I do in response?: |
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