The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 17:24,
"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."
In Jesus' prayer to the Father, he speaks of those the Father has given to him. In this passage it is a group that comes from among all mankind. Earlier in this chapter he speaks of these, "For you [Father] granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him." Verse 2. Likewise here in verse 24 it is apparent he is speaking of the same group. This we see from verse 20 where he shifts his focus to all who would come to embrace him through the apostolic message.
However, in verses 6-8, as he speaks of those the Father had given him, his focus is on his disciples that are with him at the time, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me." We know the names on this roster: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Nathanael, James the lesser, Thaddeus (Jude), Matthew, Philip, Simon the Zealot, Thomas (Judas Iscariot, one of the 12, didn't make the cut, so we're looking at 11 here at the time of Jesus' prayer).
So, who is in the much bigger group of all those the Father gave the Son? Did the Father give the Son a list of names on a roster? No. What he did was to give the Son all those of mankind who would embrace him in faith. Jesus' death paid for the sins of all people, "He [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. However, that payment is only credited to the account of those who embrace Jesus Christ in faith, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12.
The Scriptures speak of this as God's election, God's choice. God decided, he chose (he elected) that only those who embrace him in faith will cross over from death to life. "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24. "The elect" are all those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith because they are the ones the Father gave the Son.
"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."
In Jesus' prayer to the Father, he speaks of those the Father has given to him. In this passage it is a group that comes from among all mankind. Earlier in this chapter he speaks of these, "For you [Father] granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him." Verse 2. Likewise here in verse 24 it is apparent he is speaking of the same group. This we see from verse 20 where he shifts his focus to all who would come to embrace him through the apostolic message.
However, in verses 6-8, as he speaks of those the Father had given him, his focus is on his disciples that are with him at the time, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me." We know the names on this roster: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Nathanael, James the lesser, Thaddeus (Jude), Matthew, Philip, Simon the Zealot, Thomas (Judas Iscariot, one of the 12, didn't make the cut, so we're looking at 11 here at the time of Jesus' prayer).
So, who is in the much bigger group of all those the Father gave the Son? Did the Father give the Son a list of names on a roster? No. What he did was to give the Son all those of mankind who would embrace him in faith. Jesus' death paid for the sins of all people, "He [Jesus Christ] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. However, that payment is only credited to the account of those who embrace Jesus Christ in faith, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12.
The Scriptures speak of this as God's election, God's choice. God decided, he chose (he elected) that only those who embrace him in faith will cross over from death to life. "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24. "The elect" are all those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith because they are the ones the Father gave the Son.
It is a big issue in the Scriptures because many have felt that we enter into God's kingdom by being "good enough." That is not God's decision - his decision is based on whether we embrace him in faith.
Anyone can become a part of God's elect. The only way that happens is when someone responds to him in faith. Any of us can choose to do so. Unfortunately, too many choose to cling to their sin.
Anyone can become a part of God's elect. The only way that happens is when someone responds to him in faith. Any of us can choose to do so. Unfortunately, too many choose to cling to their sin.
I am obviously at odds with some of the current popular theology being passed around these days... (and, no, I am not Arminian.)
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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