John 17:16-20

John 17
A Father's Prayer for His Children

John 17:16-20

16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Again, we have one of the many reminders that we, as fathers, are not to be OF the world, even though we are IN the world. Hopefully and prayerfully, as mentioned in the previous sermon, because of that 'true statement', our children should follow in dad's footsteps as dad provided that wonderful example.

17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Now, the obvious fact here is that Jesus Christ sanctifies us to be His children.

SANCTIFICATION means to be set apart for special service. In the Bible many things other than people are said to be sanctified--the Tabernacle furniture (Ex. 40:10,11,13); a mountain (Ex. 19:23); food (1 Ti. 4:5). It is even possible for a believer to sanctify God in his heart (1 Pe. 3:15). Thus, to sanctify, or to make holy, does not mean to purify or to make sinless, but to set apart something for God and for His service.

In relation to the Christian, sanctification or holiness refers to being set apart to God from sin.

There are three distinctly different aspects of this sanctification: past, present, and future. Every Christian can say, "I have been sanctified; I am being sanctified; I will yet be sanctified."

PAST SANCTIFICATION means the Christian is already positionally set apart in Christ (Ac. 20:32; 1 Co. 1:2; 1:30; 6:9-11; He. 10:10,14). At the new birth, every believer is eternally sanctified in Christ, is brought from the power of the devil into the family of God (Jn. 1:14; Ga. 4:4-6), from the devil's kingdom into Christ's kingdom (Col. 1:12,13); from the old creature to the new creature (2 Co. 5:17). This sanctification is an eternal reality, and is based on a new spiritual position the Christian has in Jesus Christ. The Corinthian believers were far from sinless, yet they were called saints and were said to have been sanctified (1 Co. 1:2,30). In this sense, the Christian can say, "I AM sanctified in Christ."

PRESENT SANCTIFICATION is the process by which the Holy Spirit gradually changes the believer's life to give victory over sin. This is practical sanctification. This is Christian growth, putting away sin and putting on godliness (Ro. 6:19,22; 1 Th. 4:3,4; 1 Pe. 1:14-16). This present process of sanctification never ends in this life (1 Jn. 1:8-10). The Christian must resist sin until he is taken from this world at death or at the return of Christ. In this sense, the Christian can say, "I AM BEING sanctified by God's power."

FUTURE SANCTIFICATION is the perfection the believer will enjoy at the resurrection (1 Th. 5:23). At Christ's coming, every believer will receive a new body that will have no sin. The Christian will no longer have to resist sin within or to grow toward perfection. His sanctification will be complete. He will be wholly and forever set apart to God from sin. In this sense, we can say, I WILL BE sanctified at Christ's return.

We must be careful not to confuse these different aspects of sanctification or holiness.

He does this sanctification by His word
Ephesians 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
He does this sanctification by His blood
Hebrews 13:12
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,
suffered without the gate.
He does this sanctification wholly & completely!
I Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But notice, as His children, we must choose to continue that sanctification as well.
I Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you
a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Why is it that our children don't choose to follow us as their parents all the time?
1) Were they given a bad example?
2) Were they not trained right?
2) Did they chose not to follow?

18
As thou hast sent me into the world,
even so have I also sent them into the world. We send our children into the world eventually. We must prepare them for that 'warfare'. We are to be concerned with the same earthly sanctifications that we have as heavenly sanctified Christians. These 'earthly' sanctifications are the deeds of the proper and 'holy' walk as we trek on in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Past earthly 'sanctification' is being a member of an already 'sanctified' family.
Present earthly 'sanctification' is the process of being brought up through their childhood.
Future earthly 'sanctification' is the final condition our children will 'enjoy' when they become adults.

19a
And for their sakes I sanctify myself,
Please note, fathers, that this is all for our children's sakes, not our own?
We, as parents, do right - for their sakes!
We spank them - for their sakes!
We encourage them - for their sakes!
We are their example - for their sakes!
Parents can be pretty selfish in their child 'raising'.

19b
that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Here is the lesson for tonight - all of this sanctification gets done through the truth. What is truth? John 17:17 says truth is 'thy word'.

So, dad - your word will get the job done regarding your children. And they need that word of yours to be true! See Song of Solomon 1:2 regarding the importance of 'true' words from a man / father / husband. Can you imagine teaching your children the fables of the world AND of modern Christianity? (Fables: water baptism, sabbath keeping, no hellers, works for salvation, purgatory, rosary beads, 'no' rapture, 'no' Holy Bible, Evolution over Creation, etc.)
II Timothy 4:3,4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
I Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. (we should have the answers, not the questions)

20
Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Just before Jesus Christ goes to be arrested and be tortured, etc. he prays for ME - I believe on Him through my word.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:9,10,13
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:29

The results of the fathers words of truth will be that the children will believe on him - they will believe that Dad is right - Dad is trustable - Dad's direction will be one worth following. Then THEIR word will be in support of their parents. They will 'believe on' their parents. Such a joy when that happens, amen!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
III John 4
I figure the Lord thinks the same about us, too!

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