Temple Baptist Church - 8-14-2024
John 17:18-21
Introduction:
John 17:18-21 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (20) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (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.
A. A truth often rejected by those who follow Reformed Theology, otherwise known as Calvinism reject the truth that God loves all mankind and Jesus Christ died for all mankind.
1. People may wonder why I spend so much time talking about a “whosoever will” salvation extended to all of mankind and the answer is simple. Because God said so much about it!
2. Once again, I am not here to refute Calvinism because the Bible does its job well by refuting it.
B. In these verses, we find two types of hearers. Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, “shall believe on me,” and those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, “the world” in general.
C. Tonight, we will look at the 6th Petition in the Lord’s Prayer. A prayer for the world to be saved. By the world, Jesus Christ meant the entire world: every man, woman, and child in the world.
D. I am so glad tonight that “whosoever” surely meaneth me! How can you know that you saved? Just place your name in the place of every “whosoever” in the Bible. Salvation is so simple that the world continues to this day to miss it!
E. Hebrews, chapter 6 and verse 1 give a perfect definition of what salvation is.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Notice two words: from and toward.)
1. Repentance from dead works. From dead works, not in dead works. A realization that you are not capable of doing anything to save yourselves. You will never get saved until you realize that you have no ability to be saved and turn from self-righteousness.
2. Faith toward God. Toward God, not in God. Reliance upon what God has done for you and accepting that truth: the gospel—death, burial, and resurrection.
F. I want to look at a much quoted verse concerning God’s will for the world.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (All means all and that’s all all means! Simple enough for us simple minded folks, but too profound for the wise of this world.)
G. Now, couple that verse with:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (If “every creature” need the gospel preached, then all people need to be saved.)
H. Let’s do a quick Bible study on the subject of “all men.” In order to do this, we need to go back to the First Mention of sin, sinners, the Saviour, and sacrifice. We need to understand that Adam and Eve was “the whole world” as there were no others in existence.
1. Before Adam sinned, there was a Sacrifice. Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Though the “foundation of the world” was before Adam, in the mind of God, Jesus Christ was already “slain.”)
2. Before Adam sought the Lord, the Lord Sought him. Genesis 3:8-9 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (God sought Adam. Adam did not seek God.)
3. Before Adam knew sin there was a Saviour. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
4. Before Adam ever offered God blood, there was a Substitution. Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (The Lord sacrificed an animal for an atonement for their sin. Now, the question: “Who did God sacrifice for and who did God clothe? Just Adam? Just Eve? Surely God would Elect one and Reject the other? No! God sacrificed for both Adam and Eve and God clothed both Adam and Eve.)
J. Let’s carry it a little farther. In Genesis, chapter 4, we find two sons of Adam and Eve: Cain and Abel.
1. We know that God sacrificed for Adam and Eve, but was God’s salvation available to just one of the brothers or to both?
2. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cains but, God gave Cain a second chance to bring the right sacrifice and said, “If not, sin lieth at the door!”
Genesis 4:6-7 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (NOT ELECTION BUT SIN caused Cain’s rejection.)
K. In our text for tonight, we find that God the Father sent His Son into the world to die for sinners and the Son of God sent believers into the world to witness to sinners.
John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
1. God Loves All Mankind And Gave His Son - John 3:16-18 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. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
2. God Wills All To Be Saved - 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (This is God’s will, and we understand that God’s will is to be done.)
3. God Does Not Will For One To Perish - 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
4. Christ Died For The Sins Of Both Saved And Lost - 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
5. God Has Made Salvation Free To All - Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (2) Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (3) Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
6. God Has Made Salvation Available - Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
7. God Has Given Man Responsibility And Choice In Salvation - Isaiah 45:21-22 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (22) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
8. God Takes No Pleasure In The Death Of The Unsaved - Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
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