John 17 Verses 18-23

John 17:18 “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. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 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.”  

“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”  In the same manner (not altogether the same reason) in which the Father sent the Son into the world, so the Son has sent his disciples into the world.  The Son was sent into the world to save his people from their sins and to establish the kingdom of God on earth, and to set forth the New Testament manner of worship.  The disciples are sent into the world to preach the gospel of the grace of God and to encourage God’s people to press into this church kingdom on earth and to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.   

“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”  The Lord was holy when he came into the world, he lived a holy or sanctified life while here on the earth and he sanctified himself as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.  The disciples are to sanctify themselves through the word of truth and live as the disciples of the Lord.   

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” The Lord was not just praying for the disciples that had been with him, but for his disciples through all ages.  With the preaching of the gospel some of God’s people come to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  We who have believed are to continue in the Lord’s church kingdom on earth setting forth the truth to those who we are blessed to witness to.   

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:” Once again the Lord prays for the disciples unity with Him and the Father.  Unity with Christ and the Father is not accomplished on our terms but according to the teachings of God’s word.  All of us should strive to live according to the teaching of God’s word.   

“that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”  The world under consideration is the world of God’s elect children.  The non-elect will never believe in this life.  However, we are to set ourselves apart as an example to the elect and that through the preaching and teaching of God’s word, they too may believe that the Father hath sent the Son. 

“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;”  We are made perfect in righteousness through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ: 2 Cor. 5:21: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” However, the word, “perfect,” here comes from a Greek word that means complete.  We are complete in the Father and the Son when we live and walk according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.  When we are doing this, then we are one with the Father and the Son.   

“and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”  Again, the world in this verse is the world of God’s elect.  The gospel bears the good news that the Father has loved his people as he has loved Christ.   

John 17 Verses 24-26 

John 17:24 “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. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 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.” 

The above passage is very clear.  I would point out again that the phrase, “where I am” is not referring to location, but to the righteous standing before God.  Christ went to the cross to deliver us from the condemnation of sin as all of the elect were condemned by sin.  By dying in their stead, Christ redeemed from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.  Then he imputed his righteousness unto us that we may be righteous before God as He is righteous before the Father.