The last in a series of 6 sermons
Series Theme
What is the Church?
Many speak of the church as the building in which the congregation of God’s people meet. Yet this is not the Church that is the Bride of Christ, His body.
The Church is a community that derives its sense of fellowship from God who Himself lives in the community of the trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In His High Priestly prayer, Jesus reveals much as to that fellowship enjoyed by the Trinity. He also reveals how that fellowship within the Trinity is to lived out in the community of those whom the Father had given to Him, the elect, His body,the Church.
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
John 13:18–30 (NIV84)
18“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’
19“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.
20I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”
22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.
23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.
27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him,
28but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.
30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Text
John 17:12 (NIV84)
12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
Romans 9:14–18 (NIV84)
14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
15For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
