Christ’s Unchanging Love For His People “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1).

Description of Believers “His own” Description of Believers

Description of Believers – “His Own” 1) by purchase. “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18, 19). “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).

Description of Believers – “His Own” 2) by gift. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).

Description of Believers – “His Own” 3) By Consecration. “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Description of Believers – “His Own” 4) Those who Bear His image. “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:9, 10).

Description of Believers “In the world” Description of Believers Present Condition

Present Condition – “In the World” 1) Not of the world. “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

Present Condition – “In the World” 2) For our sakes. To be instructed & grow. “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” 1 Peter 2:2). “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Present Condition – “In the World” 2) For our sakes. To be Tested & Tried “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Present Condition – “In the World” 2) For our sakes. To Prepare Us For Eternal Life “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13). Watch – “metaphorically give strict attention to, be cautious, active: to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one” (Thayer, p. 122).

Present Condition – “In the World” 3) For Christ’s sake. To hold Him up as a light to the world. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Present Condition – “In the World” 3) For Christ’s sake. To tell others about Him. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

Present Condition – “In the World” 3) For Christ’s sake. To Be His Friend “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:14, 15).

Present Condition – “In the World” 3) For World’s Sake. Are to teach & defend the truth “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14, 15).

Present Condition – “In the World” 3) For World’s Sake. Are to be salt & light “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16).

Description of Believers His Attachment To His People “He loved them to the end.”” Description of Believers Present Condition His Attachment To His People

His Attachment – “He Loved Them To The End” “al. to the uttermost, completely” (Thayer, p. 620). “the uttermost degree of an act, as of the love of Christ towards His disciples” (Vine, p. 367).

His Attachment – “He Loved Them To The End” 1) His love manifested - Died for them. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5).

His Attachment – “He Loved Them To The End” 2) He is their shepherd. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:11-14).

His Attachment – “He Loved Them To The End” 3) He is their savior. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:1-4).

Description of Believers His Attachment To His People Present Condition His Attachment To His People

1) Believers description 3) His Attachment (a) Died for them (b) Is their Shepherd (c) Is their Savior 1) Believers description (a) His by purchase (b) His by gift (c) His by consecration (d) To bear His image 2) Their Condition (a) In the world but not of the world (b) In the world for our sakes (c) In the world for Christ’s sake (d) In the world for the world’s sake