Jesus Prayed For Us

"Christ in Gethsemane" by Heinrich Ferdinand Hofmann (original at Riverside Church, New York City)

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. [John 17:14-17 KJV]

Before dawn Judas would betray, He would be tried, Peter would deny and within hours He would die – yet He prayed for me, and for you.  He had given us two words – Himself:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1:1 KJV]

And the word that David wrote of:

BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. [Psalms 119:9-11 KJV]

David also told us God’s word is true:

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. [Psalms 119:160 KJV]

So, God’s word is true, by His word we are cleansed, through Jesus’ prayer we remain in this world sanctified by His truth.  Paul followed up on that:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. [1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV]

What we need to realize is that we all fell into the And such were some of you category before we came to Christ and were both sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Or, we aren’t sanctified nor justified.  Peter explains that if we are, we will strive to be holy:

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  [1 Peter 1:14-16 KJV]

I’m not the one to judge, neither are my Christian friends, my non-Christian friends or anyone else.  Peter is specific about that:

And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [1 Peter 1:17-19 KJV]

How much of what we do will face judgment?

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [Matthew 12:36 KJV]

According to Christ’s words, we decide what judgment we receive.  Because I know my own faults and errors, I give thanks constantly for God’s grace and salvation.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [Ephesians 2:8 KJV]