Exposition of John, Chapter 17 · Verse 19
Verſe 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.
In this verſe Chriſt yet inſiſts to clear & preſſe his ſuit for obtaining union of beleevers among themſelves. And for this end, 1. He propounds the way of their union among themſelves, inſtancing one particular branch of that glory given them, v. 22. for that end, even union with himſelf, and with the Father through him. Which as it is a great dignity in it ſelf, ſo it tends to the perfecting of their union among themſelves. 2. He again amplifieth and preſſeth the ſuit from the final cauſes thereof: where, unto that end formerly mentioned, v. 21. of the conviction of the world of his authority and Commiſſion, another alſo is added, that hereby the world ſhall be convinced of the Fathers love to his followers, according as he loved him. Whence learn, 1. Chriſt takes up an inhabitation in his people by his Spirit, ſo that they become one with him; for, it is their allowance, I in them. 2. The Father dwells in Chriſt, not only as he is one God with him, but alſo as he is man, in whom the fulneſſe of the Godhead dwells bodily; ſo highly is our nature dignified in his perſon; for, thou art in me, ſaith he. 3. Albeit there can be no union betwixt God and fallen man immediately, yet through Chriſt this union is made up: and Chriſt being in us, and we united to him, the Father alſo, in him, is in us, and we in him; for, thus is our union here with God made up, I in them, and thou in me. 4. It is by our union with Chriſt, and with God through him, that our, union among our ſelves is perfected; for, by this mean they are made perfect in one. 5. Whatever excellency the Lord conferre upon every particular beleever yet their perfection conſiſts in their union among themſelves, and with Chriſt their Head and Store-houſe, and with the Father in his fulneſſe through him; for no one member hath the perfection of the whole body, but of a part only, nor hath it that perfection ſeparate from the body, but in it, and being united with it, to ſupply its own proper function; and the whole body thus united, hath its perfection in and from Chriſt and the Father; for, ſo doth Chriſts conjoyning of all theſe teach us: I in them, and thou in me, that they may he made perfect in one. 6. It is never enough ſtudied, how neceſſary union is, to convince the world of the excellency of Chriſt and his doctrine; therefore it is again repeated, as a forcible argument preſſing this union, that the world may know that thou haſt ſent me. And as the Apoſtles union and conſent in doctrine …id contribute to this end, ſo alſo doth the union of the people of God in every age, in its own meaſure. 7. It tends to the great encouragement of beleevers, that Chriſt their Surety is beloved and accepted of the Father; for, thou haſt loved me, ſaith he. 8. Every beleever alſo is really beloved of the Father; ſo that whatever he do unto them, there is ſtill love in it, and they keep a room in his affection, for, thou haſt loved them, ſaith he. 9. The Fathers love to beleevers doth reſemble his love to his Son Chriſt; for though his love to his eternal and only Son be matchleſſe and neceſſary, not voluntary, us his love to us is; nor are we loved for our own ſakes, as he is; nor is he capable of ſome effects of love we receive; yet this love doth moſt reſemble it of any; and albeit, conſidering him as Mediatour, there is a great difference betwixt us who are beloved, and him for whoſe ſake we …e beloved; yet the reſemblance doth alſo here hold, And the Father loveth Chriſt and all his, as one myſtical body, and loveth them eternally, immutably and freely, as he loved the Mediatour; yea, that ſame love that is le… out on Chriſt as Mediatour, is conveighed through him to us; for, thou haſt loved them, as thou haſt loved me, not in reſpect of equality, but by way of ſimilitude and reſemblance. 10. The love of God toward ſonne of fallen mankinde is ſuch, as ought not to be concealed, but Chriſt would have it publiſhed, to the conviction or converſion of others; Therefore he would have the world know that thou haſt loved them. 11. Union among beleevers is ſo great a work of God, evidencing ſo much of his care and love; and is the condition upon which he raines ſo many ſhowres of bleſſings and mercies, that it ſerves exceedingly to convince the world of Gods love to them, when they are thus united, and are reaping the fruits thereof; for, hereby the world ſhall know that thou haſt loved them, as thou haſt loved me.