“HE KEEPS US”

15 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

John 17:5 

Salvation is a process. It is not merely praying a certain prayer and “accepting” Jesus in one’s heart. There’s more to it, and we, as Christians, must understand how salvation works and live the life we are called to demonstrate.

One of the biggest Christian words we need to know is sanctification. What is it, and why is it important? Another term worth discussing is separation. Why does God want us to separate ourselves from the world? Does this separation mean absolute disconnection from unbelievers? And we can’t forget about witnessing and evangelism. What is our part in the Great Commission, and how can we do it? 

John chapter 17 is a heartfelt prayer known as Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer.” After delivering His Farewell Discourse, Jesus now prays for Himself, the disciples, and future believers. This moment is also the start of Jesus’ “time.” In this series, we will see several important truths relating to our calling, sanctification, and witnessing. 

In verse 15, Jesus clarifies the request He initially made in verse 11. First, He asks the Father to protect the disciples in the midst of the world, not out of it. The disciples’ association with Christ drew the world’s hatred toward them. Jesus knows that, as His successors, they will face constant threats from His enemies. That said, He is not asking the Father to remove them from the world, but to keep them safe while they are in it.

Jesus intentionally leaves us in the messiness of the world because it is the exact environment where our progressive sanctification takes place. Sanctification is not a frantic self-improvement project; it is the ongoing development of practical, imparted righteousness that produces the ethical fruit and changed character that naturally grow out of a life already justified by faith. If God immediately removed us from the world the moment we believed, our faith would never be rigorously tested to prove it possesses real structural integrity.

Instead of asking for our earthly escape, Jesus prays for our divine protection so that we can safely map out a spiritual trajectory where our love matures into moral discernment, leading to a life of integrity that ultimately brings glory to God. Therefore, we can confidently engage the culture, trusting that while we are called to remain in the world, the Father is actively guarding our souls from the evil one.

Jesus prays for us; the Father protects us. As for you and me, we have a mandate to live a life separate from the world. Here's a clear reminder from the Bible for you and me to seriously consider: 

15 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." 

1 John 2:15-16

How does Jesus' intercession give you confidence as you face the world's challenges?

Pursue the Savior today!

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