John Chapter 17 is often referred to as the high priestly prayer, a beautiful prayer from Jesus,

which sometimes is used by Calvinist to prove the doctrine of individual election to

effectual salvation. For instance, John 179 says, I pray for them. I'm not praying for the world,

but for those you have given me, for they are yours. When Jesus prays for those you have given me, rather than the world,

some Calvinists interpret this to mean God is praying for the unconditionally elect ones,

as opposed to the non-elect of the world. Calvinists take the phrase, those you have given me,

to mean the elect of God, those chosen before the foundation of the world unconditionally.

I'm asking on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world. I don't pray for the world. Jesus says, I do not pray for the world. I don't pray for the world. I pray for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. There it is again.

If you are a believer, it is because God gave you to Christ. And he gave you because he chose you,

and he chose you before the foundation of the world, the Bible says, and he wrote your

name down.

Seven times it refers to believers as those whom the father gives the son.

It is completely wrong to think that that decision is left to us.

If you're a believer, it's because the father chose you, the father drew you, he gave you to the son, the son receives you, the son keeps you, and one day the son raises you and nobody gets lost.

As we just heard, Dr. John MacArthur, a well-known Calvinistic pastor, interprets the phrase

those you have given me to be in reference to the elect, those unconditionally chosen before

the world began.

But the phrase, those you have given me, simply is in reference to the apostles, as can

be seen when we look at the entire context.

Let's read the passage together.

I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.

They were yours.

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