Jesus – The Door of the Sheep John chapter 10
We are looking at the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. In John 6, Jesus said He is the Bread. In John 8 He says He is the Light. In John 10, Jesus says He is the Door of the Sheep and the Good Shepherd. We will consider what this means to you and me and the lost world we live in.
THE SOVEREIGN GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST
Ø Some groundwork: Sovereignty of God - in common language = God is above all and He can do whatever He pleases. All that He chooses is good and for His glory. Only He is righteous. He chooses (elects - Romans 8:29-31, Ephesians 1:4-6 ) persons to be made right for a relationship with Him. His choice is by His grace (not according to merit or potential). His choice is eternal (God does not change His mind or renege. Romans 8:30-31).
Ø Grace of God ≠ Freedom to disobey God and His law.
Rather, grace = freedom from qualifying for God's love and acceptance.
And grace = God giving the believer His stamp of approval based on Jesus.
Ø Law of God = revelation of the character of God. Laws of any kind or of any society are a reflection of the law makers. God’s law shows that He is holy, only God; His character is to be honored and protected; His example is to be followed (even in taking and giving a break from work); He is God of relationship and Father of all so that relationship is to be especially honored; life is from Him and is therefore to be protected; …
These doctrines are important to understand as we look at this week's study because a good shepherd chooses and purchases and protects what is his; and a door divides what is inside from what is outside.
THE OCCASION FOR THE JESUS' TEACHING John 9:1-5 (The Message), Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world's Light."
Ø 1)The Wrong Question and 2)The Right Answer - Where the damage came from is not important. How God can be glorified in this place and in this moment is all important.
---The healed man was banned from the synagogue because he refused to say Jesus was bad for healing him on the Sabbath. Jesus found him after his rejection by the religious leaders and introduced Himself as the Son of God. The healed man believed and worshipped Jesus.
Ø 1)The Wrong Religious Attitude; 2)The Right Redemptive Action; 3) The Real Resource of Ability to believe. John 9:34-39 ; 4) The Remaining Accountability John 9:41 Jesus indicted the Pharisees for their stubbornness and lack of care the “sheep of Isreal.” 41Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
JESUS – THE DOOR John 10:1-10 The sheepfold was a fenced area where shepherds would keep their sheep at night to guard against thieves or predators. There was normally no gate on the enclosure. The shepherd would sleep in the gateway and function as the door.
Ø The Fold ≠ Heaven - No one can steal into heaven.
= The nation of Israel. The legitimate messengers
were called of God and sent by Jesus.
Ø There had been some “stinky” shepherds. Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:2-5
Ø Jesus, the Door, allows those who hear His voice to pass from the realm of separated-from- God to belonging-to-God. Ephesians2:11-20 “the other sheep” John 10:16
Ø There is One Flock – His church
Ø There is One Shepherd (Senior Pastor) – Jesus Ephesians 1:22-23; Psalm 23:1a,6b sums it up. “The Lord is my shepherd … and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Ø Enter by the Door (Jesus only) to be Saved = delivered safe and sound... used to describe someone recovered from severe illness; come through a bad storm; survived war; acquitted in court...a sinner delivered from bondage to sin and death
Ø Enter by the Door (Jesus only) to have Abundant Life = Jesus not only gave His life for us, He gives His life to us. v.11
JESUS – THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10:11-29
Ø Not a Hireling – Purchaser v.11, 15
Jesus gives His life “...for the sheep” not only as a payment, but also as a substitute. (Penal Substitutionary Atonement) The people of Israel and all people have a debt owed to the Holy God for sin - the debt of death. Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23
Ø Jesus Knows His Sheep v. 14, 16, 27, 26(knows who are not His sheep) Knows = personal knowledge, name (who you really are [Peter's name changed from Simon, Zaccheaus called by name, Mary's name called in the garden of the cemetery]), your nature, your needs (often we do not know our own)
Ø Cares For His Sheep v.12-13
Ø Keeps His Sheep v. 28-29, 30 (Perseverance of the Saints / better Preservation of the Saints because "perseverance hints that the saint is kept by his own persistence. Actually the "keeping" as well as the saving are all of God, by His grace and power. Romans8:30)
Ø By His Power v.18
The sovereign grace of God (election) sets you free from having to qualify, measure up, clean up your act before you put your faith in Christ. You can come just as you are, “without one plea...”
The choice is simple: Be saved by Jesus alone... or
Remain lost, condemned, in bondage to sin, without Jesus.
John 9:41 “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.” ...and so do the consequences.
