“Safeguard for the Sheep”
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION.
22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem;
23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.
26 “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.
27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 “I and the Father are one.”
MESSAGE.
I. Markers of real sheep.
I. Markers of real sheep.
1. There are false sheep.
1. There are false sheep.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
2. Jesus states that real sheep “Hear My voice”. v27.
2. Jesus states that real sheep “Hear My voice”. v27.
Must hear His call for salvation.
John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Must hear Holy Spirit’s conviction.
Must hear His leading.
3. Jesus states that real sheep “follow Me”. v27.
3. Jesus states that real sheep “follow Me”. v27.
Following after Christ is living in obedience.
16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
Not Church membership.
Not Baptism.
Not Church attendance.
Following after Christ is not following Christ then returning to living you old life.
Following after Christ is not living in continual and willful sin.
Homosexual lifestyle.
Alcoholic. - liver diseases.
Immoral lifestyle - living together not married.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Reel Sheep are Christians true followers of Christ.
II. Benifits of real sheep.
II. Benifits of real sheep.
1. Eternal Life.
1. Eternal Life.
Eternal - continuing forever or indefinitely.
Everlasting.
Not conditional by word. Cannot be eternal if it is conditional.
2. Eternal life is a Gift of Christ.
2. Eternal life is a Gift of Christ.
Grace
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
3. Promise of Christ that His sheep will not perish.
3. Promise of Christ that His sheep will not perish.
John 3:16 “16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 6:39 “39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”
John 17:12 “12 “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”
John 14:20 “20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
Security promised only to true believers.
III. Ownership of real sheep.
III. Ownership of real sheep.
29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 “I and the Father are one.”
1. We belong to Christ.
1. We belong to Christ.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
3. We have been adopted.
3. We have been adopted.
Galatians 3:26 “26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:15 “15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!””
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Saint Francis of Assisi
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
CONCLUSION.
Where do you fall in this?
Do you have security?
Do you hear His voice?
Do you follower Him?