The Blessing of Discipleship

John 10:27-30

An Appeal to Discipleship

Nature of Discipleship - Learning to live in Christ, being transformed into the likeness of Christ through the ministry of the Word and Spirit of God.

Necessity of Discipleship - Discipleship trains us for life, keeps us from error and corrects us when we err, bringing the disciple into full maturity in Christ.

The Blessing of Discipleship. What is the reward, the benefit of engaging in a life of Discipleship?

So many that could be listed off: sanctification, deepening prayer, fruitfulness in ministry… yes.

The greatest blessing - what is highlighted in our reading today: Knowing Christ, Being Known by Christ, and Known for Being with Christ.

Knowing Christ

Hearing His voice is a blessing

A distinction from those outside of Christ

The Jews asked Jesus, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus said, “I told you, but you don’t believe.”

They do not hear him, nor do they believe, because God hasn’t opened their ears to hear.

We hear the words of our Lord because God has given us His Spirit. By Grace our ears are opened and we are receptive to His word, so that we may believe.

We Hear His Voice so that we can Know Him

We know Jesus as the revelation of Father

“I and and the Father are one.” One in Spirit, One in Will, One in Power. He and the Father are one divine being. If we have seen Jesus, if we know Jesus, we know the Father.

Our lives were made to be in fellowship with our creator God, but sin has darkened our minds, broken our fellowship with the Father.

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, revealing the glory of the Father, full of grace and truth - John 1:18 - “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

We know him as Our mediator, our savior.

The Prophet - he is the full and perfect revelation of God, everything that God would have us know for life, for righteousness, for holiness, is found in Christ.

The Priest - he intercedes for us, making the perfect sacrifice on our behalf, and praying for his people before the throne of God

The King - he rules over us by his word, guarding and defending, but also calling us into faithful service to him.

There is no greater reward than knowing Christ

Matt 13:44 - the kingdom, Christ, is the treasure hidden in a field, a pearl of great price, when you find him, you would give up everything else to have him in your life.

Those who have walked away from Christ have never truly known Him.

If Christ is lacking, it is because you are looking for the wrong things in Him. You may come for material prosperity, for something to ease your conscience without asking anything of you - but that’s not Christ.

Christ is the sun in the center of our solar system…

Being Known by Christ

We are Given to Him as a gift.

God gives Christ the Church.

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me.

John 17:6 Jesus said he manifested God’s name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.

Deut 4:20 you are God’s inheritance

We have been given to Jesus

He knows us: To know - an intimacy, love, and commitment to.

Rom 8:29 Those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

Eph 1:4 - We were chosen in Christ since before the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:15 - He is like us in every way, yet without sin…

He knows our struggles, our sufferings, our temptations. He cares for us, beyond our ability to see or understand, ordaining all things for his glory and our good.

Not one will be lost

Nothing can pluck us from his hand

What would pluck us?

Rom 8:38 - death, life, angels, rulers, things present and things to come, powers, heights, depth, anything in creation.

Ourselves… our doubts, our own sins.

1 John 3:21 When our hearts condemn us, there is one who is greater than our hearts.

The gift of eternal life is an eternal gift of life - it cannot be lost or undone - those who are saved by God in Jesus Christ will be saved by God in Jesus Christ unto the very end.

The Father who gave them to me is greater…

Known for Being with Christ

Your Discipleship will show.

Peter and John, standing before the rulers and scribes and the high priest, made a profound defense of their faith - when they saw their boldness Acts 4:13 - they recognized they had been with Jesus.

Follow/Obey/Walk with Him

Hearing and obeying go hand in hand

The Hebrew word for obey means “to hear.” “Shema” is often translated as “hear” but carries a deeper meaning of “to listen attentively” and “to obey,” a commitment to act upon.

James writes, "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22).

Only those who obey have really heard

Luke 11:28 - Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

As you hear him and know him, you will live for him in this world.

Resting in His provision

Rom 8:39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Unshakable confidence, security, peace, joy - all this comes from the blessing of knowing and being known by Christ.