Life Through the Shepherd's Truth

Introduction

Text: John 10:31-42

Series: Life Through the Shepherd: Trusting Jesus for Abundant Life (Sermon #5)

Theme: Discovering Jesus as God’s Son through the trustworthy truth of Scripture.

Thrust: The Holy Spirit calls us to discover Jesus as the Son of God by trusting the reliable, unchanging truth of Scripture, which serves as a dependable guide in a world of uncertainty, reveals Jesus’ divine identity through fulfilled promises, works alongside of credible voices to build trust, overcomes modern doubts and divisions, and anchors lifelong faith in a challenging world.

Running Illustration: The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39), who discovers Jesus through Scripture and Philip’s testimony.

Hook: Today, we celebrate 46 years of faithful ministry as Calvary Baptist Church. This church was founded and chartered on August 12, 1979. Much has changed since then, not only in our church but also in society as a whole. In 1979, traditional family structures were the norm, with most households led by married couples. People were loyal to their jobs, often working for the same company their entire lives. There were no cellphones back then. Writing letters was still common. People met in person and talked. However, it was in the 1970s and 80s that things started to shift. A new wave of cultural changes began to form. The internet, which was barely a concept in 1979, is now an essential part of daily life. Today, over 5 billion people are online, with smartphones and high-speed connections enabling instant communication, e-commerce, and remote work. We are now entering a new era of Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI. It’s estimated that AI could displace 300 million full-time jobs worldwide by 2030. Regarding traditional family structures, they have largely been dismantled in much of society. The rise of feminism, racial and gender equality, and the exploding sexual revolution have led to lifestyles that are non-traditional and unbiblical. The question for us this morning is: how do we, as a church and as believers, navigate all these changes?

For instance, AI has become a major issue in today’s society. Recently, I was browsing social media and came across a picture that initially looked real. However, as I read the comments beneath the picture, I realized that it was an AI-rendered photo. If I hadn’t read the comments and understood it was AI-generated, I could have easily believed that what I was seeing was real. That is the issue we face now. What is real? What can be trusted? It's the same question many ask when they confront Christ. How do we know He is real? How do we find the truth about Jesus?

Throughout this series of messages from John 10, we have seen Jesus as Door, Savior, Good Shepherd, and Voice. Today, however, we will focus on God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed by Scripture. The main point of today’s message is how He can be trusted and how Scripture, which is trustworthy, helps us understand the truth of Christ.

Read with me our text, John 10:31-42

John 10:31–42 KJV 1900

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there.

Note how Jesus uses Scripture to confirm His identity, encouraging trust in God’s Word. Just as many in His time struggled to believe Him as God’s Son, many today still do. And, just as Christ relied on Scripture to support His claim, I am here this morning to affirm that Scripture continues to testify to Christ’s divinity.

Let’s start with this first point.

We Must Trust Scripture to Know the Jesus as God’s Son

Note these verses in our text.

John 10:31 KJV 1900

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

John 10:35 KJV 1900

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

In verse 35, I want to highlight the phrase “scripture cannot be broken.” I find it interesting how often Christ used Scripture when responding to those who challenged Him. You might recall how He quoted Scripture when Satan tried to tempt Him. With the Jews and Pharisees, Christ frequently referenced the Old Testament. He does so again in our text today, quoting Psalm 82:6.

Psalm 82:6 KJV 1900

6 I have said, Ye are gods; And all of you are children of the most High.

For now, let’s not focus too much on the meaning of this verse, as that’s not the main point. The main idea is this: Christ uses Scripture because it can be trusted. In fact, we know that Scripture is the very Word of God.

2 Peter 1:21 KJV 1900

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 1:1 KJV 1900

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Christ Himself made the following observation about Scripture...

John 17:17 KJV 1900

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

In a world where nothing can be fully trusted, one thing remains certain—God’s Word. Christ demonstrated its truth and reliability. Even when faced with doubt and unbelief, Christ challenged others with the truth of Scripture. That is the main point: you can trust God’s Word. Christ is still challenging you today to trust Him through Scripture. It’s the only sure way to trust Him now. He is no longer here in physical form; He has already left this earth and returned to Heaven. We cannot embrace Him or see Him with our eyes. That’s why Scripture encourages us to believe and have faith. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as believing in what cannot be seen. Even though we can’t see Him, we have Scripture—full accounts of His life and works. That’s enough. An amazing thing about people during Christ’s time was they saw Him—they listened to Him speak and watched His miracles. Yet, most did not believe. Why? Could it be they weren’t reading Scripture and comparing His actions and words with its prophecies? There are those who believed, many because everything He said and did matched Scripture. Even now, His life aligns with the prophecies about His first coming, including details about His birthplace and how He would be treated. I could spend a long time just proving this, but that’s not the point right now. I want to challenge you to accept the truth of Scripture and believe in Christ as your Savior. In a time of increasing misinformation, trust God’s Word. Read it. I encourage you to read this entire chapter once more, along with Isaiah 53. As you do, let God’s Spirit, who authored His Word, speak to your heart. Seek to see the truth of Christ through Scripture, not through the changing opinions of the world. We can and must trust Scripture to know Jesus as God’s Son. It’s the right thing to do. But let’s not follow what many did during Christ’s day.

We Must NOT Reject Scripture’s Truth and Deny Jesus

We have observed several times throughout this Journey through John’s Gospel the hostility of the people towards Christ. We see it again in our text.

John 10:31 KJV 1900

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

We know that their actions were in response to Christ’s claim “I and my Father are one.” His statement was a clear indication of His divinity, a truth that is reiterated throughout Scripture. Yet, it was one that outrightly was rejected. As we know, Christ inquired, “for which of those (good) work do ye stone me?” They replied.

John 10:33 KJV 1900

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

It is then that Christ, as previously mentioned, referenced the truth of Scripture. By the way, this was a brilliant strategy. It was effective because the Jews and the Pharisees often claimed how much they believed the Old Testament Scriptures, which they called the “law and prophets.” It was read in the synagogues and debated throughout the week. So, how could they argue against Scripture? This strategy is one that all of us should adopt. Whenever someone confronts us about living for Him, we should be prepared to give an answer; not just any answer, but one rooted in Scripture.

Again, note the verse He quoted.

Psalm 82:6 KJV 1900

6 I have said, Ye are gods; And all of you are children of the most High.

Listen to the rest of Christ’s rebuttal.

John 10:34–38 KJV 1900

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

There are essentially two parts to His reply. Each addresses different aspects of Christ’s earthly ministry. First, He discusses His claim to be God, which He does through His words. Second, He demonstrates His claim through His actions. Both clearly show that He is God. There could be no denying this if you truly believe Scripture itself. Regarding His quote of Psalm 82:6, this Psalm was addressing the Jewish judges (magistrates) of the Old Testament era. These judges were appointed by Jehovah God to act as His representatives in administering justice to God’s people. In a sense, they judged for God—in place of God—and were, consequently, considered “gods” or sons of the Highest. It’s important to understand that these judges, when they issued rulings, were to do so in accordance with God’s Law—the Law. Even during the time of Christ, the Jews still recognized their judges as having divine authority because they accepted their rulings as based on Scripture, which they regarded as Divine Law. Christ’s argument was straightforward. If you accept the judgment of these judges because they align with Scripture, then you must also accept Christ’s claim to be the Son of God, for it too aligns with Scripture. Yet, despite this logic and the fact that Christ proved His divinity through His actions, many people still rejected Him as God and Savior. Why? Because they refused to accept the truth of Scripture. Instead, they continued listening to the false teachings of the Pharisees, who were poisoning the hearts of the people against Christ. These religious leaders did this to maintain their popularity and enjoy being the center of attention, which many of them desired. Is it any different today? I repeatedly warn people to be cautious of whom they watch, listen to, and follow. The rise of the internet has created a new world of social media and avenues for false teaching. Today, this is more advanced than ever. We must be extremely careful. We are even at a point where we cannot be sure that the person we are watching is a real person. I must remind you that Satan is God’s adversary. He will use every means possible to lead people away from Christ. He exploits the internet and false prophets. How then can we fight against all this deception? We turn to the endless and trustworthy truth of God’s Word. I cherish this promise from Christ.

Matthew 5:18 KJV 1900

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Here is another.

1 Peter 1:25 KJV 1900

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

That is the point. We can trust Jesus because of Scripture’s truth. We must not reject its truth. Unbeliever, if you're still unsure about Christ, spend time reading God’s Word. It promises that it will not return void. This means that if you set aside all the noise of this world and focus on discovering and knowing Christ in the pages of the Bible, you will find Him. He is there. He stands ready for you to discover Him. When you do, you will face a decision: to believe or reject Him. From personal experience, I can say it’s much better to believe and accept Him. He will transform your life. Unfortunately, even after Christ challenged them with the truth of Scripture, many still refused to believe. In fact, pay attention to their reaction.

John 10:39 KJV 1900

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

From there Christ travels back to the place where His ministry began. He went back to the Jordan river where John baptized Him and stated, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

Here is our last point for today.

We Live Rightly by Embracing and Anchoring Our Faith in Scripture to Know Jesus

John 10:41–42 KJV 1900

41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there.

It is interesting that when He arrives there, many follow Him. Not everyone rejects His testimony. As our text notes, there are those who remember Scripture. They recall John’s testimony. They reasoned it all through, noticing that everything spoken about Christ from Scripture and John the Baptist **was** true. It is then that they believed.

I find a fascinating pattern in God’s Word even today.

Whenever people accept and embrace the truth of Scripture, the natural result is belief or faith in Christ. You see, the truth of Scripture has a power that can overcome even the strongest doubts. If you let it speak to your heart and listen with an open mind, it will undoubtedly reveal its truth.

I have one illustration from Scripture that helps us understand the overall message. In Acts, there's a story about a high-ranking Ethiopian official. He was a man trusted by kings and queens. In this story, he was traveling back from an official visit to Jerusalem. We can assume from the story that he was introduced to the Old Testament Scriptures during his visit. The reason we can be confident in this assumption is that the story says he was reading the book of Isaiah while traveling in his chariot. However, there was a problem. He was reading it but not fully understanding it. As the story goes, God instructed Philip, who was one of the first deacons of the early church in Jerusalem, to travel the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Lo and behold, who did Philip meet? He found this Ethiopian official reading and studying Isaiah. And, it just so happens, that the Ethiopian was reading this particular passage.

Isaiah 53:7 KJV 1900

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.

To make a long story short, Philip asked if the Ethiopian understood what he was reading. The man replied that he did not and needed help. Philip then preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to him. In the end, this Ethiopian official believed in Jesus as his Savior and was baptized.

How does this relate to today?

Note that the Ethiopian wasn't listening to any outside noises. He was simply reading Scripture and trying to understand it. When Philip joined him and pointed out how the passage spoke of Christ, the Ethiopian trusted what it said. He believed it just as those who followed Jesus to the Jordan and believed in Him there. Now, the Ethiopian could have rejected Isaiah’s truth. He could have done what many others have done. He could have kept going on his way, not trusting Scripture and not believing in Christ. But, of course, that wasn't the case. Instead, he embraced the truth of Scripture, trusted Philip’s testimony, and believed in Christ.

That is the main focus of today’s message. This entire message is about trusting Scripture, God’s Word, and letting it guide you to faith in Christ as God’s Son.

Conclusion

This morning, we are called to acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son through the trustworthy truth of Scripture. The Holy Spirit is prompting us to trust the reliable, unchanging truth of God’s Word. It serves as a dependable guide in a world that is uncertain and constantly changing. God’s Word reveals Jesus Christ's true divine identity through its fulfilled promises. It overcomes all doubts and divisions, serving as an anchor for our faith amid ongoing challenges to truth. The right path for everyone is to trust Scripture, which will lead us to know Jesus as God’s Son. Christ demonstrated this by quoting Psalm 82:6, and later, the crowd who followed Him to Jordan believed. However, there is also a wrong path: rejecting Scripture’s truth risks leaving you spiritually blind and clinging to the false teachings of this world. I encourage you to embrace the truth of the Bible, for it will anchor your faith in Christ.

How should we respond? Read God’s Word. I challenge all of us this morning, unbelievers and believers alike, to get alone and read John 10 along with Isaiah 53. Let God’s Spirit work in your heart and help you see Jesus as God and Savior. If you will, it has the power to push back against the flood of misinformation so prevalent today. A great way to study God’s Word is by joining one of our small groups. Each of them is designed to take the truth of God’s Word presented in each sermon and deepen your understanding of it. As believers, we are called to share our faith. We should be like Philip, who comes alongside others seeking the truth of God’s Word and helps them see Christ through its message. God is calling all of us to obey. Obedience means valuing Scripture more than the noise of this world, letting it guide our decisions, relationships, and purpose. It involves committing to live according to its principles and instructions as we walk a life of faith in Jesus.

Throughout this study of chapter 10, we have come to know Him as our Door, Savior, Good Shepherd, and Voice. Now, today, we see Him as God’s Son, revealed through the truth of Scripture and offering abundant life to all who believe. In a world of shifting opinions, let’s hold fast to God’s Word as our anchor.

Trust the truth of Scriptures to know Jesus, our Shepherd, and live abundantly.