Secured (John 10:22-30)

Introduction

John chapter 10 paints this beautiful picture of God as Savior and Shepherd.

But this morning I want to focus on Christ as the Shepherd.

We have spoken a few weeks ago about the need to be saved but once you are saved, meaning saved from the wrath of God can you ever lose your salvation?

That pertains to the thought that you will sin in your salvation.

You will sin again but you will sin less as your appetite for sin has been destroyed.

So if you sin again and we know that Salvation rescues us from sin but can we sin so much that we lose our salvation?

I want to talk to you about the importance of Eternal Security.

This is a description of God's Power and his Grace.

Every Christian needs the absolute assurance that he or she has had this experience of salvation.

If you could lose your salvation you would.

To be victorious in your Christian life, you need to know you’re saved.

DOUBT does not mean you haven’t been saved.

Doubt is to the spirit what pain is to the body. Pain means something is wrong.

Background

The Book of John communicates that Jesus is God!

Jesus has death threats against his life from the Jews because he claimed to be God.

Winter in Jerusalem

Celebration of “Festival of Lights”

Hanukkah

8 day feast in December

Celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the military victory of Judas Maccabeus over the Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes

He sacrificed a pig in the temple to Zeus.

The Jews cleansed the temple and rededicated it back to the Lord.

John 10:22–30 CSB

Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

SHEPHERD

John 10:26–27 CSB

But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

Jesus is our Shepherd (Pastor)

Leads, Protects, Nourish, Companion

Psalm 23:1–6 CSB

The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

They were not saved

The “Shepherd to Sheep” relationship was not intellectual but a SPIRITUAL ISSUE

You can’t be connected to God without Jesus

The Shepherd leads the sheep out of Sin to Salvation

The Sheep belong to the Shepherd

The intimate relationship between Jesus and his people.

The Sheep hear and know the voice of God

SAVED

John 10:28 CSB

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

The Shepherd has Saved us

Eternal Life is both the Quantity of Life and the Quality of Life

Eternal Life is available now through Jesus Christ

We were perishing before life in Christ.

Salvation was the rescuing us from the Wrath of God (Romans 9:22-24)

SEALED

John 10:28–29 CSB

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Belief in Christ results in an Eternal Life that can not be taken away from the believer.

The Shepherd does not permit anyone to steal his Sheep.

God’s salvation is ensured by God

CONCLUSION

Only one who can separate us from God’s love is ourselves.

Assurance must be balanced with perseverance.

Assurance is based on the character and actions of the Triune God.

A BIRTH is a completed act. A NEW LIFE is a completed act.

Salvation starts with

BELIEF and REPENTANCE

CONTINUING FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE OF A TRUE SALVATION

Sometime when you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby.

The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep.

The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace.

The difference is caused by the confidence factor.

If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be?

Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say--will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?