SF807 - THE SOURCE OF THE NEW LIFE 2 of 9 New Life for You (John 10 1-11)
John 10:1-11 (key 10:10)
Introduction
John’s gospel is all about life…
Thirty-four times or more the word “life” occurs in the Gospel of John. In fact, it is the key word of this book, we cannot read its pages without seeing quite clearly that the purpose for which Christ came into this world was to bring life, and life more abundant.
More abundant than what, we ask.
What kind of life are we talking about?
Not vegetable life
Not animal life
Not even human life
We are talking about spiritual life!
Ø A life qualitatively different from vegetable, animal or human life.
Ø This is what Jesus was talking about when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Jesus declares that He alone is the source of this new kind of life.
In presenting this potential of life to men and women, Jesus spoke of three important matters that demand our close attention:
1A. The Enemies of this New Life (10a)
Satan is out to rob us of this gift of abundant life. If he cannot deprive us of the gift of life, he proceeds to deceive us about the glory of that life.
And so the Master warned us against the enemies of this new life. He pointed out that
1B. The Enemies are Deceptive in their Methods (1)
Jesus mentions two types of enemies.
Thieves, who steal by stealth
Ø They prefer not to come into direct contact with their victim and are almost impossible to identify.
Ø Thieves that rob us of the abundant life are, over committed calendars, sense of hopelessness, frustration from daily stresses.
Robbers, who use violence to get what they want
Ø They purposely attack their victims.
Ø They are easily identified only after they attack but the are impossible to predict.
Ø Robbers include life crisis, family problems, job changes, and major illnesses.
2B. The Enemies are Defective in their Message (5)
They say things like…
Ø You have plenty of time.
Ø It is no use trying.
Ø There are lots of ways to heaven.
3B. The Enemies are Destructive in their Motives (10a)
Enemies of the gospel do not give; they take.
They do not bless; they damn.
In other words, they kill, they steal, and they destroy.
Ø That last word is strong in the original Greek. It means “to utterly destroy.”
2A. The Certainties of this New Life (10b)
This victorious and continuous life in Christ is not just a philosophy or a theology, it is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, concerning whom there are certainties that we cannot ignore or escape.
1B. This New Life is Available only because of Christ. (10b)
Jesus made new life available by His sinless life.
(Hebrews 4:15 NKJV) "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
Jesus made new life available by His spotless sacrifice.
(1 Peter 3:18 NKJV) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God….”
Jesus made new life available by His resurrection.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV) "… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,"
2B. This New Life Obtainable only by faith in Christ (28)
(1 John 5:11-12 NKJV) "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. {12} He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
Illustrate
…by using three envelopes of different sizes. Label the smallest size LIFE, the next size CHRIST and the largest size ME or YOU. Put the LIFE envelope into the CHRIST envelope, and then insert the CHRIST envelope into the ME/YOU envelope. As you do this, quote slowly and emphatically, “And this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life.”
3A. The Qualities of this New Life (10b-11)
1B. It is a New Life which is Appealing
How wonderful it is to know Jesus (3a)
How exciting it is to follow Jesus (3b-4)
2B. It is a New Life which is Abounding
(John 10:10 NLT) "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
As the Word of God deepens our capacity, so the Son of God fills that capacity with all His fullness.
(Colossians 2:9 NKJV) "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;"
Illustrate
The story is told of A. B. Simpson who heard of D. L. Moody’s encounter with the Holy Spirit, when, in a moment of time, he seemed to be filled with the very glory of heaven. So he traveled to Chicago to hear the great evangelist preach. Sitting at the back of the auditorium, he waited for Moody to come on to the platform. In the meantime, the song leader introduced a hymn with the words, “Isn’t it wonderful to know that ‘everything is in Jesus, and Jesus is everything’”? For A. B. Simpson, that was all he needed to hear. Picking up his briefcase, he left the tabernacle and never heard Moody preach on that occasion. Later he made those words the motto of his ministry: “Everything is in Jesus, and Jesus is everything; tell the world as fast as you can!”
3B. It is a New Life which is Abiding
This is eternal life!
(John 17:3 NKJV) ""And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
This abiding life does not die when we die physically.
This abiding life is eternal because it begins on earth and continues in heaven.
Application
The source of this new life is Jesus Christ!
Remember the enemies of this new life, the certainties of this new life, and the qualities of this new life.
With these truths in mind I invite you to receive this new life in Christ.
He is God’s “unspeakable gift.”
To reject Him is to reject life, and to reject life is to perish eternally.
Won’t you say, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift,” then open the hand and heart of your faith and say “thank you”?
THE SOURCE OF THE NEW LIFE
New Life for You – Part 2 of 9
Sunday, January 17, 1999 - John 10:1-11 (key verse 10)
Introduction
“Life” is the key word throughout the Gospel of John, occurring thirty-four times or more. The purpose for which Christ came into this world was to bring life, a life “more abundant.” In fact, He declared Himself to be the source of this new life. He spoke of:
1A. The ________________-- of this New Life (10a)
1B. The Enemies are Deceptive in their Methods (1)
__________________ steal by stealth
_______________ use violence to get what they want.
2B. The Enemies are __________ in their Message (5)
3B. The Enemies are Destructive in their _______________ (10a)
2A. The Certainties of this New Life (10b)
1B. This New Life is Available ____________ of Christ. (10b)
Jesus made new life available by His __________ life. (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus made new life available by His __________ sacrifice. (1 Peter 3:18)
Jesus made new life available by His resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
2B. This New Life Obtainable in Christ (28)
(1 John 5:11-12 NKJV) "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. {12} He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
3A. The Qualities of this New Life (10b-11)
1B. It is a New Life which is _______________
2B. It is a New Life which is _________________
(Colossians 2:9 NKJV) "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;"
3B. It is a New Life which is _________________
(John 17:3 NKJV) ""And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."