Pastor Nate Prazuch, lead pastor at Christ the Word Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, exposits the Scriptures of the Bible verse by verse. Expository teaching and preaching sermons and classes are available here at the Exposit podcast.
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The Scholar Series is a battery of multi-week Bible classes focused on a deeper dive into Scripture using an expository approach.
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[00:00:00] What good morning everyone? It's Mother's Day and Gladysy Mom's here and we all got a mom
[00:00:08] Raise your hand if you have a mom, okay, you don't want to do that but we really appreciate
[00:00:12] Mom's God love them
[00:00:13] Being a mom and I can't speak to it, but I can speak to what I've seen is a tough job
[00:00:18] This is tough job. I'd say maybe even tougher than being a dad
[00:00:23] You know, you think about it. I'm not even kidding about that
[00:00:25] But it is Mother's Day and you know what I it's just kind of disappointing why do they put the fishing open our mother's day
[00:00:31] It's a fishing open
[00:00:33] I forget about that every year and I think oh, but maybe the moms are our glad to get dad out of the house for a day
[00:00:39] So I don't know maybe that's okay. Maybe that's okay, but
[00:00:43] We're honoring mothers today
[00:00:45] Emerson thankful, you know moms are gift from God
[00:00:48] You imagine not having a mom
[00:00:51] No one having on no mothers in the world what the world will be it would be different world
[00:00:56] But the love of a mother is different than I'm love of a dad or a brother or sister or Grant even a grandparents
[00:01:03] It's mom, right and so even though and I say the same thing on Father's Day because the Lord caused himself our father
[00:01:10] Even if we haven't had a good father or mother
[00:01:13] We still look to the Lord our father. You could say our heavenly parent maybe
[00:01:18] Same kind of idea he provides everything for us even if mom or dad doesn't and so we still have our heavenly father
[00:01:27] And you know equate that with a heavenly parent that will always be there never let us down because our own parents
[00:01:33] My parents and yours at some point have let us now in the past because they're human beings
[00:01:39] They're following people like you and me. We cannot be perfect providers for our kids even though we want to be
[00:01:44] We have our own issues, but our Heavenly Father
[00:01:47] Doesn't and we can stand on that 100% that's what the Bible tells us amen. We believe that and
[00:01:54] Keep in mind
[00:01:56] And this is a
[00:01:58] Interesting point I thought about it didn't come for me, but
[00:02:01] We talk about Jesus being our substitute and
[00:02:05] Where's that? Can you hand the the cataclysm
[00:02:10] Okay, I'll
[00:02:13] Paraphrase how can we escape God's wrath?
[00:02:15] Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back in the God's favor?
[00:02:22] Thank you
[00:02:24] Basically saying how can we escape God's wrath? How can we escape our punishment for our sin?
[00:02:28] Well, the answer of course is through our Savior Jesus Christ and he was our substitute
[00:02:35] For us he took our sin for us and
[00:02:38] Before we watch this little movie for a few minutes
[00:02:42] I think about mom's mother's day
[00:02:45] Some of us never had a mom
[00:02:47] People in the world never knew their mother, but some people around them stepped in and substituted and word that person's mom weren't they?
[00:03:00] Grand mothers
[00:03:02] Can be a mother figure?
[00:03:04] Ance can be a mother figure
[00:03:06] Goes the same for fathers of course, but today we're talking about moms and
[00:03:10] Somewhere along the line I bet some of the women in here have had the experience of
[00:03:15] Being that substitute for someone at a dark time being the substitute for mom
[00:03:21] Grammys and and answers sisters
[00:03:24] Neces and those types of people step in where it's needed and so that's a picture of what Christ has done for us too
[00:03:33] We know how that feels maybe we haven't been in that position, but we've seen it happen and it's a it's a real blessing to see someone step in and say I'll be your mother figure for a while
[00:03:42] That's what Jesus does for us and
[00:03:44] And so he gives us pictures in our lives that are really meaningful to point back to him and say I've done that for you
[00:03:51] Because we're all kind of like lost sheep at some point and he steps in for us
[00:03:55] One we need it most and without those types of people those types that type of a savior
[00:04:01] We would be doomed. We'd be lost forever
[00:04:03] But since we were in his hands, and he's our heavenly father heavenly parent he'll never let us go
[00:04:08] He makes sure to provide those people at the right moments to get us through because we're his sheep and he's our good shepherd
[00:04:13] As we've been learning about through John chapter 10. We've been going through John 10. We're gonna be finishing John 10 today
[00:04:20] Well, last week Jesus gave some pretty sobering words to the people he was talking to
[00:04:25] The Jewish religious leaders who are challenging him when he said you're not among my sheep
[00:04:31] He said to them you don't believe but the reason you don't believe is because you're not among my sheep
[00:04:38] And Jesus told him plainly in verse 26 of John chapter 10
[00:04:42] You do not believe because you're not of my sheep and in the next verse
[00:04:49] He contrasts how they respond to him with how his sheep do respond to him
[00:04:58] He says my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me
[00:05:04] And you don't do that
[00:05:06] And I know it's because you're not of my sheep for him. It was simple. It was clear cut. There was a reason for it
[00:05:12] And in verse 24 if you remember from last week the Jews wanted Jesus to tell them plainly if he was the Messiah
[00:05:18] I tell us clearly
[00:05:19] What are you gonna make this clear to us?
[00:05:22] And he had told them and he not only had told them with clear statements and with miraculous works
[00:05:28] But also with detailed evidence, but they didn't want to hear it
[00:05:33] And they wanted more
[00:05:37] And I think we also have to guard against wanting more from God wanting more proof from God wanting more evidence
[00:05:44] That you're really here with me. You're not leaving me hang out to dry
[00:05:48] We have to guard ourselves against that
[00:05:51] And we have to be careful not to blame God for our lack of faith because I think some of those Pharisees were saying to Jesus
[00:05:58] Well if you would only show us more and have we said that as a kid or maybe growing up before we were believers
[00:06:03] When we were pondering the faith maybe to say well, boy if he would just show up in front of me and tell me then I'd believe or if he'd just opened the heavens
[00:06:11] And I could see his throne then I'd believe
[00:06:14] But don't blame God for our unbelief. He's given us so much evidence
[00:06:20] He's come down
[00:06:22] The whole name of this whole series that's lasted for this long is incarnation coming into
[00:06:29] Into the world into flesh God came down as Jesus Christ
[00:06:33] He lived the perfect life and he did miracles any
[00:06:37] The testimony of his father with his works and and all the things he did predicting the future with prophecy
[00:06:44] What more do we need?
[00:06:46] Don't blame God for your for not doing enough
[00:06:49] Romans one says none of us have excuse we're all without excuse just look outside look at the beautiful trees in the nature and how things work together
[00:06:57] Something in us has to say there's something bigger than me none of us have an excuse
[00:07:03] And so our text for today wrapping up John 10 begins in verse 26 of chapter 10 and I'll read through it and we'll pray
[00:07:14] John writes Jesus speaking in verse 26 you do not believe because you are not among my sheep
[00:07:22] My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me
[00:07:28] I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch snatched them out of my hand
[00:07:35] 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
[00:07:41] I and the father are one
[00:07:46] The Jews picked up stones again to stone him
[00:07:49] She's just answered them. I've shown you many good works from the father for which of them are you going to stone me?
[00:07:55] Did Jews answered him it is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy because you being a man make yourself God
[00:08:05] Jesus answered them it is is it not written in your law? I said you are gods if he called them gods to whom the word of God came and
[00:08:14] Scripture cannot be broken. Do you say of him whom the father consecrated and sent into the world you are blaspheming because I said I'm the son of God
[00:08:24] If I'm not doing the works of my father then do not believe me
[00:08:27] But if I do them even though you do not believe me
[00:08:31] Believe the works
[00:08:33] So that you may know and understand that the father is in me and I am in the father
[00:08:39] Again, they sought to arrest him but he escaped their hands
[00:08:43] He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first and there he remained and
[00:08:50] many came to him and
[00:08:52] They said John did no sign but everything that John said about this man was true
[00:09:00] And many believed in him there
[00:09:03] Amen, let's pray
[00:09:06] Delor Jesus
[00:09:07] You've given us this illustration of a good shepherd and his sheep
[00:09:12] In John chapter 10 there's so many things here we could learn about you about how you save us so please Lord open our hearts and minds to understand
[00:09:20] How you save us
[00:09:22] who you are in our walk of faith
[00:09:26] How you'll provide and what our response should be and that we should know that you have saved us and never doubt it
[00:09:34] So we can be clear that
[00:09:36] It is finished because of you and you alone
[00:09:40] Holy spirit guide us as we go forward and this service in Jesus name we pray amen
[00:09:46] I heard a pastor in Washington DC well, I wasn't there, but I saw him in a movie
[00:09:51] It's called the American gospel
[00:09:53] You should all watch the American gospel movie come across it
[00:09:57] He was quoted in that documentary as saying and he mentioned Mother's Day, and that's why it came to mind
[00:10:03] about how if on Mother's Day churches
[00:10:07] Had their service and people normally that wouldn't maybe go to a church service might come on Mother's Day and finally you get your neighbor
[00:10:13] That you've been inviting for three or four years to come and they finally come in its Mother's Day and
[00:10:18] All they hear about is the joys of Motherhood and not the gospel
[00:10:26] He said that would be a
[00:10:28] Tragedy and so that's why
[00:10:32] We understand why we're here today on Mother's Day same on Father's Day
[00:10:38] We're here for Jesus Christ
[00:10:40] We honor our mothers
[00:10:42] We really do
[00:10:44] But Christ is king and so we want to also present the gospel
[00:10:50] Not just for people who might never come to church, but on Mother's Day if they do come we want them to hear the gospel
[00:10:56] Because that might be the only time they would come and so we dive in here in John chapter 10
[00:11:05] The point here is that the Jews as we can obviously see doubted Jesus
[00:11:09] And when John uses the word Jews again in his gospel he's referring to most times the religious leadership the Pharisees
[00:11:16] Those types of people
[00:11:18] They were doubting Jesus they wanted more evidence
[00:11:20] But he told them that it was not for lack of evidence that they didn't believe
[00:11:24] It was because they weren't among his sheep if you're taking notes your first note here says we have to be careful
[00:11:32] Not to blame God for our lack of faith
[00:11:36] Or demand from him more evidence before we trust
[00:11:42] I think at some points in our lives we might have been there God if you would just do this thing
[00:11:46] You know the old saying boy if you get me out of this one God. I'll be a missionary in China
[00:11:52] We might have all prayed something like that in our lives if he would just do this thing
[00:11:56] But don't demand things from God. He's given us all and more that we do ever need to you need to believe
[00:12:01] And sometimes
[00:12:04] Not just to believe in him, but also to believe that he's here with us. He's walking through us
[00:12:08] He knows what I'm going through God. Are you even here?
[00:12:12] Well, our good shepherd is always next to us. He's always with us
[00:12:15] He's always inside of us in our spirit. He lives within us
[00:12:19] One example I had over the past few weeks I've been talking to someone
[00:12:23] About some big changes in their lives and I
[00:12:27] could see
[00:12:29] God every step of the way and so I pointed it out
[00:12:35] And they agreed
[00:12:37] Which is as an example big change in someone's life
[00:12:42] They were changing jobs
[00:12:44] They're moving
[00:12:46] And so
[00:12:48] This person's so well, and I need another job and
[00:12:50] They inquired about a job and went about their day well about
[00:12:54] 67 hours later they realized
[00:12:56] They pretty much had the job lined up and
[00:12:59] They didn't know that until later. They're hopeful
[00:13:02] God knew that but he provided that and not only did he provide the job he provided it three minutes after they inquired about it
[00:13:11] God's there he knows what's coming before we do
[00:13:15] This person had to drive a long way or many states to get to the destination
[00:13:21] Well, the car wasn't working quite right had to get it fixed
[00:13:25] Got the car fixed drove across country
[00:13:29] Got home settled in
[00:13:32] The next day that transmission fell all
[00:13:37] God knew that
[00:13:40] God got that person there home safe could happen to be before couldn't have two days before
[00:13:45] stranded
[00:13:47] God's with us
[00:13:49] Well now on top of that
[00:13:53] Someone has also
[00:13:55] Offered a place to stay for free
[00:13:58] Couple people actually
[00:14:00] Making a way for this person so
[00:14:03] God's there every step of the way we're not going to see you haven't open up
[00:14:06] What we're going to see things happen circumstances happen people come into people's lives
[00:14:10] God's there
[00:14:11] There's some evidence for you
[00:14:13] I don't know kind of evidence sometimes we're looking for
[00:14:18] But that's the kind that I see
[00:14:21] So we have to guard against that it's like that old poem
[00:14:26] About footsteps in the sand on the beach
[00:14:29] You say God I was going through all these tough times and I know we've been walking along the beach together
[00:14:32] But every time I was really having a tough time
[00:14:36] There was only one set of footprints in a sand you left me all those times at the hardest point in my life and he said no
[00:14:42] That's when I was carrying you so our good shepherd does not forsake us
[00:14:50] We met not be able to hear him all the time, but he is always there
[00:14:55] Amen
[00:14:55] We believe that you felt that in the past
[00:15:02] Well
[00:15:03] Again over the past few weeks we've seen that Jesus our good shepherd
[00:15:07] Leading us and even carrying us along the way
[00:15:10] Has like the King James version says a peculiar people
[00:15:15] It means a
[00:15:16] particular people of the world a distinct people and the Jews definitely were distinct
[00:15:22] And us being spiritual Jews as Paul calls us in Romans two should be distinct from the world
[00:15:29] And these people were given to the father
[00:15:32] From the father to the son
[00:15:34] You've seen that in John 17 and John 6 and on and on and this is again
[00:15:39] refers to the biblical doctrine of what they call
[00:15:43] unconditional
[00:15:44] election
[00:15:45] God determines to save his people
[00:15:48] He
[00:15:49] Sopherly does it and he does it alone. We don't
[00:15:52] earn it
[00:15:53] It's a gift to us. It's not required by obey obedience of the law
[00:15:57] No man has ever been saved by the law
[00:15:59] It's by God's grace alone and
[00:16:01] The evidence of someone being a sheep one of those people one of those distinct people is their faith in Christ
[00:16:07] My people follow me
[00:16:09] They come to me that faith in Christ
[00:16:12] To think about this way God gave the physically
[00:16:15] Lifeless man Adam life in the garden
[00:16:18] Before he did anything
[00:16:20] What kind of dead man do
[00:16:26] What kind of physically dead man do to contribute to his receiving life? Adam didn't do anything. He was a pilot dust that got formed and he breathed life into him
[00:16:36] physically
[00:16:38] And God also gives
[00:16:40] the spiritually lifeless man spiritual life
[00:16:44] What can a spiritually dead man do?
[00:16:47] To contribute to his salvation to contribute to his spiritual life
[00:16:51] That's what Jesus used as an analogy in John chapter three
[00:16:56] And in John six we read from a few weeks back
[00:16:59] He says it is the spirit who gives life
[00:17:02] The flesh is of no help at all
[00:17:04] So when the Pharisees of the Jews were trying to earn their salvation or their righteousness
[00:17:09] They came to Jesus and said no no we understand how this works. We're doing it Jesus
[00:17:13] Who are you to say we're not doing it right? We're we're earning it
[00:17:17] He says in John six the flesh is no help of at all
[00:17:20] Your earning is not earning what you think it's earning
[00:17:24] He says the words that I spoken to you are spirit and life
[00:17:29] But there are some of you who do not believe
[00:17:32] For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe how did he know that because he's got on earth and he also knew who would be tray him
[00:17:43] And he said this is why I told you that no one can come to me and let's it is granted him by the father
[00:17:52] You next note says
[00:17:54] Even our faith
[00:17:56] Is a gift from God
[00:17:58] It's not a wage that we earn. It's not a
[00:18:01] reward that we receive because we figured out the gospel
[00:18:06] It's a gift God is when that opens our eyes the end of a Luke 24 he opened the eyes of his disciples
[00:18:12] So they would understand so many times in scripture God is opening people's eyes
[00:18:16] The blind man who was born blind he opened to say his eyes and that story isn't really about
[00:18:21] Just a man getting healed. It's about us being spiritually dead and then finally him giving us sight
[00:18:26] And he can only do that only him go to Hebrews chapter two our faith is a gift
[00:18:36] Says Jesus the founder and
[00:18:38] Perfector of our faith
[00:18:41] Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross?
[00:18:44] What is the founder of someone's faith?
[00:18:47] When the king James says the author and finish your of our faith what does an author do?
[00:18:52] Is there a novel sitting down in front of the author on his desk before he writes it
[00:18:59] Now he writes it the author writes the novel it comes from him. He's the source of that novel
[00:19:04] The founder of our faith if you found a company is a company there before you get there know you found it
[00:19:13] You make it you establish it
[00:19:16] The numeric and standard says he's the originator of our faith where does our faith come from us?
[00:19:22] Or Jesus you could say this way paraphrasing. He's the beginner of our faith and the completeer of our faith
[00:19:32] That was my words he's the established sure and the accomplisher
[00:19:37] He's the author and finish here. He's the founder and perfecter
[00:19:43] Where's our faith come from?
[00:19:46] The Lord he gives us our faith. He opens our eyes how can we believe before we see
[00:19:52] He opens our eyes we see and we believe
[00:19:54] We can't take credit for anything it's all about the Lord saving us Philippians won 29
[00:20:01] Says for it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ
[00:20:05] You should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake
[00:20:10] It has been granted to you that you should believe in him
[00:20:15] Does that come from you
[00:20:20] Or me?
[00:20:21] It's granted to us praise God hopefully we're understanding what grace is
[00:20:26] And he calls upon his own his airs his people all to those whom he sees
[00:20:32] He gives spiritual life there his people and
[00:20:35] Because we know from scripture that God alone saves us
[00:20:38] In spite of ourselves and spite of whatever things we think we have to do like the Pharisees and Jews thought they were doing all these things and really helping out God to save us
[00:20:47] He saves us in spite of all that because then we could say oh look what I've done
[00:20:51] And there's no room for that in salvation
[00:20:56] This point here is not your notes, but it's still not really
[00:20:59] Think about it as Christians we should always be living with the utmost humility and
[00:21:04] gratitude
[00:21:06] Without pride or contempt
[00:21:08] We know we're saved first John five tells us that I'm telling you these things so that you know that you have eternal life
[00:21:13] You have it Jesus tells us another place is my sheep have eternal life
[00:21:18] Already
[00:21:20] We have that sense of confidence we're not proud about it because we know it was only the stowed on us
[00:21:25] We did not earn this
[00:21:27] So we're humble we should be
[00:21:29] We didn't save ourselves and we know it
[00:21:33] Jesus told the Jewish leaders that day you're not among my sheep and many places in scripture
[00:21:41] We're told that the people of God are called his elect those who truly believe in him and trust in him alone for salvation and they're humble
[00:21:48] Regarding their salvation
[00:21:50] Now these were given to the the sun by the father and
[00:21:53] God the sun came into the world to save them to seek and save that which was lost
[00:21:59] But not all are his
[00:22:02] Last week
[00:22:03] We mentioned from John five twenty one
[00:22:05] The Lord Jesus saves whomever he wills whoever he desires and in the NLT says
[00:22:11] He gives eternal life to whoever he wants more of a
[00:22:14] Contemporary version, but we know that not all are saved how does that work
[00:22:21] Because not all are his sheep not all are his people not all will believe
[00:22:28] And the biblical doctrine that not all people will be saved is referred to as we said last week as
[00:22:33] Limited atonement not all are saved
[00:22:37] If you believe the
[00:22:39] Alternative that all are saved
[00:22:43] That's what we call a heresy
[00:22:45] It's not true. It's not biblical. We know people are doomed
[00:22:49] Some are so we need to pray we don't know who they are by the way
[00:22:54] So we pray for everyone we give the gospel to every single person not knowing who will come but also knowing that some definitely will
[00:23:01] It's not a hopeless endeavor to preach the gospel some definitely will come so we preach it to all
[00:23:10] And when they come they'll come humbly because they'll be broken harded for their sin
[00:23:13] They'll understand where they came from they'll understand I was lost and now I'm found I've heard my voice the voice of my shepherd
[00:23:19] I recognize it
[00:23:21] I'm making me sure that one God does call us and we hear him and we respond
[00:23:26] He'll bring us all the way home. Look at Philippians one
[00:23:30] Paul says and I'm sure of this
[00:23:32] That he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion
[00:23:37] At the day of Jesus Christ if God begins that good work of salvation and you he will complete it
[00:23:42] He won't just bring it halfway and then you mess it up and then he says oh forget it
[00:23:46] No, he'll bring you home
[00:23:49] Like a good shepherd would
[00:23:52] Now, this is the biblical doctrine which is referred to sometimes as the perseverance of the saints or the preservation of the saints it just means that God brings a sheep all the way home
[00:24:01] He does and
[00:24:03] This goes against us feeling well boy. I'm really messing up bad here and God's gonna not love me anymore
[00:24:09] at certain times in our life
[00:24:12] But that's not biblical
[00:24:14] Because we're not the ones that save ourselves. He has saved us
[00:24:18] He has determined to
[00:24:22] Your next notice is all of God's people will persevere to the end because he is the one that secures our salvation
[00:24:28] Internally he secured it you didn't secure it and I didn't secure it
[00:24:33] He does he does that
[00:24:36] God will preserve his sheep
[00:24:38] His people they ever felt like you're just lost and God forgot about you
[00:24:41] Yeah, we all have but that's just your feelings
[00:24:47] That's just your mind getting in the best of you to say well now
[00:24:50] You really haven't heard God's voice in a little while it's been a couple of days or a week or months or even years
[00:24:55] But if you have faith and believe, I never let you go
[00:24:58] If you get too far, you know, you'll be around you feel that pulling your heart
[00:25:02] Of man. I really got to get back to the Lord
[00:25:05] Well, that's the Holy Spirit saying come back now you're too far off course here. I'm gonna send a friend your way to bring you home
[00:25:11] Because we have freedom in Christ
[00:25:14] Paul says all things are permissible, but not all things are
[00:25:18] Lawful
[00:25:20] He let you go a little ways
[00:25:22] But you get too far and he'll bring it bring home
[00:25:28] And
[00:25:29] We he brings us home. It's because
[00:25:31] Not of any righteousness of our own like the Pharisees thought the Jews thought because they really thought it was a lot about them
[00:25:37] It's only by his righteousness
[00:25:39] Paul says I don't want to be standing there on judgment day
[00:25:42] With a righteousness of my own because I know that's gonna mean nothing
[00:25:46] But but we will be there declared innocent on judgment day because of Christ righteousness that he gives to us through faith
[00:25:53] Praise God for that when when God sees us on judgment day and we go give an account
[00:25:58] He won't look at us if we're in Christ as us and our
[00:26:01] Righteous deeds he'll see Christ's righteous deeds and say
[00:26:05] You're justified you're innocent
[00:26:07] Because Christ covers us with his righteousness. He's taken our sins. He's taken all the junk paid for it
[00:26:13] Nothing left the pay for
[00:26:16] And he gives us his they call it the great exchange
[00:26:22] And what a great exchange it was for us and the few verses leading up to this passage for today if you remember
[00:26:31] Jesus was explaining to some of those reprobate Jewish leaders
[00:26:36] What happens when they hear his voice?
[00:26:40] They don't come
[00:26:42] They don't believe
[00:26:45] Because they're not among his sheep
[00:26:49] But when Jesus explains what happens when his sheep hear his voice
[00:26:53] This is what happens verse 27
[00:26:57] My sheep hear my voice and I know them
[00:27:00] And they follow me
[00:27:02] That's the difference about what's happening here. I give them eternal life
[00:27:07] How does he give eternal life to his sheep?
[00:27:10] I give them eternal life and they will never perish
[00:27:14] Now he doesn't give them eternal life and then take it back and then give it to him again when there are good boys and girls
[00:27:20] I give them eternal life and they will never perish
[00:27:26] We're securing Christ and no one will snatch them out of my hand
[00:27:31] 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 either
[00:27:36] I and the father are one
[00:27:39] We're in perfect communion
[00:27:41] The Jews wanted clarity
[00:27:43] Well, they got clarity that day
[00:27:47] Through Jesus' words
[00:27:48] They were gaining clarity about just how salvation works because they had it
[00:27:53] They didn't have it right
[00:27:55] Salvation is of God alone
[00:28:01] And it's that Jesus gives eternal life to his own
[00:28:03] Jesus gives the elect his sheep those whom he for whom he died
[00:28:07] Eternal life and they will
[00:28:09] Always follow him
[00:28:10] They will not be cast out and they'll never perish
[00:28:18] And their salvation is secure forever
[00:28:21] When he calls on his sheep they all come remember what John said in chapter six
[00:28:27] They will all come to him
[00:28:29] Now this is the biblical doctrine
[00:28:31] Again, I told you John 10 covers a lot the doctrine of irresistible grace
[00:28:38] When God determined to determine us to save someone
[00:28:41] We call it sometimes the effect you will call you felt that before he's called you and you said yes
[00:28:47] Because that call goes out to the entire world and not all believe
[00:28:51] When it does have that effect in your heart
[00:28:55] That's a factual and you'll never say no once you say yes
[00:28:59] You hear your shepherd's voice you recognize that you see that's my shepherd
[00:29:03] That's where I'm going
[00:29:06] John the Baptist was filled with the spirit from his womb look chapter one tells us that
[00:29:12] God determined to save him
[00:29:14] From his womb
[00:29:16] The Jacob and Jeremiah were anointed and appointed from the womb
[00:29:21] You read that Romans chapter nine or Jeremiah one
[00:29:24] From the womb not because of anything good or bad they did
[00:29:30] God determined to save his people and he saves them all the way
[00:29:36] And the name so all the names of God's people who are written in the lambs book a life before the world began
[00:29:42] We're written and determined
[00:29:45] To be saved before the world began revelation 13
[00:29:48] When the good shepherd calls the sheep they all come to him
[00:29:54] And it's only by God's grace now
[00:29:59] In Matthew chapter seven the Lord talks about the sheep in the goats and being in separating the tomb
[00:30:03] Well, the goats represent unbelievers those who will never believe and they're separated out
[00:30:07] And the sheep's remit the sheep remain with with Christ and so sure the goats can resist the the call of God they do every day
[00:30:14] Jesus no I don't need Jesus
[00:30:16] It's a forest it's all fake whatever they say
[00:30:19] They won't believe well, they're not cheap that's what goats do they don't believe they resist
[00:30:28] But not the sheep they all come and Jesus here at the end
[00:30:32] Also equates himself with the father he says I and the father are one
[00:30:35] Well, they choose new what that meant because what do they do next? They want to stone them to death for blasphemy
[00:30:42] People say well got Jesus really didn't say I am God in scripture
[00:30:46] I beg your pardon for well there are many places first of all but here he says in a way that they would understand
[00:30:53] Oh, yeah the father your all thank you worshiping I'm equal with him. I do what he does he does what I do
[00:31:01] They knew it that's why they wanted to kill him immediately
[00:31:07] Verse 31 look at it
[00:31:09] They took great offense to this
[00:31:12] Says the Jews picked up stones again to stone him Jesus answered them
[00:31:16] I've shown you many good works from the father for which of them?
[00:31:19] Are you going to stone me the Jews answered him it's not for a good work that we're going to stone you but for blasphemy
[00:31:26] Because you being a man make yourself God they knew exactly what he was saying
[00:31:34] And they got the message
[00:31:38] He was claiming that he was divine and they knew he was claiming that
[00:31:42] And they rejected him
[00:31:44] Jesus just said that he's the one that gives his people eternal life only God can do that
[00:31:53] So then I think it was becoming clear now. They wanted clarity
[00:31:57] News claiming to be God in front of them and so they wanted to kill him
[00:32:02] Your next note here says
[00:32:05] Be careful what you asked the Lord for
[00:32:08] And be prepared to receive it because if if it says will he'll give you what you ask
[00:32:19] Just be prepared for when you get it
[00:32:23] They want a clarity and they got it that day
[00:32:27] Moving on verse 34 Jesus answered them he goes on. It is not is it not written in your law
[00:32:31] I said you are gods he quotes from Psalm 82
[00:32:34] If he called them gods
[00:32:36] To whom the word of God came in scripture cannot be broken
[00:32:39] Do you say of him? He's talking about himself when the father consecrated and sent into the world
[00:32:44] You tell me I'm blaspheming because I said I'm the son of God
[00:32:50] He's telling the Jewish leaders in the Old Testament. There are Jewish judges that you'll consider to be godly men or of God and they called them Elohim godly
[00:33:02] Ambassadors determining life and death for people
[00:33:05] You considered them to be gods you call them gods on earth basically my ambassadors
[00:33:11] And you didn't say their blaspheming now I come and I say I'm the son of God and you Sam blaspheming
[00:33:16] He says you got to be consistent guys
[00:33:18] Either condemn them too
[00:33:20] If you're gonna condemn me or don't condemn me either of us or you're showing me today that you're being inconsistent
[00:33:30] And it's good to note here that our Lord as they're about to stone him they're picking up stones getting ready to kill them here remains calm
[00:33:39] And he reasons with them gives him this
[00:33:42] argument
[00:33:44] Under pressure stirring potential death in the face you can stand firm and strong if you have the if you have the truth and you're
[00:33:51] Especially if it's the truth of Christ
[00:33:54] Come what may and
[00:33:56] He was walking truth on earth
[00:33:58] He didn't have to worry about that
[00:34:00] He knew it wasn't as time yet anyway
[00:34:02] But it just goes to show if we have truth in those moments of heated conversation or
[00:34:08] You're coming up against some kind of an issue whatever it might be in life you have the truth become
[00:34:14] As some questions how do you explain that?
[00:34:17] We have the truth as Christians should give us confidence
[00:34:20] In humility
[00:34:23] But he engaged intellectually and had a
[00:34:27] Little discussion
[00:34:31] Well, I say well if you don't even if you don't believe in me at least believe my my miracles my works you can see that God is anointed me
[00:34:37] Me by what I can do
[00:34:40] At least believe the works are truly of God but it still wasn't enough for them
[00:34:45] And they still sought to arrest him and he slipped away from them
[00:34:49] Look at verse 40
[00:34:51] He went away again across the Jordan to the place where Jonathan baptizing at first and there he remained
[00:34:58] Many came to him and they said John did no sign but everything that John said about this man was true
[00:35:05] And many believed in him there many believed in him there after all at what had what it happened
[00:35:14] We went through the feasts of
[00:35:15] Tabernacles in the fall we've been through the feasts of dedication Hanukkah in the winter time
[00:35:20] All these back and forth issues and arguments with the Jews and and the ruckus
[00:35:26] After all this
[00:35:28] still Jesus went out and still many believed in him
[00:35:33] I hope believed in him
[00:35:36] He she believed
[00:35:38] There were still those who stayed close to Jesus
[00:35:41] They were the one who heard his voice and followed him
[00:35:45] Through all the haze and the fog they could hear
[00:35:49] No, I know a lot of people as a lot of pressure not to believe
[00:35:53] But that's my shepherd I can do nothing else
[00:35:58] Because they were his sheep his elect his people and out of the fury and all that vitriol and you can just imagine the political pressure
[00:36:06] Not to believe in him some says many still believed
[00:36:13] Jesus the good shepherd found his sheep and brought them out
[00:36:21] And so after walking through John 10 now been a few weeks
[00:36:24] We find that there's still much to be said here about the security of the believer
[00:36:30] Jesus mentions this a lot in this in this chapter be secure so whoever can benefit from hearing this over the past few weeks
[00:36:36] Be secure in your salvation
[00:36:38] He gives us this beautiful picture of a good shepherd keeping his sheep safe close providing for them
[00:36:46] In our own lives we think well my safe salvation is not really secure because it depends somehow some way on what I'm doing
[00:36:52] And I'm gonna let God down and just know it
[00:36:55] But that's not biblical
[00:36:57] And we should have great peace because of that truth through John 10 he talks about
[00:37:05] And shows us examples of the great love he has for us and never let us go like a mother with her kids
[00:37:11] They could do a lot of
[00:37:12] Miss Shiva's things she's never gonna let him go
[00:37:16] She's always gonna hold him close there could be naughty at times
[00:37:19] But she's gonna still be mom and they're still gonna be their kids
[00:37:23] It's like a good heavenly parent our father does to us and so that your last note says here if you know that in your heart
[00:37:32] Jesus is your shepherd
[00:37:34] Then you can rest in the peace of God knowing
[00:37:38] That he has fully secured
[00:37:40] Your salvation forever
[00:37:43] That gives us great peace imagine that the burden you'd carry if you think well
[00:37:48] All right, I gotta get up again in
[00:37:50] Maintain what God's done for me
[00:37:53] It's up to me now
[00:37:56] So heavy burden and he says he doesn't want your burden to be heavy
[00:37:59] He says he wants you burden to be light. He says light give it to him
[00:38:03] He'll carry that burden for us. He's done it for us. It is finished
[00:38:08] We don't want to live under the guilt and shame from our past sins
[00:38:11] He's paid for them. He's dealt with it
[00:38:13] We should be continually repenting for our daily sin
[00:38:16] But we do that because we're in him and we care about being holy
[00:38:22] And righteous and we know that we won't be perfectly in how so does he
[00:38:26] We still yearn for that. We still desire that
[00:38:31] We shouldn't care that a heavy burden of thinking we have to live up to God's standard of perfection
[00:38:36] or
[00:38:36] Risk losing our salvation because of me for you
[00:38:40] He gave it to us
[00:38:44] When we live that way, you know what we do? We diminished Christ work on the cross
[00:38:49] We diminished what he did for us through his perfect life and sacrificial death on the cross
[00:38:56] When we think that holy end of our salvation somehow depends on us we're saying
[00:39:00] Christ death wasn't enough for me
[00:39:06] Now I have to do something
[00:39:07] Do we believe Christ death on the cross is sufficient for us or not?
[00:39:14] If you say no, there's still work that has to be done
[00:39:19] For me to really be saved
[00:39:21] We're saying Christ wasn't enough and it's not true
[00:39:27] Christ is enough
[00:39:31] Because of securing your salvation depends on you in any way at any time to any degree
[00:39:38] And Christ wasn't enough
[00:39:43] Do you believe the Bible teaches that?
[00:39:45] Christ wasn't quite enough
[00:39:52] In closing I'd like to read from Hebrews chapter 10
[00:39:55] The author here reminds us about Christ being enough
[00:40:00] So we can take from John chapter 10
[00:40:02] The fact that he's our good shepherd he provides everything we'll ever need including salvation
[00:40:07] Hebrews chapter 10 verse 11
[00:40:10] We read every priest stands daily at his service
[00:40:14] Offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins
[00:40:22] But when Christ has offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins
[00:40:28] He sat down at the right hand of God
[00:40:30] Waiting from that time until all his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet
[00:40:35] For by a single offering
[00:40:38] He has perfected for all time
[00:40:41] Those who are being sanctified
[00:40:44] Who's being sanctified?
[00:40:47] People who are saved
[00:40:51] For by a single offering
[00:40:53] He has perfected finished for all time
[00:40:56] Those who have been saved and are now being sanctified
[00:40:59] I don't normally ever do this but I'm gonna read it a third time just so we have
[00:41:07] Jesus Christ for by a single offering
[00:41:10] He has perfected for all time
[00:41:15] Those who are being sanctified then he adds verse 17
[00:41:19] I will remember there sins in our lawless need deeds no more
[00:41:25] Where there is forgiveness of these
[00:41:30] There's no longer any offering for sin
[00:41:36] There's no longer any offering for sin
[00:41:40] There's nothing more to offer for your sins
[00:41:44] There's no more sacrifices to be made
[00:41:47] There's no amount of good works that you can bring as an offering for your sin
[00:41:53] There's no other requirements you need to achieve
[00:41:59] There's no good work. There's no
[00:42:01] Good demeanor you can't you don't have to be a good boy anymore quote-unquote
[00:42:07] To offer to God say God I did it
[00:42:10] It's done
[00:42:12] Christ did it all that's why he said it is finished
[00:42:19] I think sometimes a lot of times we still rely on ourselves
[00:42:23] I still have to do this. I still gotta be this way
[00:42:25] I self-the modify my behavior good enough
[00:42:28] So I'm good enough that God wills will keep me saved
[00:42:32] He says no already did that
[00:42:35] I know you're gonna still mess up
[00:42:37] But I have you covered by grace and
[00:42:41] Paul said in his epistles people would say in Romans does that mean we can just go on sinning as much as we want
[00:42:46] He said of course not if you have the love of Christ
[00:42:49] Within you you're not gonna want to first of all
[00:42:53] But in one way we kind of do sin as much as we want
[00:42:57] Because when Christ is within you you don't want to sin and
[00:43:00] You hate your sin and you still do it but you hate it when you do it
[00:43:05] You look back and say why do that again?
[00:43:09] And you go back to God God help me with this sanctify me and he says yeah that you're in this verse
[00:43:16] Verse 14 for by a single offering he's perfected for all time those are being sanctified
[00:43:20] I'm sanctifying you. I'm making you whole year
[00:43:23] I'm making you more like me this a process but you're still saved. I just making you more holy now
[00:43:29] Too many times we think it's still somehow depends on me
[00:43:33] Christ did it all and it's finished
[00:43:35] Now the sealed and saved Christian will forever be
[00:43:39] progressively sanctified for aggressively beginning more begin becoming more like Christ
[00:43:44] Because he's once been saved
[00:43:47] And so friends the Lord has given us this amazing illustration from from John 10
[00:43:53] To show us our relationship with God our relationship with our good shepherd
[00:43:59] And it should give us peace
[00:44:01] That we don't have to measure up the God's perfection because Christ has done it for us
[00:44:08] Because it doesn't depend on you
[00:44:12] Remember last week we said if you could lose your salvation you would
[00:44:16] It's true I
[00:44:18] Would doesn't depend on you
[00:44:23] It fully depends on Christ
[00:44:26] And he is fully dependable is he not
[00:44:30] And that's good news
[00:44:32] That's the gospel Christ did it for you
[00:44:36] You can't do it and dude the Jews did not like hearing that but it's the truth and so with that
[00:44:45] We end John 10 please understand the the Lord has saved us if you believe in Christ he's done it and it's over
[00:44:53] Don't live with the guilt in the shame and the
[00:44:56] The high standards that I can never uphold and then you're depressed and you're rejected because I just can't live up Christ
[00:45:01] And you just go off in a despair
[00:45:03] It's not what it that's law that's a burden let that go lay it at Christ's feet and live freely knowing he's got me
[00:45:11] He'll never let me go and I can't jump out of his hands. I'm his I was bought with a price and I'm not my own
[00:45:19] And it's only by faith in Christ that he will bring us all the way home
[00:45:22] Amen
[00:45:23] Please stand with me as we pray
[00:45:32] Dear Heavenly Father once again, we're here on a beautiful day that you've given us
[00:45:36] Understanding that you alone are Savior and you've done all the work
[00:45:41] We just rest in you who are our Sabbath rest
[00:45:47] So when we think that we have something to do to help you out and to
[00:45:50] To get better to be better to save ourselves remind us it's done. It's finished
[00:45:55] Your mind and your safe with me no matter what comes in this life
[00:46:00] Through faith we're saved in Christ alone
[00:46:04] Lord bless our mothers and grandmothers and those who've served in those
[00:46:08] Positions when needed in the past less them richly helped them be honored today by those who love them
[00:46:14] And bring us into this week with hope for the future if we're going through tough things
[00:46:19] Knowing that you are always on the on the throne. We love you Lordy pray in Jesus name
[00:46:23] Amen