John 10:1ff, The Way of Salvation, by John

The Way of Salvation
John 10:1ff

1. Jesus spoke to everyone, but He was primarily interested in their understanding what He said if they were seeking God.
2. In Matthew 13: 10, the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke to the people in parables.
3. He answered them in v. 10: "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."
4. God has given all of us freedom of choice.
(1) The people in Isaiah's day had that same freedom, and Jesus quoted from Isaiah 6:9,10.
(2) By speaking in parables, those who were seeking God would understand.
(3) Those rebelling against God would not see the truth of the parable. In Mt. 13:12, Jesus said, "Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
5. Today, we have God's Word to lead us if we will read it and hear it taught and preached. All that we need is right here between these covers!
(1) You want to know how God sees you? It's right here!
(2) You want to know where you will spend eternity? It's right here!
(3) You want to know how you can live for Jesus and please Him and His Father? It's right here for you!
6. In our text, Jesus is still talking to the Pharisees as far as I can tell, and He tells them where the dividing line is between eternal life and eternal death.
7. Let's look at it.

I. There is only one way to life everlasting, v, 1-3

1. Men in all ages have tried to enter heaven their own way, and Jesus refers to their attempts in v.
(1) He used terms the people understood, sheep, sheep pens, gate, thieves and robbers.
(2) Anyone who doesn't try to enter heaven by Jesus is a thief and a robber in God's sight!
(3) Only the Good Shepherd enters by the gate, and He alone can invite you to enter through that gate.
(4) In 10:7, Jesus says, "I am the gate for the sheep."
(5) That also means, He will not invite you until you become one of His sheep! (note the word "for.")
2. Let's borrow another statement from Jesus in Matthew 7:13 and say, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
(1) Jesus is the only way to life eternal.
(2) The nicest thing you can say about someone trying any other way is that they are mistaken and will not, cannot, be successful!
3. The Pharisees missed the point. I hope no one here has missed it. Jesus is the one way to life eternal!

II. Jesus Is Our Lord! vv 3, 4.

1. In v 3, Jesus told us the "watchman opens the gate for him."
(1) That happens because the Heavenly Father has given Jesus the right to choose His Own sheep!
(2) In fact, Colossians 2:9,10 says, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."
2. Note that Jesus' sheep know the sound of His voice and respond to it, v 3.
3. Also note that Jesus knows each one of us, His sheep, by name! Jesus knows you Christian, and He will know you by name lost person as soon as you put your life in His hands.
4. We worry about whether we are doing what God wants us to do, or whether we have gone astray somehow.
(1) I wonder if we forget those last words in v 3? Jesus "leads them out."
5. God has provided in His Son Jesus all that we need!

III. The Future Holds No Fear for Christians, v 5.

1. We may be timid by nature, but we do not need to be timid spiritually.
2. The future is in the able hands of God, and He is watching over His entire creation.
3. We need to stop worrying, and listen for the voice of Jesus and follow where He leads!
4. In v. 24, the Jews gathered around Jesus and said, "It you are the Christ tell us plainly."
5. In vv. 27-30, Jesus answered them, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. I and the Father are one."
6. How can any Christian possibly fear the future when he knows that Jesus and the Father both hold him in their hands?
7. The apostle Paul had this in mind when he wrote the Romans in chapter 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
8. In v 16 & 17, he said, "Now if we are children then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heairs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

Conclusion:

1. If you want to get rid of fear, if you want to live a godly life, if you want heaven for your home, the one single way to have it is to receive it as a gift from God.
2. He has foreordained that every person who seeks Him honestly can find Him.
3. He has already provided His Son Jesus to pay for your sins.
4. It's up to you to put your trust in Jesus, and to accept His Lordship of your life!
5. If some very rich person said, "I want to make you rich!" What would your response be?
6. I suspect you would be quick to say, "Hey! I'm willing!" but in this day and time, you might add, "What's the catch?"
7. If he said, "I want you to be my servant and do whatever I tell you."
8. That's what God is saying to you right now.
(1) In addition to that, God wants to make you His heir!
(2) He wants you to be part of His family.
(3) That means everything that God has will be yours with Him!
(4) Oh, you won't get it all at once. You have some growing to do, but you will be part of the family of God, and nothing but good comes to His family!
9. You can decide to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior right now, and you can ask God to save you.
10. He will.