"CHRIST, THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP" (John 10:1-2)
March 23rd, 2003
Int. The Apostle John recorded only this parable and possibly one more.
1. He did this to prove that Jesus is the True Shepherd, the true Messiah, and only Saviour.
2. He did this to show that all that came before Him, pretending to be Messiah's were false teachers, or thieves and robbers.
a. Rabbi in N. Y. claimed to be the Messiah died a few years ago.
3. He did this to show that the Scribes and Pharisees of that time were none of the shepherds of the sheep of Christ, but rather thieves and robbers also.
a. (John 1:24-26) "And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. {25}And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? {26}John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;"
4. He did this to show the nature of INFINITE LOVE of the TRUE SHEPHERD to His Sheep.
5. He did this to show that no man can be a true shepherd or leader who is not sent by God.
6. He did this to reveal who the true sheep of Christ are, and their great safety and happiness. (Vr. 27-30)
'Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away
In the parable Jesus told;
A grown-up sheep that had gone astray
From the ninety and nine in the fold;
Out on the hillside, out in the cold,
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought;
And back to the flock, safe in the fold,
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.
And why for the sheep should we earnestly long,
And as earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger if they go wrong,
They will lead the lambs astray.
For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
wherever the sheep may stray;
When the sheep go wrong, it will not be long
Till the lambs are as wrong as they.
And so with the sheep we earnestly plead,
For the sake of the lambs today;
If the lambs are lost, what terrible cost
Some sheep will have to pay!
7. A. W. P. says: "THE ROPE! No stronger passage in all the Word of God can be found guaranteeing the absolute security of every child of God.
I. A DOOR SOMETIMES REFERS TO A HOUSE AND SOMETIMES TO A SHEEPFOLD.
A. IT IS THE ENTRANCE THROUGH WHICH A SOUL PASSES INTO GOD'S FOLD.
1. IT IS A PERSONAL DOOR. (Vr. 1)
a. Not my teaching, nor my example, etc, but "THROUGH ME"
b. (Psa 119:176) "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments."
2. It is an EXCLUSIVE DOOR.
a. Christ as a Saviour, stands alone. He shares this honour with no one.
(1) Not with Moses,
(2) Not with Confucius, Mohammed, Angels, The Virgin Mary, Priest or Pope.
3. It is a UNIVERSAL DOOR. (If any man)
a. (1 Tim 2:4) "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
4. It is a DEPENDABLE DOOR. (Shall be saved)
B. IT IS A DOOR FOR THE SHEEP.
1. No man has a right to be a shepherd:
a. Who does not derive his position from Christ. (Eph 4:11) "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
b. Who does not approach men through his own personal acquaintance with Christ. (2 Cor 4:13) "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;"
c. Who does not devote himself to the spiritual edification of those that have believed on Christ.
1. (Eph 4:12) "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
Across the fields of yesterday he sometimes comes to me,
A little lad just back from play, the boy I used to be.
He smiles at me so wistfully when once he's crept within,
It is as though he'd hoped to see the man I might have been.
2. (1 Tim 4:6) "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."
3. (2 Tim 4:2) "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
II. THE PROBLEM WITH FALSE SHEPHERDS.. (Vr. 8, 12)
A. NOT ALL MEN HAVE BEEN CALLED. (Vr. 8, 10, 12)
1. Some came "BEFORE CHRIST" claiming to be the Messiah. (Vr. 8)
B. THEIR CHARACTER..."Thieves and Robbers"
C. THEIR OBJECT (To steal and kill for their own enrichment) (Vr.10)
D. THEIR EXPERIENCE..(John 10:8) "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep (true sheep) did not hear them."
III. NOW CONSIDER THE TRUE SHEPHERD.
A. TO THE TRUE SHEPHERD (Christ), THE PORTER (Holy Spirit) openeth..(Vr. 3)
1. The True Sheep hear the voice of the True Shepherd.
a. (Isa 53:6) "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
b. (Luke 15:4) "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"
c. (1 Pet 2:25) "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
2. One may imitate the voice of the True Shepherd for a little while, but the Elect will not be finally deceived.
a. (Mat 24:24) "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
B. THE TRUE SHEPHERD LEADS HIS SHEEP OUT..(Vr. 3-b)
1. He leads them out of themselves, wholly to rest upon Him for Righteousness.
a. (Phil 3:9) "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
2. He leads them out of the world, and from idolatry, and false worship.
3. He leads them out into a visible profession of His Truth.
C. THE TRUE SHEPHERD GOES BEFORE HIS SHEEP AND THEY FOLLOW HIM. (Vr. 4)
1. Today, Shepherds follow the sheep, but in Biblical times, the Sheep followed the Shepherd.
Note: True Sheep still follow the Shepherd and the Under-shepherd.
2. (1 Pet 2:21) "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"
Ill. His steps were in obedience to the Father and His Word.
3. True Sheep (as opposed to Goats) don't listen to a strangers's voicel. (Vr. 5,8)
J. C. Philpot says: "There is a great difference between a white washed professor and a truely regenerate soul."
4. (Rev 14:4) "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."
5. Those are not sheep do not understand either. (Vr. 6)
6. As we said, Christ is the door for sheep only. (Vr. 7)
D. OUR LORD REPEATS THIS STATEMENT..."I AM THE DOOR." (Vr. 9)
1. Christ is the only way. (John 14:6)
2. (Prov 8:35) "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD."
3. NOT ALL OF THE SHEPHERDS OF ISRAEL WERE CALLED.
1. (Ezek 34:2) "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?"
2. (Ezek 34:4) "The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them."
Ill Benjamin Keach says: "Many deceivers are deceived, and they may not come with an intention to kill and destroy, but that is Satan's design; yet the poisonous doctrine of grand imposters kills and destroys all that suck it in. I come regularly in at the door, deceivers climb up some other way; and that shows they come not to feed the sheep, but to make a prey of them."
CONCLUSION:
1. None can enter without the Saviour.
C. H. S. said: "In consideration of the ordinance as it was administered to them, with or more commonly without their consent, they were recognized by some persons as being Christians; but let me tell you that unless they came to Christ by true faith, they are nothing better than baptised pagans: they are sprinkled heathens still."
2. None can enter without faith in His Precious Blood.
a. This door is a place of Separation.
b. This door is a place of Security.
c. This door is a place of Satisfaction.
d. This door is a place for doubters.
e. This door is wide enough for the chief of sinners.
f. This door is too narrow for the slightest sin to enter in not covered with the blood.
h. This door is the only way. (John 14:6)
I was a wand'ring sheep,
I did not love the fold,
I did not love my Shepherd's voice,
I would not be controll'd;
I was a wayward child,
I did not love my home,
I did not love my Father's voice,
I loved afar to roam.
The Shepherd sought His sheep,
The Father sought His child;
He followed me o'er vale and hill,
O'er desert waste and wild:
He found me nigh to death,
Famished, and faint, and lone:
He bound me with the bands of love,
He saved the wand'ring one.
Jesus my Shepherd is;
'Twas He that loved my soul,
'Twas He that washed me in His blood,,
'Twas He that made me whole:
'Twas He that sought the lost,
That found the wand'ring sheep;
'Twas He that brought me to the fold,
'Tis He that still doth keep.
No more a wand'ring sheep,
I love to be controlled,
I love my tender Shepherd's voice,
I love the peaceful fold:
No more a wayward child,
I seek no more to roam;
I love my heav'nly Father's voice,
I love , I love His home!