Sundays at 9:00am & 10:45am

X Close Menu

Showdown with the Shepherd

December 8, 2013 Speaker: Ken Ramey

Topic: Contentment Passage: John 10:22–42

Sunday Service
John 10:22-42
In Jesus' final public confrontation with the hostile Jewish religious leaders, He returned to the shepherd/sheep imagery and described FIVE MARKS of true sheep.
1. True sheep are sovereignly chosen by the Shepherd (vv. 22-26)
Even though those who are saved make a decision to follow Christ, they are led to do so by the sovereign will of God the Father. From a human perspective, the principle of election is perceived as a human act because God works His will of salvation through people.
2. True sheep attentively and intimately follow the Shepherd (v. 27)
Those chosen for salvation wil heed Christ's call to salvation (Romans 8:28-30) and they will live, by God's grace, in obedience to His will. Lives that are marked by Christ are characterized by listening to His Word and obeying.
3. True sheep are eternally guarded by the Shepherd (vv. 28-30)
The doctrine of eternal security means that once God saves a person, there is no way that person can lose their salvation. Moreover, a believer's struggle with sin should not necessarily be construed as a loss of salvation (Matthew 24:24). Since Christ shares the will of God the Father, it is also His will that He lose none of the sheep that have been given to Him by the Father.
4. True sheep would never foolishly kill the Shepherd (vv. 31-39)
This was the third time the Jews tried to kill Jesus (e.g., Leviticus 24:16). They were attacking Him on the basis that He was claiming to be God, and in spite of the fact that He had done only good things for the Jewish people.
5. True sheep faithfully bear witness of the Shepherd (vv. 40-42)
Everything that John the Baptist had foretold about Jesus turned out to be correct. His testimony about Christ was accurate and well received (John 3:36). It had impact and enduring impact after He was killed. John was a faithful witness.
Praise God for choosing you to be one of Christ's sheep. Thank Him that your salvation is secure and that you don't have to live in fear of losing your salvation. Ask Him to help you be a simple and trye witness for Christ in everything you say and do.