THE DOOR TO ETERNAL LIFE!

November 17, 2016

THE DOOR TO ETERNAL LIFE!

John 10:1–21

Jennifer Bundren

Central Truth

Jesus is the door, the only way to enter into eternal life with God in heaven. Don't be deceived into believing a false gospel. It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ, not by works or anything you can do personally, that you will be forgiven and set free.

"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9)

I Am the Good Shepherd

1 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

This is a great passage that talks about false gospels and how Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Jesus tells us that “he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber” (verse 1). He then tells us that He is “the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them” (verse 7). Jesus is telling us here that there are others who came before Him who tried to steal His sheep.

If you look back at the Old Testament, the Israelites were led astray time after time. They followed false gods, depended upon their idols, and were consequently led to destruction (Ezekiel 20:8). Jesus uses the example of a hired hand and how the hired hand leaves the sheep and flees when he sees the wolf coming because he cares nothing for the sheep (verses 12-13). There is an enemy out there who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (verse 10).

There are many different beliefs that claim there are various ways to get to heaven. Jesus says clearly that He is “the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is alluding to His death on the cross and how we are made alive through His sacrifice (Ephesians 2:4-5). And it was a sacrifice. Jesus says, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:17b-18a) Jesus was the perfect sacrifice because He is the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for the sheep” (verse 11).

Jesus is the door to eternal life. He is the only way to live in heaven for eternity with God. So don’t listen to other false gospels that are out there. It is through Christ alone that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9).

1. Who is your shepherd? Who is it you are listening to and following?

2. What are some of the ways the "thief" is stealing, killing, and destroying your life right now? What are some lies you are believing?

3. Do you think that believing in Jesus, and Him laying down His life for us, will lead you to be forgiven of your sins and allow you to spend eternity in heaven with God? Why or why not?

Heaven