34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’?
35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
“Didn’t My Father Call the Prophets gods?”
The Jews had just told Jesus that they were not stoning Him for His good works, but were stoning Him because He spoke blasphemy when He made Himself God. The response by Jesus was interesting. He quotes Psalm 82:6 to make a point, which reads, “I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.’” What this passage means is that the human beings that God used to speak, prophesy, or perform miracles in His name were called “gods”. Then Jesus makes His point in verses 35 through 37. Paraphrasing, He says, “If My Father called humans ‘gods’ because they spoke, prophesied, and performed works in His name (and we never question the Scripture), then how can you say that I, who is set apart and sent by God into the world, am blaspheming when I say I am the Son of God? If I do not do the works of My Father, then feel free not to believe Me”. Jesus’ works showed who He was. So why was it wrong for Him to say who He was? Jesus had been sent by God to speak and do works in His name. This is no different from the prophets of old who spoke and did works in His name, and the Father called them “gods”…..”little g gods”, that is. Jesus was trying to get them to calm down and put down the stones, so He could continue to teach them. Jesus had every right to say that He was the Son of God, because everything that He said and did was in the name of the Father. He gave no credit to Himself… only to the Father. This is a mini-lesson for us. We are not to credit ourselves for the things we do for the kingdom here on earth. We shouldn’t seek any recognition for what we do. If someone gives us recognition and encouragement, then that is great. As Christians, we should encourage each other and build each other up. But we shouldn’t seek it. God gets the credit for what we do because we belong to Him. We wouldn’t be able to do anything if it weren’t for Him.
Let’s go back to John 3 when John the baptizer’s disciples came to him concerned, because all of the people who were originally following John were now going to Jesus and His disciples to be baptized (John 3:26). Then John says some words that we can all take to heart, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27). It was meant to be for everyone to leave John and go to Jesus. And Jesus would not have been able to do any good works unless God allowed Him to do so. Pure and good works come only from God. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). That should be our attitude as we do our part to grow the kingdom. Jesus must increase, and we must decrease.
We don’t need glory from other humans for things that we do. Is it nice to be encouraged for the things we do? Of course. Should we build others up who are working in the kingdom? Absolutely. But… if no one gives us a pat on the back, are we okay with that? Are we going to quit when we feel like no one appreciates us? No, we never quit, because all that should matter to us is that God is pleased with us, and one day He will reward us, and we will live with Him in glory.
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
Then, we must remain faithful until death or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. (Rev. 2:10)
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
“For Which Good Work are You Stoning Me?”
Jesus had just said in verses 28 and 29 that no one could snatch His sheep out of His hand or His Father’s hand, which led to His statement in verse 30, “My Father and I are one.” This obviously outraged the Jews, because they picked up stones to throw at Him again. This was the second time they had attempted this. The first time was in John 8:59, when Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” However, Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple through the middle of them. (John 8:59) But, this time, He addressed these people who wanted to stone Him with a statement and then a question. He said, paraphrasing, “I have shown you many good works from My Father. Which good work are you stoning Me for?” Jesus had done nothing but good things for people. What reason would they have had to hurt Him?
In verse 33, the Jews told Jesus that they were not stoning Him for His good works. They were stoning Him for blasphemy, because He, as a man, was trying to make Himself God. So they recognized His good works, but wanted to stone Him for something He said? It didn’t make a lot of sense. If one of them were blind, lame, or sick, and Jesus healed Him… I wonder… would they still have wanted to stone Him for claiming to be God? They didn’t care that a blind beggar got his life back through the healing power of God through Jesus. It wasn’t directly affecting them, so they didn’t care about it. What if it had been one of their children who was healed? Would that have made a difference? Just some questions in my mind as I think about these verses. I wonder if the Pharisees, who were supposed to be experts in the law, remembered the prophet Isaiah’s prophecies about the Messiah giving sight to the blind. I wonder if they remembered the ones below:
With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened… (Isaiah 35:4b-5).
As a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. (Isaiah 42:6b-7)
When Jesus healed the blind man, it should have been a big red flag to the Jewish leaders and Pharisees of who He was. If they were experts in the law, why didn’t they understand this? Here is why. In Isaiah 42:16, Isaiah prophecies:
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16).
However, when we read Isaiah 42:20-22, we see the sad truth:
“He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue spoil with none to say, “Restore!” (Isaiah 42:20-22)
If only the Jewish leaders and Pharisees knew these verses! But wait… they did know them! They knew them like the back of their hand. Little did they know, they were reading about themselves! Isaiah was not only talking about the Israelites of old, but also about them. They were spiritually blind and refused to be healed by the Messiah. They saw but did not observe, as Isaiah said. There is a difference between looking at something and observing it… really seeing it. They were not really seeing Jesus for who He was. Jesus was the One who would lead the blind in the right direction. He was the One who would give them sight. He would turn the darkness into light. Jesus was the Light!! But the leaders of His time wanted to remain blind and in darkness. They were the ones who loved the darkness more than the light (John 3:19). What about people today? The world is in the same boat. They are the ones who look but don’t truly see. They hear but don’t listen. All we can do is keep spreading the Word and praying for blind eyes to be opened. Just as Jesus opened the blind man’s eyes physically, He can open the eyes of the spiritually blind. I was once blind, but now I see. I walked in darkness, but am now walking in the light. And because I realize how spiritually blind I was, I want to help others to see, and I pray that God will open the doors for me to do so for His glory.
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
Then, we must remain faithful until death or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. (Rev. 2:10)
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
“No One Can Snatch Us Away From Jesus”
“I’ve told you who I am. I’ve shown you who I am, but you do not believe me.” Jesus has provided witnesses. He has told them multiple times in multiple ways. He has done miracles that only God could perform. So why don’t they believe? Well…..Jesus gives a fairly simple answer to this question in verse 26. He says, “You don’t believe, because you are not My sheep.” This was not a failure on Jesus’ part. He had done everything possible to make them see who He was. He had done nothing except the will of God. This failure was on the heads of the Jewish leaders, scribes, Pharisees, and any other Jew who didn’t believe. These people thought they belonged to God. They thought they were the chosen of God. But they didn’t realize that if they didn’t belong to Jesus’ flock, then they didn’t belong to God’s flock, because they are the same.
How do we know if we are a part of Jesus’ flock? Jesus tells us in verse 27. Again, it is a simple answer. To be a part of His flock, we must first hear His voice. He is the good Shepherd who has laid down His life for us. We should want to hear His voice. Of course, when Jesus says hear, He means listen, right? I can remember hearing the Word preached, but not really listening to what was being said. We have to intentionally listen and apply what He tells us to our lives. Next, Jesus has to know us, which He will if we are intentionally listening to His voice with an open heart. And last, we have to follow Him. Following Him means doing what He says for us to do. Doesn’t this sound fairly simple?
So why was it so hard for the Jews back in the day? The Jews were looking for an earthly king, not a poor carpenter’s son from Nazareth. They wanted a Messiah who met their terms. They had a vision of what the Messiah would be like, and they would not have it any other way. They were God’s chosen people, the children of Abraham… they were too important to follow a man with no earthly status, no important family name, or no place to even call home. They couldn’t let this man threaten their positions in the temple as the spiritual leaders of Israel. And don’t you know they were judging the ones whom Jesus chose to be his twelve disciples? Can’t you just hear them? “And what about these mere fishermen that He has following after Him? Why would He choose these men? And look…..He even has a tax collector following Him!” These Jews were missing the point entirely. Jesus didn’t care about a person’s past. He didn’t and doesn’t care about a person’s job, hometown, or family. He cared back then and still cares now about a person’s heart, and that is all. He only cares about our hearts, and He knows if our hearts are right or not. Why is it so hard for us today? One word… distractions! Do we let the world distract us from God? I know that I’m guilty of being distracted by things that don’t matter at all! Isn’t that what Satan wants? He wants to keep us distracted. He wants us to spend all our time scrolling on our phones on Facebook or TikTok and never opening God’s Word. He wants us to spend all our time binge-watching shows. Satan is so happy when he sees us choosing those things over God. Satan loves for us to be too busy in the world for God. He wants us to take on too much in the world so that spiritual things are rooted out of our lives. Satan wants us to spread ourselves so thin with worldly, meaningless things that we let the things that truly matter… the spiritual things… slide to the back burner. And eventually, Satan hopes that they slide off the stove completely. It is a slippery slope when we let the world lead us instead of Jesus. Satan knows he has us if he keeps us distracted from what is truly important. He knows that if we are so worn out by all the distractions we face every day that we might just let Jesus slip through the cracks of our lives. I don’t want to let that happen in my life anymore. We are human, and we fall short, but we can always do better… try harder… and be more diligent in our spiritual lives. Jesus deserves our time and very best effort! Let’s give it to Him! Let’s slow down.
What are the blessings of hearing the voice of Jesus, having Him know us personally, and following Him? Again, another simple answer in verses 28 and 29. Jesus says that we will have eternal life, and we will never die. Then, he says the most comforting thing… ”no one can ever snatch my sheep out of my hand”. Isn’t that comforting? Jesus goes on to say that His Father has given His sheep to Him, and no one will ever snatch them out of His Father’s hand either. Jesus’ hand and His Father’s hand are the same. Why can no one snatch the sheep out of the Father’s hand? Because the Father is greater than all! Nothing can separate Jesus from His sheep. Listen to Paul’s words in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Who is the only person who can separate me from God? ME! And I know deep down if I am truly one of Jesus’ sheep or not. I just have to ask myself four questions and answer them honestly. Am I listening to Jesus? Does He know me? Have I obeyed Him? Am I faithfully following Him daily? In order for me to be able to say yes to these questions, Jesus has to be first in my life…..His church has to be first as well. I ask myself: Can I say yes to that?
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
Then, we must remain faithful until death or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. (Rev. 2:10)
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.
“If You Are the Christ, Tell Us Plainly”
The Feast of Dedication was actually Hanukkah. It was not a commanded feast. It was a feast to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple after it was defiled by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus Epiphanes IV, who ruled Judea. Evidently, he defiled the temple by slaughtering pigs inside it. This was around 167 BC, about 250 years after the books of Malachi and Nehemiah. Three years later, during the Maccabean revolt, they fought back against the Seleucids, cleansed the temple, and rededicated it to God. The revolt must have lasted eight days, because the oil in the lampstand didn’t burn out for the entire eight days, even though there was only enough oil in it for one day. This is why it is also referred to as the Feast of Lights. The feast, now known as Hanukkah, is still celebrated by Jewish people today. John also writes that the season is winter. Hanukkah, as we know, is always in the winter. This might be why Jesus is walking in Solomon’s porch, as it was a covered part of the temple that would keep Him somewhat out of the weather.
In verse 24, it seems as though Jesus was suddenly surrounded by the Jews. They said, “How long do you keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Wow. Jesus had already told them multiple times in roundabout ways who He was, plus He had done miracles in front of them. Yet they were still as blind as ever. Their hearts were as cold as winter. They had no intention of believing in Jesus. They only wanted a reason to kill Him. “Tell us plainly”? Really? How much plainer could Jesus have been? In verse 25, Jesus said, paraphrasing, “I have told you, but you don’t believe. I have done miracles in My Father’s name that show you who I am.” What more did these people want? The point is, they didn’t want anything. They don’t want to believe. They didn’t want this man Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messiah. In their eyes, He was a nobody from a town of no reputation… from a family of no reputation. Remember what Nathanael first said about Him when Philip told Him where Jesus was from? “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). But the difference between Nathanael and these people is that Nathanael’s eyes and heart were opened immediately, as soon as Jesus told Him that he was standing under the fig tree earlier in the day. (John 1:48) That was all it took for Nathanael to believe and follow Jesus. But these Jews… they had seen Jesus do so much more than Nathanael had seen, yet they still didn’t believe. They had blind eyes and cold hearts. Nothing Jesus said or did would change their hearts. They were set on destroying the Son of God.
The Jews said, “If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus said, “I have told you plainly, but you refuse to believe.” This makes me think of the controversy among people all over the world on how to be saved from our sins… on how to get to heaven… and let’s face it, we all want to go to heaven. Jesus told us plainly how to be saved, just like he told the Jews plainly that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. Then, after Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven, His apostles, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told us plainly how to be saved and go to heaven. We need only to believe what Jesus and later His apostles plainly said and then follow through on that belief. God’s simple, beautiful plan for humankind to be saved is below. If you haven’t done what you need to do to be saved, or you aren’t sure if you have or not, take some time to look up the verses below… read them… ponder them, and then ask yourself if you are saved according to what the Bible says. If you are a Christian according to God’s plan, ask yourself if you are being faithful in your Christian walk. Jesus loves you so much. He wants you to be with Him. I love you, and I also want you to be with Jesus. I wouldn’t put anything out here for anyone to read unless it came straight from God’s Word. I wouldn’t write it if I didn’t 100 percent believe it with all my heart. The truth isn’t popular in our world today. So, when I write about how to be saved, I realize that it isn’t the popular viewpoint of most people. But, ask yourself, why would I write about something unpopular if it wasn’t the truth? Trust me, until a little over three years ago, I wouldn’t have done this for a million dollars because I was too afraid of upsetting those who didn’t believe the same as I did. I also didn’t think anyone would want to hear from the likes of me because of my past behavior. I was a hypocrite of the highest order. I tried to live a double life. I was a pretender. But not anymore. Now, I just care about souls being saved. I just love other people’s souls, and I want them to have the opportunity to know the pure truth of God’s Word as I have been taught my whole life. Sadly, I took what I had been taught for granted for a really long time, and it’s really hard to let go of the shame that I have felt because of that. But with Jesus, all shame is gone. If I feel shame or fear, which at times I still do, I know that shame is just Satan trying to discourage me from doing what God wants me to do. Just remember, no matter what your past looks like, you can have freedom from that past. Whatever sin you are involved in now, you can have freedom from it. Jesus = Freedom. If you are reading this, I love your soul, and I want you to be saved. I’m not perfect, and I don’t pretend to be. I’m just trying to help others know Jesus and know how to be with Him for eternity. Please think about it…
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
Then, we must remain faithful until death or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. (Rev. 2:10)
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
19 Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.
20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”
21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
“Why Do You Listen to Him? Well… Why Wouldn’t I Listen to Him?”
In verse 18, Jesus builds on verse 17 by saying, paraphrasing, “No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down Myself.” Not only did Jesus die for us, but He allowed it. He could have stopped it at any time if He had wanted to. He was not helpless. He was all-powerful. He was God in the flesh. The only reason that anyone was able to lay a finger on Jesus was because Jesus humbled Himself and allowed it. Listen to Philippians 2:5-8… ”Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Jesus left heaven for us. He left glory for us! Jesus had the power to give His life, and He had the power to take His life back again. God gave the command for His will to be done, and Jesus did it. Jesus allowed Himself to be scourged and beaten. He allowed Himself to have that crown of sharp thorns pushed down on His head. He allowed the soldiers to drive nails through His hands and feet. Think about it. He could have taken Himself out of the situation at any time. He had the power to do that. But He endured it all for us. No one took Jesus’ life. Jesus gave His life. He did it all because He is the good Shepherd who wants to save us… His lost sheep. 1 Peter 2:22-25 explains what Jesus went through for us so beautifully. “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” I was a sheep who had gone astray, and Jesus brought me back to Him. I am so grateful.
In verses 19-21, we see the division among the Jews concerning Jesus. Some said, “He has a demon and is crazy. Why are you listening to Him?” Others said, “Someone who has a demon could not speak as He does. Can a demon heal a blind man?” It is hard to believe that someone who saw this man, who had been blind from birth, fully healed and standing up to the Jewish leaders, would ask, “Why are you listening to Him?” Why would I not listen to Him? He has the words of life! He is the only One who has the power to save me from my sins! He is the only One who has ever died so that I can live! What is my alternative if I don’t listen to Him? The alternative is… I’m lost for eternity, separated from my Creator and Father, and that is not an option, not is it?
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
“One Flock and One Shepherd”
In verses 14 and 15, Jesus compares His relationship with His Father to His relationship with His sheep. This is absolutely beautiful! Think about it. How close are Jesus and His Father? They are one! Jesus and God are interchangeable. Jesus doesn’t say or do anything unless it is the will of His Father. The Father has complete trust in the Son, and the Son has complete trust in the Father. They have been together since infinity. The fact that Jesus compares His relationship with us to that of He and His Father is super significant. In verse 14, Jesus says, “I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” In the same way, Jesus knows the Father, and the Father knows Jesus. Jesus knows who belongs to Him. Do we truly belong to Him? Belonging to Jesus is not just a passive, casual relationship. We are not just acquaintances with Jesus, and He should not be just an acquaintance to us. It is not a one-sided relationship where Jesus lays down His life for me, and I just go about my life without giving Him a second thought. If my relationship with Jesus is supposed to be like that of Jesus and His Father, then His will must become my will. Remember, Jesus said that His will was to do the will of the Father, and the Father was in agreement with everything that Jesus said and did. They were on the same page in everything. Are we on the same page with Jesus in our lives? Is our will equal to His will? Did Jesus lay His life down for people who don’t follow His voice? Did He die for people who don’t know Him personally? We can know all the facts about Jesus that there is to know. Does that mean that we know Jesus? I know plenty of facts about a lot of people, but it doesn’t mean that I know them personally. Do I KNOW Jesus, or do I just know who He is? Satan knows who Jesus is, but He doesn’t KNOW Him. Here is an example… someone asks you, “Do you know Greta Hoover?” You reply, “I know who she is, but I don’t really know her.” For years, I only knew who Jesus was. I didn’t KNOW Him. I didn’t allow myself to know Him, because He wasn’t my number one priority. Does showing up for church on Sunday morning automatically mean that we know Jesus?
Here is another example…..I can honestly say that I know my best friend, Allison. We don’t see each other as often as we used to when we worked together, but we talk once or twice every week. We text pretty much every day. We haven’t worked together in 8 years, yet we are still just as close, if not closer than we were then. How? Because we have made the effort to keep up with one another… both of us. We tell each other everything going on in our lives. I know Allison, and Allison knows me. Why? Because we take the time to share our lives, listen to each other, rejoice with each other, and help each other through hard times. What about Jesus? Do we take the time to share our lives with Jesus? Do we take the time to listen to Him daily through His word? Do we allow Jesus to be a part of our daily lives? These verses have truly opened my eyes to just how much Jesus wants to KNOW me. I mean… He compared knowing us, His sheep, to knowing His Father. Doesn’t that tell us how important we are to Him? I plan to examine myself tonight to see if I really, truly know Jesus.
In verse 16, Jesus says, paraphrasing, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold that I need to gather. They will listen to My voice. At that point, there will be one flock and one Shepherd.” This is a big, important statement as well. The other sheep that Jesus was referring to were the Gentiles, who were anyone who was not of Jewish heritage. Right now, Jesus is calling His sheep from Israel, but He plans to call His other sheep from outside the nation of Israel. He says that they will all be “one flock, and He will be the “one Shepherd”. Let’s substitute a couple of words… they will all be “one” church, and He will be the “one” head… the “one” leader… the “one” Savior… the “one” protector. It was never intended for Israel to always be the chosen people. Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 56:8 about this very thing, “The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, ‘Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.’” Ezekiel 37:21-26 is another prophecy about gathering two groups of people or two nations together under “one shepherd”. This is referring to the Jews and Gentiles coming together under the reign of Christ. Ezekiel also refers to David being king over this one flock of people forever, and God making an “everlasting covenant with them”. The “David” that these verses are referring to was actually Christ, since David died approximately 400 years before Ezekiel’s prophecy. Jesus has created one flock, which refers to one church. It doesn’t matter where we are from in the world, who our earthly family is, what our past is, what color our skin is, what we have in our bank account, or whether we are male or female. If we hear the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him, then we will be saved, protected, and satisfied within His sheepfold, which is His church.
In verse 17, Jesus says, paraphrasing, “Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay My life down, so that I can raise Myself up again.” The Father loves the Son because Jesus has done everything according to His Father’s will, including eventually giving His life for His sheep, and then taking it back up again. How many of us would die to keep our children safe? I’m sure all of us would. We can lay our life down for someone else, but can we take our life back again? Only Jesus had that power. He did exactly what He told the Jewish leaders He would do, when He said that He would raise this temple in three days. The Shepherd had the power to raise Himself up again, and because of that, we can have confidence in His power to raise us up again when He comes back to gather us, His sheep, and take us to our new home with Him in heaven.
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
“The Hireling vs. The Good Shepherd”
What is an abundant life? To the world, an abundant life is wealth and material possessions. To the world, success is measured by how much money we have saved, how nice a house we have, the brand of vehicle we drive, the clothes we wear, the vacations we’ve been on, how many degrees we have on our wall, how fast we’ve climbed the corporate ladder, how great we are at a sport, or how famous we are. None of this stuff matters when we stand before God on judgment day— none of it. Am I saying that it is wrong to have money saved, a comfortable home, a vehicle, clothes to wear, go on vacations, get an education, be promoted in your career, be great at sports, or be famous? Absolutely not! I’m saying that those things can’t be our main focus. They can’t be what we live our lives for. We must realize that everything that was listed above came from God anyway. All the material possessions we own, every talent we have, and every success we achieve are possible only because God allowed them and gave us the ability to earn a living and achieve success by using our talents. Every material thing on this earth that we call ours can be taken away from us by a thief. But a thief can never take away our salvation, our protection, or our satisfaction that we have in Jesus. Satan is “the thief” who steals, kills, and destroys. He will steal, kill, and destroy our abundant life if we allow Him to. Nothing can separate us from our abundant life in Jesus, unless we allow ourselves to be pulled away. The abundant life that we have while we are here on earth is a life of hope as we walk in the light as He is in the light. But, Jesus took this a step further when He said that He came not only to give us life, but to give us life “more abundantly”. The adverb “more” tacked onto “abundantly” means “over and above”, “superior”, “more than is necessary”, and “surpassing”! The true abundant life that Jesus will give us is an eternity in heaven. Heaven will be an eternity of life “more abundantly”. But we have to consider our lives here on earth to be abundant, not because of any worldly reasons, but because we belong to Jesus and are living for Him. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). My treasure has to be Jesus. Beyond that, everything else will fall in the proper order.
Verse 11 has a much deeper meaning than I ever realized before. Jesus not only refers to Himself as the Shepherd, but also as the good Shepherd. What does verse 11 say is the reason that He is good? What makes Him good? It says that the good Shepherd lays down his life for His sheep. Remember… most of the human shepherds/leaders who were over Israel in the past were thieves and robbers (John 10:8). The leaders during Jesus’ time were also thieves and robbers. They would not lay their lives down for their flock. They wanted to rob people of Jesus by denying who He was. I dare say that most actual shepherds who watched over sheep in the fields would not have given their lives for their sheep. God was the ultimate Shepherd for the children of Israel. Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” The Shepherd will provide for his sheep’s needs. The writer goes on to say that the Shepherd leads him “in paths of righteousness”. The Shepherd would never lead him in the wrong direction. If we think about this entire Psalm, we see the Shepherd providing the same thing that Jesus said He would provide in John 10:9 when He referred to Himself as “the door. We see salvation provided…..”I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). We see protection provided…… “I will fear no evil for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). And we see satisfaction provided, “My cup runs over” (Psalm 23:5). We also see abundance in the overflowing cup in Psalm 23:5 as well. Isaiah 40:10-11 is a prophecy about how God (the Shepherd) would comfort His people, “Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.He will feed His flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” Listen to the strength and comfort in those words. This is why we can trust God with our lives, no matter what we have to face.
In verses 12 and 13, Jesus compares the Shepherd to the hireling or hired worker. The hired worker doesn’t care for the sheep as the true Shepherd does. He isn’t going to protect the sheep by getting in between the sheep and the wolves. The hired worker is going to save himself. He is going to run away and leave the sheep to be killed. The hired workers represent the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They did not care about the well-being of the people under their leadership. The hired worker can also represent the false teachers… or pretenders of our day. They pretend to be speaking on behalf of the Good Shepherd, but in reality, they are speaking for Satan and leading the sheep down the wrong path with His lies. Jesus Himself called false teachers wolves in sheep’s clothing in Matthew 7:15. So the wolves in this passage could be false teachers who try to lure the flock away from the True Shepherd.
The wolves can also represent our problems, hardships, or trials in life. They could be major issues or what we would think of as minor issues. No problem is too big for Jesus to handle. And no problem is too small for Jesus to care about. If we truly belong to Him, there is nothing that we can’t handle. NOTHING. No wolf is too ferocious for the Shepherd. It may snarl and show its teeth, but Jesus will never back down. If Jesus is with us, then we will never back down. No one cares for us the way that Jesus cares for us. Not our husbands, parents, friends… no one. I want us to think about how much we love our children and grandchildren. Focus on that love for a moment. We love them so much that it’s almost hard to express the magnitude of it, isn’t it? But guess what? We don’t love them as much as Jesus loves them. We think we know them better than anyone, but we don’t know them as Jesus knows them. And we want our babies to belong to Him, because we know that He holds their salvation in His hands. He wants so much to save them. I can’t save my children’s and grandchildren’s souls, no matter how much I love them. But the good Shepherd can… and He will, if we raise them to follow Him… if we teach them what it means to have a truly abundant life in Him. The wolves of the world can be vicious. We would never intentionally throw our children to the wolves without the protection of the “Good Shepherd” who has already laid His life down for our precious lambs. There are things that I, as a parent, would have done differently, but I can’t go back. I can only move forward and do the best that I can from here on out. I have six precious lambs, and another lamb on the way. I want them under the care and watchful eye of the Good Shepherd. I pray they stay in His sheepfold always under His protection. Only He can provide the satisfaction and the abundant life they so desperately crave, and only He can provide eternal salvation to their precious souls.
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
“I Am the Door”
Is anyone surprised by verse 6? The Jews did not understand the things that He spoke to them. Let’s think back to what Jesus said in John 9:39. He said that He came to make people who think that they can see so clearly, realize that they are actually blind without Him. These Jews think they see things so clearly, but they are so very blind. So… Jesus continues to try to teach them. Do you know what is incredible to me? Jesus knew all along that these people would not accept Him, yet He continued to give them every opportunity to listen, believe, and obey Him. He tried every way possible to get them to understand. However, He was also teaching everyone else who was in earshot, and He knew that His Words would be recorded for us to read and study so many years later. Jesus said all of those things, not only to the people at that time, but to us as well. Sometimes I try to picture Him speaking the truth to these stubborn people who refused to listen, and I just can’t imagine what that was like to the ones standing around who believed in Him, and to His disciples who were fully invested in following Him. The Son of the living God that the Pharisees and Jewish leaders claimed to know so well was pouring His heart out to them, and they rejected every word that He said.
In verse 7, Jesus used the example of the sheep again, but this time, instead of referring to Himself as the Shepherd, He refers to Himself as the actual door to the sheepfold. No one could get to the sheep, because Jesus was the door separating His sheep from the sheep on the outside. The sheep in the fold are protected, but the sheep outside the fold are vulnerable. We’ve all heard the phrase, “arc of safety”. When we are baptized into Christ, we pass through “the door”, and at that point we become Jesus’ sheep in His sheepfold. The sheepfold is His church. We belong to Him, and are safe inside His church as long as we continue to follow Him. If we leave the sheepfold to follow another shepherd who belongs to the world, then we are not safe anymore. A shepherd of the world can be anything. It could be a false teacher. It could be material things or riches. It could be our career or even recreational activities such as sports or vacations. If we follow after anything else and leave Jesus in the dust, then we lose the privileges of being His sheep. We could also look at this as going through the wrong door. There are many doors to choose from in the world. Do we recognize the right door?
In verse 8, Jesus made a powerful statement. He says, paraphrasing, “All who came before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.” Jesus is talking about all the leaders who came before Him. The prophets also had a lot to say about the selfishness and evil deeds of the shepherds/leaders of Israel. In Jeremiah 23:1-2, it reads, “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord. Ezekiel 34:1-10 goes on and on about how irresponsible the shepherds were, how they didn’t feed the flock, but selfishly fed themselves, and how the flock was scattered and became prey for the wild beasts. Of course, we know that the shepherds were the leaders of Israel, and the flock was the children of Israel. The leaders were thieves and robbers. Now think about the leaders that Jesus is trying to teach in this passage. Were they responsible leaders of the flock of Israel? Not at all. They were selfish and greedy for power and prestige… aka… they were thieves and robbers. They were calling themselves the spiritual leaders of Israel, all the while rejecting the true spiritual leader… Jesus. These so-called leaders were trying to lead people away from salvation, aka… scatter the flock. But look at the second part of verse 8. It says, “but the sheep did not hear them.” Jesus’ sheep do not hear the thieves and robbers. For example, the blind man stood up to the Jewish leaders and was cast out. He was one of Jesus’ sheep because he did not listen to the Jewish leaders. He chose to follow and obey Jesus. The Jewish leaders who were claiming to be this blind man’s spiritual leaders didn’t care one thing about his welfare. They weren’t even joyful about his eyes being opened. One of the qualities of a leader is to care and show concern for every member of the flock. Where was the care and concern for this blind man? Let’s think about how this relates to leaders of the Lord’s church today. The elders of churches today will be judged on how well they cared for and guided the members who were under their leadership. We can see how seriously God took the shepherds’ performance of their duties in Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34. He takes the performance of the shepherds today just as seriously.
In verse 9, Jesus again refers to Himself as “the door”. Then, He tells us the benefits of entering through that door. First, He says we will be saved. The only way to receive salvation is through Christ. Next, He says that we will be able to go in and out safely. We will be spiritually protected at all times as long as we belong to Jesus’ sheepfold or church. We may have physical hardships, trials, or earthly misfortune, but we will be spiritually safe for eternity. And last, we will “find pasture,” which means we will be fed and spiritually satisfied forever. Salvation, protection, and satisfaction! What more could we ever want? What a blessed life! Psalm 1 says it beautifully, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” The prosperity referred to in these verses is not worldly. It is spiritual prosperity which is the very thing that Jesus is speaking of in verse 9… salvation, protection, and satisfaction. What else do I need?
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Whoever enters the sheepfold through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Anyone who tries to get in another way is a thief. It is the same way with our houses. The owner of the house comes in through the door. A thief will try to break a window to get in another way. In verse 3, we see a doorkeeper. This doorkeeper will not open the door for anyone except the shepherd. The sheep will recognize the voice of their shepherd as He calls each of them by name. The sheep will follow the shepherd out of the sheepfold. The shepherd leads the sheep, and the sheep follow the voice of the shepherd. The sheep will not follow a stranger. They will run from a stranger, because they don’t recognize his voice. This is a beautiful analogy of us as we follow Jesus. We are the sheep, and Jesus is the shepherd. It was a known fact at that time that sheep only responded to their shepherd’s voice. If they were in a pen with sheep from another fold, and the other fold’s shepherd came to lead them out to pasture, only that shepherd’s sheep would follow him out of the pen. The others would stay in the pen until they heard the voice of their shepherd. That is what Jesus meant in verse 4 by saying, “the sheep follow him; for they know his voice”.
Am I one of Jesus’ sheep? I am as long as I listen to Jesus and follow Him. How do I know that I am truly listening to the True Shepherd… the real Jesus? I’ll answer that question with another question. Do the words that I am listening to come from God’s Word? That is how I know if I am listening to the real Jesus. For example, if I am listening to a podcast, and the person speaking claims to be speaking the truth of the gospel of Jesus, but one of the things he says during the podcast is, “baptism is not for salvation”. Is this person the True Shepherd? Is that what the True Shepherd said in Mark 16:16 about baptism? No, it is not. Another thing he says in the podcast is, “choose the church that works best for you. It is your choice.” Is this what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 when He said that He would build HIS church? This is how I know that the person speaking on the podcast is not speaking with the voice of the True Shepherd. It is the same analogy as those false lights that are out there in the world. Jesus is the True Light… the light of the world. Satan can make himself look like light… an angel of light, according to 2 Corinthians 11:14). Satan can pretend to be a shepherd, but he isn’t the True Shepherd. Jesus says in verse 5 that the sheep flee from a stranger’s voice. Since we are the sheep, we should flee from anyone’s voice except Jesus’. If something we hear is contrary to what the Bible says, then we need to turn away from it. If it doesn’t come from God’s Word, then it is not the voice of the True Shepherd. Notice that the shepherd doesn’t force or drive his sheep out of the sheepfold. The sheep heard his voice and followed him. They yield to the shepherd without having to be forced. Jesus isn’t going to force us to heed his voice and follow Him. We follow Him of our own free will.
In verse 3, Jesus says that the shepherd calls each sheep that belongs to him by name. Think about that for a moment. I am picturing that right now…..Jesus, the True Shepherd, using His beautiful, glorious voice to call my name, because I belong to Him. Can you imagine Jesus coming to the sheepfold and calling your name? Is He your shepherd today?
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
10 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Am I Blind? If So, Will I Remain in the Dark?
In verses 39 through 41, Jesus says some things that are a bit confusing on the surface. Let’s paraphrase verse 39, “I have come into this world for judgment, so that people who can’t see will see, and so that people who can see will become blind.” Hmmmm. Isn’t it a bad thing to be blind, and a good thing to be able to see? This is what the Pharisees were thinking when they asked in verse 40, “Are we blind also? Jesus answered them in verse 41 by saying, “If you were blind, then you would have no sin; but since you say that you can see, then your sin remains.” What does Jesus mean? He means this…..Jesus came to this lost and dying world to help people who were spiritually blind see His light. The people who saw Jesus for who He was were humble and realized that they were blind without Him. They allowed themselves to be healed spiritually by Him. He also came to this lost and dying world to help those who thought they could see realize that they were actually spiritually blind. The Pharisees did not know that they were spiritually blind, and until they were willing to admit it, they would remain in the darkness of sin. If they would admit that they were blind and allow the light of Jesus to open their eyes, their sin would be forgiven. It is the same situation with us today. If we do not know that we are in darkness, then we will remain in the darkness of sin. If we refuse to admit that we can’t see without the light of Jesus, then we remain blind. The Pharisees refused to realize that they needed Jesus to see. So… we have to admit that we are spiritually blind without Jesus, to be able to see. If we say we have never been blind, then we are saying that we never needed Jesus to see. How sad! Until we admit that we are sick, we won’t go to the doctor, will we? Until we admit we have a problem of any kind, whether it is alcohol, drugs, etc., we won’t get help. What Jesus was saying makes so much sense. In Isaiah 42:6-7, Isaiah prophesied, “I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.” This is talking about Jesus! He will open blind eyes and bring people out of the prison of sin! He is still opening blind eyes and bringing people out of the prison of sin today! Every day!
Have my eyes truly been opened? Or do I just think they are open? Here are some questions I have to ask myself to see if my eyes are truly open spiritually. Do I truly love others? Do I love them enough to help them see the truth? I am spiritually blind if I think I can be a Christian and have hate in my heart (1 John 2:10-11). I do not truly know God if I don’t love others, because God is love (1 John 4:8). Do I have or am I working toward having the fruit of the spirit within me? 2 Peter 1:5-9 says that I am to grow, adding to my faith, virtue, to my virtue, knowledge, to knowledge, self control, to self-control, perseverance, to perseverance, godliness, to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. I have to be diligent to grow in all of these fruits so that I can be a fruitful servant of God. It says that I am nearsighted to the point of blindness if I lack these things or if I am not working diligently to add them to my life. Nearsighted means that I only see what is right in front of me. I only see what this world has to offer. I only see what can benefit me physically in this world. I am not looking ahead to my future… my eternity. God wants me to be far-sighted and prepare myself for eternity, because eternity can start at any time. He also wants me to be near-sighted, but not in a worldly way. He wants me to see spiritual opportunities right in front of my face. He wants me to see the harvest that is right under my nose. He wants me to see with spiritual eyes, not worldly eyes. It also says that I have forgotten that I was cleansed from my sins if I think that I can be a Christian without these fruits growing within me.
Here is another question to ask myself. It will definitely reveal if I am spiritually blind or not. Do I desire to worship God? If I don’t truly desire to worship God in spirit and truth, then I am blind (John 4:24). If I don’t love to worship here on earth, then how do I expect to be in heaven, where I will be worshiping for eternity?
Jesus transitions to a discussion about sheep and shepherds in chapter 10. It seems that He is still speaking to the same people. In verse 1, He says, paraphrasing, “Most certainly, anyone who comes into the sheepfold in any other way other than the door, is a thief and a robber.” This sounds like Jesus is changing the subject, but he is really not. He is still trying to get these people to realize that they are blind and need to be healed spiritually. This verse reveals that there is only one way into the sheepfold… through the door. The world has made up all kinds of ways to get into the sheepfold… other than the door. This has fooled so many people into thinking they have actually made it into the sheepfold. Just like Jesus said in John 9:41… they think they can see, but they are really blind and remain in sin. Jesus’ way is the only way into the sheepfold. His way is the only way to gain our spiritual sight and be free from the bondage of sin. It doesn’t matter how good a person I believe I am or how good a person people say that I am. If I haven’t obeyed Jesus, I am blind and outside the sheepfold. Salvation is about obedience to Him. Yes, Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross, but He never said we didn’t have to obey Him. “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Let’s put the pieces of the puzzle together, my friends. Here are some of the pieces: “Go, teach, and make disciples by baptizing them…” (Matthew 28:18). “If you believe and are baptized, you will be saved” (Mark 16:16). “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). “Three thousand people who gladly received the word with open hearts were baptized on the day the church was born” (Acts 2:41). “God added souls to the church daily as they were being saved” (Acts 2:47). “Get up and be baptized to wash away your sins and call on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). “Here is water. What is stopping me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36) We were buried with Jesus through baptism into death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we were also raised to walk a new life. Through baptism, we were united with Jesus to represent and reenact his death for our sins, and we were then raised with Him to represent and reenact Jesus’ resurrection. (Romans 6:3-6) To explain this a little further, Jesus’ beaten and crucified body was buried, and was raised completely healed from His injuries. Our body, which Satan had beaten down with sin, was buried in the waters of baptism with Jesus’ beaten and pierced body, which carried all our sins. We were buried together with Him at that moment of immersion. When we came up out of the water, all the sin had been washed away… left behind. Just like Jesus was raised physically healed, we were raised spiritually healed when we were baptized. (Romans 6:3-6) All of us who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)
Everyone, use the verses to answer these questions as you read the verses word-for-word. I paraphrased the verses in the paragraph above. Open your heart and eyes, and let yourself see. How are disciples of Christ made? (Matt. 28:18, speaker is Jesus) How are we saved? (Mark 16:16, speaker is Jesus) How do we receive remission of sins? (Acts 2:38, speaker is Peter) What did 3000 people with open hearts do on the day the church was born? (Acts 2:41) Who adds us to the church and when? (Acts 2:47) How are our sins washed away? (Acts 22:16, Ananias speaking to Saul/Paul) How do we call on the name of the Lord? (Acts 22:16, Ananias speaking to Saul/Paul) What are we baptized in? (Acts 8:36, the eunuch speaking to Philip) What is baptism a reenactment of? (Romans 6:3-6) Who are we buried with in baptism? (Romans 6:3-6) Who are we raised with? (Romans 6:3-6) How do we get “in Christ”? (Galatians 3:27 and Romans 6:3, speaker is Paul) How do we “put on Christ”? (Galatians 3:27) By reading these verses, answer honestly: Is baptism essential for salvation?
What do all these pieces put together tell you? Isn’t it beautiful? Let the purity of God’s Word help you open your eyes. Believe me, I have been blind in the past. It is nothing to be ashamed to admit. I admit that I was blind in so many ways spiritually. It is one thing not to know and then be willing to change, but it is another thing to turn away from what is right in front of us. I turned away for a long time, knowing deep in my heart that I was wrong. I loved the sin I was in more than I loved Jesus. Do you know how hard that is for me to type? Tears come just thinking of how I let Him down with no regard for what He did for me. But no more… I make mistakes, and I do still let Him down, but I own those mistakes, and I’m sorrowful for them, and I try to do better and not make those same mistakes again. That is all He wants… our best efforts… and that means “for real” efforts, not the “I am who I am” attitude. That’s what the world wants you to believe. The world wants you to stay blind and believe that “you are who you are” and you don’t have to change for anyone… even God. Whew! I certainly know who I am, and it is not pretty! I put Jesus on the cross with my sin, just the same as Eve did in the garden. And if I am who I am, then I can’t be with Him for eternity. I have to strive to be who He wants me to be… less of self, and more of Him. It’s impossible to reach that high bar… that high bar that is Jesus Christ, but I’m willing to try. Are you?
Reach out if you need help putting the pieces together. I’d be glad to help.
God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out.
I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!
God’s Plan of Salvation
Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible.
We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17)
Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16)
Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32)
Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19)
Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)
