Title: The Pastor Who is God
Text: John 10: 14
Date: June 12, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
John 10: 14: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Divisions: 1) Jesus Christ is the Pastor who is God in human flesh —I am the good shepherd; 2) Jesus Christ knows his sheep--And know my sheep; 3) All his sheep shall know Jesus Christ--And am known of mine.
I. JESUS IS THE SHEPHERD WHO IS GOD IN HUMAN FLESH--14: I am the good shepherd
Here the Lord says: I am…God is the great I AM
Exodus 3:14: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
There is none “good” but God. Rich young ruler—“Good master”—Christ called him on it.
Mark 10:18: And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Here, the Lord, says, “I am, the good…”. Shepherd means Pastor. Christ Jesus the Pastor who is God and Man in one glorified body. His listeners heard him loud and clear.
John 10:15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father:…30: I and my Father are one. 31: Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32: Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33: The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
The Lord gave a parable--a simple illustration of a shepherd and his sheep. In the midst of the countryside would be a sheepfold. At night the shepherd led his sheep into the sheepfold for protection. High walls surrounding it; One door. A porter kept the door
John 10: 1: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2: But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Christ is the Shepherd Who Entered this World to bring his sheep out of the fold of fallen humanity, into the one fold of his kingdom. Christ entered in by the door—the one lawful way of entrance to retrieve his sheep.
1. His children were flesh—Christ was made of a woman
2. His children were under the law—Christ was made under the law
3. His children disobeyed the law by one man’s disobedience—Christ obeyed in all points and makes his children the righteousness of God in him
4. His children owed the wages of sin which are death—Christ laid down his life in their place
John 10: 10: 10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13: The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14: I am the good shepherd,…
Christ made satisfaction to God for his people!
John 10: 3: to him the porter openeth…
The grave was opened declaring God is satisfied. God the Father opened his very presence to our risen Redeemer declaring God is satisfied.
John 10: 17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18: No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father.
Christ is THE Door
John 10:7: Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep….9: I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
· The only way into God’s presence is Christ the Door—the New and Living Way is Christ Jesus.
· Out of bondage into liberty.
· All who enter in BY ME Chrrist says, “shall be saved, find pasture”
· All who try to come to God some other way are thieves and robbers
Christ Jesus is the Shepherd who is God and Man in one glorified body—the good shepherd.
II. v14: I KNOW MY SHEEP
John 10: 3: To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
In a fold, there would be cattle that belonged to other farmers. But the shepherd knew his sheep—he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Christ knows his sheep because as one with him, even as the Father and Son are one—this--by divine election.
John 10: 15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Christ did not lay down his life for those he did not know—but for those that were given him of the Father in electing grace—his sheep.
Jeremiah 1: 5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
2 Timothy 2:19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
Note: Universal atonement is A False Gospel — because it makes man’s knowing Christ to be the cause of effectual redemption. Christ laid down his life for his sheep, because they were in him, as God the Father and God the Son are in each other—because he knew his sheep, I lay down my life for the sheep.
Christ Knows where his sheep are
· Because the woman at the well lived in Samaria, we read, “And he must needs go through Samaria” (John 4: 4).
· Because Lydia was in Macedonia-Paul was forbidden to go elsewhere—Paul said “assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
· He was standing among Jews when he was speaking, (just called out a blind beggar) but Christ also had sheep among the Gentiles.
John 10: 16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Ezekiel 34: 22: Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. 23: And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 24: And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
But this “knowing” means more—it is how the Good Shepherd makes his sheep to believe on him and follow him.
John 10: 27: My sheep hear my voice, and I “know” them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life.
1. My sheep hear my Voice. The Lord Jesus Christ comes to each of his sheep—to each sinner individually--and speaks.
· “Zacchesus come down”
· “Levi, Follow me!”
· “Lazarus come forth!”
Note: It is still Christ the Good Shepherd who comes to each of his sheep personally, by crossing their path with the messenger, his undershepherd, whom he sends to declare his word.
· Philip to the Ethiopian Eunich
· Paul to Lydia
Since Christ arose, and sent the Holy Ghost, throughout the book of Acts, (Paul excepted), every one of Christ’s sheep were called through the messenger he sent with his doctrine. He said, My sheep hear my voice.
2. and I “know” them,
Adam “knew” his wife, and she conceived and bare a son. They two became one flesh.
· The Spirit of God, like the porter, opens the door in the sinner’s heart.
· And Christ Jesus “knows” his sheep—in Spirit he enters the heart of his sheep by the power of his grace.
· When he knows one of his sheep in union with him, there is conception, and his sheep are born of the incorruptible seed and they know him
· He is the Way (Door), the Truth (his gospel is his Voice, his Doctrine), he is the Life.
3. and they follow me
They repent—leave everything behind
They believe—follow him
Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Unregenerate men like to boast that it is their believing on Christ that makes them sheep.
John 10: 26: But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
The kind of so-called faith that makes a man a sheep—is nothing more the work of the flesh. Do you want God to have all the glory?
1. Christ’s sheep believe because of God the Father’s predestinating grace.
Ephesians 1: 5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6: to the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE, wherein HE hath made us accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:5).
2. Because of the Holy Spirit’s regenerating grace
Galatians 4: 6: And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Ephesians 2: 5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)… 8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
3. A man’s faith is not what makes him one of God’s sheep. Faith is the fruit of God’s grace.
Romans 8: 29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Oh, the depth! Christ “knowing” his sheep is the very foundation and certainty of our salvation.
III. All his sheep shall know Jesus Christ—V14: And am known of mine
John 10:4: And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
1 John 2:20-27 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (21) I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (22) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (24) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (25) And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
Not one sheep has ever been deceived or shall ever be deceived by the voice of strangers.
John 10: 5: And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers…:8: All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Christ brings his sheep together in one fold with one Shepherd.
John 10: 16:…there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
The Shepherd and all his sheep—see eye-to-eye!
Isaiah 52:6: Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. 7: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8: Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
But this gospel which declares God is truly God reveals the enmity of the natural heart.
John 10:31: Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 33:…for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
They had a hope which of themselves. So when they heard the doctrine of Christ they would not repent and give the Divine Shepherd the glory. Neither do any of his sheep, until he knows them, in regenerating calling power!
John 9: 41: Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
What Christ is speaking is the doctrine of Christ. These are the works he performs by which Christ testifies that he is God—Christ Jesus come in the flesh. Those who picked up stones to stone him rejected him for that very reason--Though being a man, makest thyself God
2 John 1: 7: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9: Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10: If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
A man is anti-christ who is anti-Christ receiving all the glory.
Right this minute, everyone who hears the doctrine of Christ is either gather up stones in the heart OR his Voice is emptying our hands, laying our hearts contrite before his throne of grace—causing us to rejoice with thanksgiving! Every person here knows the answer to that question in their heart. Those who have been known of Christ, know Christ and we say in our hearts with the blind beggar:
John 9:30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
And, dear sheep of God, hear his Voice to you now, God the Savior says to you:
John 10: 28: AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHAL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND. 29: My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. Amen!