Salvation
That You May KNOW part 3
John 10:1-6 nkjv1“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.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.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
John 10:24-28)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. 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.❓ How well do you know the Bible? How does the voice of God lead you? Are you where you want to be or where God has led you to be?
➤ John 20:31) but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
- John wrote to the end that people could believe in Jesus and know they have salvation.
Does it matter? If you read these verses!
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
➤ Salvation is a matter of faith and grace and not of our own works! Ephesians 2:8,9)8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.💥 But even this scripture comes with the teaching that there will be “works” as evidence in our spiritual life once we are saved!
➤ v10)10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. > Created in Christ for good works (deeds) > That we should walk in them (do)
💥As a result of accepting the salvation God gives us through faith in Christ Jesus, there are evidences of our salvation that are clearly seen through our changed actions and behavior! (Born again heart)
- That while we are not saved by works, we are saved to do the works of God in our present life.
- While salvation is an act of faith in believing who Jesus is and what God has done for us through His love and mercy;
- It is not a matter of simply saying a prayer
- Or simply saying that you believe in the existence of God.
- It is about being a disciple of Christ.
⭐ The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20)
💥 So What does Jesus say about being one of His sheep? This is about our salvation! 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.
⭐ What does this say about the characteristics of a Christian? A saved person?
- What do His sheep do? What does it mean to be saved?
⭐There are four characteristics in the life of those who believe, who “Belong to Christ”:
➤ 1. They believe Jesus is who He says He is (The Son of God) Our God.
➤ 2. They hear His voice
➤ 3. They know Him
➤ 4. They follow.
1. We believe!
- That Jesus is our shepherd! V2)
- The One we turn our lives over to trust, listen to, and follow. v27) and they follow Me.
- The One we trust to guide where we go and what we do. Eph. 2:10) ➤ v10)10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
- The One we renew our thinking to in order to follow His will and have His mind. ➤ Rom. 12:2) Transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Phil 2:5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: 2 Corinthians 10:5) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,➤ He is our Lord. > King >
2. We hear His voice! v2) hear my voice.
- John 1:1 In the beginning and the word was God.
- John 14:20-21 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
> v20) You will know.
- John 14:23-24 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
> John 16:13) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
3. We know Him. Because He manifests Himself to His sheep. v2) know him
- v3) 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
- The relationship causes them to know Him. ( Police officer that didn’t use foul language)
- The whole New Testament is about the difference between those who know Jesus and those who don’t.
4. They follow! v2) they follow Me!The course of life. Physically what they do and how they manifest Christ to the world. ➤ Discipleship: It is a call to deny oneself and follow Jesus, which includes striving to acquire His virtues and emulate His life and conduct. MATTHEW 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.What do you have to do to FOLLOW Jesus? Believe - deny self - take up cross - follow Him
