I am reposting yesterday's page of the blog.  For some reason it did not go out.

Learning DAILY

 

John 14:15-18, “If you love me keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. “   Jesus

 

Jesus has been telling His disciples that the purpose for His coming is about to be fulfilled and He would be returning to His Father in heaven; they did not understand.   You are leaving?  What do we do then?  There are many who have a fear of being left alone.  Dependency on another person can cause many emotions to surface when they are gone.  Questions regarding what, where, when, why, and how can quickly fill the mind of the person left behind.  Jesus promised He would not leave His disciples “as orphans”; He would send them another Helper or “one who comes alongside” when He left this earth.  By sending this Helper, the Holy Spirit, Jesus would be with His disciples permanently.  I wonder if they understood what He was talking about.

 

When Jesus Christ becomes one’s Savior through faith and redemption of their sins, the Holy Spirit comes into their life.  The person is not left to try to figure out the Christian life on their own and by their own means.  No, the Father knows how easily it is to get lost among the teachings of the world and being “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and by the trickery of men: (Ephesians 4:14).  Jesus began His statement by using the present tense “if you love Me” to emphasize a continuing attitude of love and obedience!  That can only happen by the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.

 

What does all this mean for you and me?  The Holy Spirit was not just a Helper for the disciples that were with Jesus at this time.  The Holy Spirit is given to all who believe today.  Let me explain.  The Holy Spirit is given to Believers to help and strengthen us (Matthew 14:30-31) and to teach us the things of God, including the true direction for our lives (John 14:26).  The Holy Spirit is also called the Comforter (verse 26) because He gives comfort in difficult times. Romans 8:26-27 tells us He will help Believers comfort others and to know how to intercede in prayer for them.  And, verse 17 above reminds Believers that the Holy Spirit will never leave them.  I believe it is important to emphasize the Believer’s responsibility is to be serious about their love for the Lord and to be devoted to His Word.

 

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth” because He is the Spirit of Jesus who is the truth!  There will be more teaching on the Holy Spirit in the future. But, for now, know that the Holy Spirit testifies to the truth (John 18:37), educates concerning the truth, exposing that which is not true (John 16:8) and guides the Believer into all truth (John 16:13).  “Those who are willing to sacrifice truth for the sake of unity, love or any other reason deny the Spirit of Truth, whom they claim lives in them.” (Life in the Spirit Study Bible). 

 

Jesus makes Himself known to us through the Holy Spirit.  In the last page of the blog, verse 21 was discussed.  Obeying the commandments of Christ is not an option.  When Believers are obedient, the Lord reveals Himself to us.  That revelation is through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit makes Believers aware of the nearness of Jesus, His love and blessings and His help. The Believer’s response should be one of worship and devotion!

 

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John 14:23-24, 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.  He who does not love Me does not keep My words, and the word you hear is not Mine but the Father who sent Me.

 

Matthew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”  Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and all the Prophets.”

 

The focus of this blog is Jesus Christ.  There is no other reason to spend the time researching and putting thoughts together to hopefully encourage all who read it.  I do thank you for taking a few minutes of your day to read it.  Please pass it on if you think someone might be encouraged by it.

 

I want you to understand that obeying Jesus’ words or commandments is a result following Christ; it is not an option.  If you are not doing so you are not building a relationship with Him.  When things get difficult, it will be easy to fall away and be lost.  Obedience to Christ, though not perfect, must nevertheless be genuine; it is an essential aspect of saving faith that comes from our love for Him.  Without love for Christ, trying to obey His commandments becomes legalism.  For those who love Him and strives to obey His words, He promises a special love and grace of His deepest inward presence.

 

What did Jesus mean when He said He and the Father would make their home with who keeps His words?  Those who truly love and obey Him will experience the immediate presence and love of Father and Son.  Please do not think you are not saved because you do not “feel” anything.  This relationship between those saved and the Savior is not based on feeling.  It is the idea that Jesus said it, you believe it, and that seals the deal. That’s all you need to believe.  I will explain in the next blog more about this.

 

I did include the two commandments that Jesus told us are so important to follow. If you can be obedient to loving God as He desires and can love your neighbor as yourself you will be able to follow all the commandments God has given us.  They fall into their proper place.  If you love God and your neighbor you won’t lie, steal, kill, commit adultery, or covet.

 

Jesus said that those who do not love Him will not keep His words.  They can’t because they do not have a personal relationship with Him; there is no saving faith that exists.  So, they do as they please. 

 

Can you tell the difference by the actions and words of people today?  Who do you enjoy being around more?  Christians are told to judge the action and words of others.  Words and actions that bring hate, fear, and destruction of other people’s property are not from those who love and are obedient to the words of Jesus.  These actions directly contradict the commands Jesus gave us to follow. 

 

Be of good cheer!  The Father sees all that is happening in our country and world today.  Focus on your love for His Son and be obedient to His words.  Find comfort in knowing that He loves you with an abundant love and He will see His own through what lies ahead.  Rest in His love and care and His promises!

 

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Matthew 14:28-31, And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  So He said, “Come.”  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

 

Peter, Peter, Peter!  Jesus called you “the Rock upon which He would build His Church”.   But here you go doing something that show Believers are all good in what they say until real difficulties come around.  When something really frightening comes their way, they just wimp out.  Really!?  Perhaps we need to look at this more closely.

 

Let’s go back a few verses to see what this was all about.  The disciples were crossing to the other side of the sea without Jesus.  A storm came up and the winds were strong enough to toss the waves around so that the boat was having difficulty going forward.  This problem was compounded by seeing someone walking towards them on the surface of the water.  They thought they were seeing a ghost. (Mark’s gospel includes that they did not understand because their hearts were hardened.  They still failed to apply the power of Jesus to the situation they were in.  Keep this in mind as we go on.)  The disciples were afraid.

 

Did Peter act foolishly in doing what he did?  He did tell Jesus to command him to go to Him.  When Jesus did, Peter was willing to do so and got out of the boat and began to walk to Jesus.  He left the security of the boat and decided to rely totally on Jesus.  But, the wind caught Peter’s attention.  Here is the problem all Believers face.  David Jeremiah states, “Whenever Believers divert their eyes from Jesus in the midst of a storm, their circumstances assume prominence, and they like Peter, lose heart and begin to sink.  The difference between fear and faith is focus.”

 

In this life there are many things to fear.  We are certainly living in perilous times (See 2 Timothy 3:1-7). Jesus wants us to look to Him, focus on Him and not be afraid.  There are many verses of Scripture that encourage Christians to “not be afraid”.  His encouragement to us is based on His limitless power and personal love for all who have given their life to Him.  There will be storms and circumstances of life that we must deal with.  When we must face them, do so by focusing on the fact that Jesus is with us to either pull us up out of the water or be with us through it.

 

So, did Peter fail that day?  I do not think so.  The other disciples stayed in the boat.  Fear does can paralyze us and cause us to be unwilling to get out of the boat, to play it safe.  Peter experienced the joy of walking on the water and the hand of Jesus reaching out to him in his time of need.  It can be tempting to look down on Peter, and remember he had small faith.  But, at least he got out of the boat!

 

 

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Matthew 22:37, Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

 

“I love you”.  Have you really considered what that statement can mean?  When I say I love you to my wife or family is the same thing as saying I love some kind of food or when I say I love to watch basketball?  I know – that does not make sense.  But, think for a moment how easily that phrase about love is spoken so easily.  Thinking back over the years I have been married, I can see that my definition of love has changed several times.  Changes and age have helped me see what I believe to be the true meaning of love.

 

I have shared this before.  “I asked Jesus how much He loved me.  He said, ‘This much.’  And He spread His arms out and died for me.” 

 

The question today is how much do I (you) love Him!  To test Him, Jesus was asked by a lawyer (a teacher of the Law of Moses) which commandment was the greatest.  “Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”   Mark and Luke add the word “strength” to the answer Jesus gave.  Jesus was saying that we are to love God with all the powers and capacities of the soul, the will, the understanding, and all the affections within us.  This love involves the affections of the heart; in other words, God is so treasured and valued that we long to fellowship with Him.  Our love for Him causes us to be obedient to Him and to want to honor and bring glory to Him each day.  Heart, soul, mind, and strength represent the whole person.  Notice the mind is included because loving the Lord is done with the intellect as well as the heart and soul.  That’s why reading and studying the Bible is so important; it gives knowledge of who God.  As we get to know and understand Him intellectually, we begin to fear (become in awe of) Him (Proverbs 1).  Our love for the Lord must be a passionate and the dominating love inspired by His love for us.  He loves you and me so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins and stupidity.

 

Can we love and walk with God in this manner?  The answer is no and yes.  Huh?  No, we cannot do so in our fallen state - it is utterly impossible to love God as Jesus said to love Him.  In man’s fleshly state, he has no true love for God; man has enmity (hostility) against God and everything that is divine and good and belongs to Him.  Look at what is happening in our country and around the world.  Those who want nothing to do with God or the things of God are going crazy.  There is no respect for others!  It is a world of what is yours is now mine and I am going to take it.  We are seeing enmity towards everything that is godly and righteous.

 

 Yes, it is possible but only through the grace He offers through His Son.  When He is accepted as Savior the Holy Spirit begins to work within your heart, soul, and mind to produce the fruit of love for God that you previously did not have.  When you begin to love God in this way, it naturally follows that you begin to love others the way God loves you.  It is obvious that the world needs the love of God! 

 

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Philippians 1:21, For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

I have been thinking about the different times the Lord has saved me from some terrible consequences.  I am not sure how many times I have gone to sleep while driving by myself to be suddenly awaken before running into the back of a semi-truck.  One time I even woke up in the area between the interstate lanes driving 70 mph.  There was a lot of traffic and by God’s help I got right back into the traffic flow.  There have been other kinds of instances when the outcome could have been bad as well.  What are your stories?

 

I have often wondered why the Lord has kept me safe! 

 

Perhaps this statement by Paul has a clue.  Scholars seem to agree that this verse is Paul’s motive and mission for his life.  True Believers do not need to fear death because they know God has a purpose for their living and that death when it comes, is simply the end of their earthly living and the beginning of a greater life with Christ.  Read the verses that surround this verse (V. 20-25).

 

I believe that too many people focus on the second part of Paul’s statement.  The first part, “For to me, to live is Christ,” should not be overlooked.  To Paul, it was not so much that he lived, but that Christ lived in him. I believe that phrase should be central to every Christian’s life.  Let me explain.  Paul is saying that everything he has tried to be, everything he is, and everything he looked forward to being pointed to Christ.  In other words, he lived by faith in Christ and his spiritual life was maintained and supported by feeding on the “bread of life”.  Paul’s single goal was to bring glory to Jesus!

 

“To live is Christ” means that Paul proclaimed the Gospel of Christ.  He preached in the synagogues, as a prisoner, as an apostle, and as a tentmaker.  The message he preached was always the same, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).  Who he told did not matter to him as he spoke the same message to kings, men, women, soldiers, Jews and Gentiles – to anyone who would listen.

 

“To live is Christ” means that we must pursue knowledge of Him.  It means that we want to know Him better and better every day.  I have written about knowledge, understanding, and wisdom before.  We study not to know a bunch of facts about Christ but to know Him better. When we come to know Him better, we desire to give up those things which prevents us from being closer to Him.  Paul said in Philippians 3:8-9, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ , the righteousness which is from God by faith,”.

 

“To live is Christ” means that Jesus Christ is our focus and our chief desire; He is the focus of our mind, heart, body and soul (Matthew 22:37).

 

“To die is gain.”  All I know is what the Bible says about this.  When one dies, one is immediately released from the trials and cares of this life – all the stress, disease in the body, disappointments, sinfulness of the world, the fears we have, and all temptations we face.  As soon as one dies, the Christian immediately enters into the presence of God where there is fulness of joy and is immediately with Christ.  The Christian enjoys the company of angels and saints there already and inherits a kingdom that has been prepared from the foundation of the world.  He wears a crown of life, righteousness, and glory; he enters into an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled.  In this, there is love, joy, comfort and perfect peace!  That is gain!

 

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John 14:6, And Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

 

I usually like to have a route planned when I am going somewhere.  I need to have clear directions before I get started so I do not end up somewhere I do not want to be; It seems I still get lost because I miss a turn.  Then I have to ask for directions or consult a map or turn on the GPS.

 

Jesus has been talking about heaven to His disciples.  He has told them He is going there after His death, resurrection, and ascension to prepare a place for His disciples (includes all Believers).  He told them that He would return from His Father’s presence and take His followers to be with Him in Heaven, to the place He had prepared for them.  Again, that is the hope for all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  He concludes this with “And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

 

What Jesus had been telling them must have been confusing to them because Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”  Perhaps it was confusion about Jesus telling them He was going to be leaving them.  Maybe, when Jesus told them one of them was going to turn Him over to the Jewish leaders and Peter was going to deny Him caused them to be troubled.  For whatever reason, Thomas needed directions because He did not understand where Jesus was going and how He was going to get them there to be with Him.

 

Jesus’ reply was straight forward.  You get to heaven by believing in and following Me. Following the “map” that the Bible gives to shows that Jesus offers salvation through His death and resurrection.  It also shows how to stay on the “narrow road” to heaven; it tells how to get back on the road when a wrong turn is taken.  Jesus is the Truth, our standard to study and know so well that when that which is not true comes it is recognized for what it is.  His doctrine is true.  We study it to live the life He desires, to please Him.  His truth becomes our guide to a richly lived life that ends with heaven as our reward.  This life lived in Christ is only lived by God’s grace and His Holy Spirit living within us to guide us to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

 

“Jesus is the way which every one of us must follow. Jesus is the truth in Whom we must believe. Jesus is the life in Whom we have our hope. And Jesus said - NO ONE comes to the Father but through Me. There is no other way to God; no other truth about God; and no other life apart from God. Christ's claim is exclusive. The one and only way, truth, and life is JESUS. No other religion, no other faith, no other path, no other philosophy, and no other gospel leads the sinner to God the Father, tells the truth about Him, and gives us His eternal life - other than JESUS. And this is a non-negotiable fact.” (dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com)

 

 

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John 11:25-26, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"

 

Lazarus had been in the tomb four days when Jesus finally got there.  Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, approached Jesus and said to him, "My brother would not have died if You had been here.  But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give you.”  They knew Jesus had power over sickness and now was to discover His power over death.

 

For the person who believes that Jesus hung on a cross, taking their place for the sin they committed and will commit, death is not a tragic end.  It is instead a gateway to abundant life and eternal fellowship with God.  The Life in the Spirit Study Bible tells us, “The words “shall…live” of verse 25 refer to the resurrection; the words ‘shall never die’ of verse 26 mean that resurrected believers will never cease to exist.  They will have new bodies, immortal and incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:42, 54), ones that can never die or deteriorate (Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 4:16) and ones that are perfectly designed by God for the greater life to come hereafter (1 Corinthians 15:35-58).”  The resurrected body is an essential doctrine of scripture; a doctrine that will need to take its own page of the blog.

 

Jesus told Martha and Mary that their brother would rise again.  Martha replied to Jesus that she knew he would be resurrected at the last day.  But, Jesus wanted to teach her and us that He had power over death not just in the last day but also at that moment.  David Jeremiah says the Jesus “is ever the resurrection and the life.” Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, “in order that they (the Jews there) might believe You (God, the Father) sent Me.”

 

But, Jesus went further when He spoke about those who believe in Him shall never die.  He was talking about living eternally with Him.  Notice that within Jesus’ words there is a time limitation; He said, “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”  Belief and acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Lord must come during one’s lifetime.  After one dies it is too late to believe.  The hope of all believers, those born again, is to be resurrected into eternal life with God.  The only way for that to happen is through Jesus, the resurrection and the life.

 

Jesus asked an important question, “Do you believe this?” That is the question every person must answer for themselves.  In one of my Bibles I have a sticky note with some notes on it about this question.  I do not know where I got the words but they are worth passing on.  First, Jesus made the question personal – “Do you believe this?”  It does not matter what anyone else thinks or believes.  You have to answer the question for yourself.  Second, the question was very pointed.  “Do you believe this?” The answer to the question is not something you just intellectually believe.  No, your belief takes on a whole new set of moral standards.  How you act, think, and talk will change.  And third, the question was precise, “Do you believe this?”  Do you believe Jesus’ claim about His deity?  Do you believe Jesus’ claim about death?  We are all going to die.  Do you believe Jesus’ claim about His (and our) destiny?  He is going to die but live again.  So are we! Do you believe His claim about deliverance?  Eternal life – salvation – is through Him and Him alone.

 

The question each of us must answer remains the same. “Do you believe this?”  I have made my decision; I believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life and through Him I will live eternally in fellowship with Him.

 

 

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John 8:12, Then Jesus spoke to them, “I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 

John 1:4-5, In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

 

Daniel 2:22, He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.

 

You probably have caught on that I have been writing about the “I am” statements made by Jesus.  I believe it is important to study what He has said about Himself in order to better understand who He is.

 

Have you noticed that there are scary things that come out at night? It used to be the boogie man; now the dark seems to bring out those who want to riot, loot, and tell people to get out of their houses.  Have you considered the amount of crime and killing that goes on at night?  Oh, the darkness seems to hide all the sinfulness and evil that occurs.  When the sun comes out all the evil seems to go to sleep, at least into hiding.  When the light switch gets turned on, the darkness is lit up and we feel safe.  The light relieves our fear and gives a sense of safety and security that all is well.

 

Jesus’ claim that He was the light of the world may have reminded the Pharisees and scribes of Israel’s history when the people were led by a pillar of fire and a cloud as they left Egypt.  Perhaps they were reminded of God’s Shekinah glory leaving the temple little by little because of Israel’s sin and worship of foreign gods.  Now, Jesus stood among the people declaring that the light of the world had reappeared.  He – God’s Shekinah glory – had come to fill the hearts of God’s people (David Jeremiah).  Daniel said that light dwells with God; God is light and Jesus Christ is image of the invisible God (Matthew Henry Commentary).

 

Jesus is the true light (John 1:9).  He removes the darkness and deception in the world by lighting the way to God and salvation through Jesus.  The light Jesus brings is for every person – Jew and Gentile.  All those who follow Him are delivered from the darkness of sin, the world, and Satan.  Those who still walk in darkness do not follow Him.  “He who follows Me” is a present participle (I hope I make my English teachers proud!), picturing a continuing action because following Jesus is not a one-time thing.  Jesus never encouraged His disciples to place confidence in past faith or past experience.  Continuing to walk in faith and following the Word of God gives confidence to us of our salvation.  Obedience to God’s Word is essential to Believers.  As a side note, read the Parable of the Vine in John 15.  “We have here the fundamental principle governing the saving relationship of Christ and the Believer, namely, that it is never a static relationship based solely on a past decision or experience.  Rather it is a progressive relationship as Christ lives in the Believer and shares with him or her His divine life.” (The Life in the Spirit Study Bible).

The light of Christ shines today as it did when John wrote His gospel.  It still shines in a dark world that is controlled by Satan.  I do not know how much of today’s world has accepted His life or light.  I do know that “darkness has not comprehended it”.  The Lord Jesus Christ gives light to all who hear His gospel by communicating a measure of grace and understanding so everyone who hears may freely choose or reject the message.  There is no other light besides the light of Jesus Christ by which one may see the truth and be saved.

 

 

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Deuteronomy20-3-4, “And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies.  Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble because  of them; for the Lord your God is with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’

 

I just got home from a walk in the neighborhood.  When I walk by myself, I try to spend much of the time in prayer.  This morning as I was praying for my former colleagues at First Baptist Academy regarding their safety, the safety of students and parents and for my family’s safety regarding the covid-19 virus, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind that we are not to live in fear.  Fear is not faith.  Fear is being subject to that which can be real or imagined.  Fear is not the same thing as being cautious or concerned with doing the right thing.  Fear allows that which is not known to control our thoughts and actions.  As school begins, there are many different thoughts about whether school should be conducted in the classroom or should distance learning be the method of instruction.  

 

The problem is compounded by the many opinions being given.  Who is right?  If the different thoughts promoted are politically based, then shame on those in leadership that are promoting fear among the people.   Fear that is being promoted is a paralyzing fear that is not in the best interests of the students.  God does not want His people to live and operate in fear.  Are we cautious, concerned, and prayerful about life?  Yes!

 

 In the verse from Deuteronomy, the Lord told His people not to fear when going to battle.  When they saw the horses and chariots more numerous than His people, they were not to be afraid.  Instead, they were to remember who brought them out of Egypt.  They needed to know that they had greater strength on their side than all the chariots in the world.  So, too, today must we remember that there is greater strength with us because the Lord God Almighty is with us.  Does that mean we throw all caution to the wind?  Absolutely not!  It means we do all the things necessary to prevent the virus from being spread.  It means that we walk with the creator, trusting in Him to protect us.  Does that mean Christians should not be exposed or become infected with the covid-19 virus?  No, it means that our trust is in the Lord throughout every circumstance.  Stop looking at the horses and chariots and look to the Lord for His strength!

 

That old defender of the West, John Wayne has been quoted as saying, “Life is tough!  It’s tougher when you are stupid!”  I know that might not be as biblical as you might want here, but, it seems to fit.  Be wise in what you do.  Be wise in where you go and who you go with.  There are so many thoughts about what prevents the spread of this stuff and what does not.  Does it hurt to be overly cautious?

 

To my friends at FBA, I pray God’s blessings and His safety over you and the students as you go back to school this week.  May His grace be sufficient for each of you as you do what is necessary to educate your students and as you do all that is necessary to keep them safe.  You are in my thoughts and prayers as you begin this new year.  May it be the best year ever!

 

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John 6:35, And Jesus said unto them, “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

 

Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.”  Jesus

 

When the people of Israel wandered in the desert for forty years God fed them with manna, bread from heaven; it gave them the sustenance to keep them alive.  The manna was given the people in the morning with specific instructions to gather according to their need and to eat all gathered.  “Because the scripture saith, He gave them bread from heaven, it does not follow that it was heavenly bread, or was intended to be the nourishment of souls.” (Matthew Henry Commentary).  The manna was good for only the bread eaten after being gathered.  If any leftover was manna kept until the next morning, it “bred worms and stank” (Deuteronomy 16:20).

 

The people had been asking Jesus for signs He would perform that they might believe He was the one God had sent to them.  They brought up the Old Testament verses about Manna from heaven.  Jesus told them that Moses did not give them bread from heaven.  It was not the true bread from heaven because it was not lasting, it only provided for their physical sustenance.

 

Jesus told them to believe in Him.  He was the One who would meet their deepest needs.  He was the true bread sent by His Father.  “The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (verse 33)  “I am the bread of life.” He is the sustenance that nourishes spiritual life.  In the verses that follow Jesus promises to welcome all who come to Him in repentance and faith.  Those who come to Him come in response to the grace given them by God.  It is important to remember the relationship between the Father’s will and human responsibility.  It is not His will that any should perish nor any believer fall from grace (read Galatians 5:4).  There is a difference between God’s desires for us and the wrong choices we make.  It is our responsibility to repent, believe, walk in obedience and follow Him.

 

So what do we take away from the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the bread of life?  First, salvation is for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. Everyone has the opportunity to repent and follow Him.  Secondly, Jesus “will not cast out those who come to Him” (John 6: 37).  Third, “he who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).  Lastly, Believers shall be raised up on the last day to eternal life (John 6:40).

 

I have said before that I pray every day for my family and all who read this blog to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Jesus’ promise is that those who have a “hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled.”  I stand on that promise!

 

 

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John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.”   Jesus

 

In the parable of the sower (Mathew 13), the seeds fall on different types of soil.  The fourth type of soil represents the converted heart – the person who hears the Word of God, allows its truth to sink in, and is genuinely saved.  That person then produces fruit.  This needs to be understood, in my opinion, to understand what Jesus said in the verses above.

 

Can a Christian lose his or her salvation?  John 10:27-28 deals with this question; it is important because we all sin!  What happens when we sin or backslide?  Will doing so result in losing our salvation? 

 

Jesus gives the answer in these verses.  He knows His sheep.  His sheep, according to 1 John 1:7, are to walk in the light of Jesus Christ – His sheep are to be obedient to what His Word says.  His sheep are to “follow Him”!   He knows that humanity is prone to sin and will do so because of weakness and lack of discipline.  In John’s first epistle, he writes that the truth is not in us if we say we do not sin.  He tells us to confess our sins when we sin and God will forgive us our sins because He is faithful and just.  This is not a license to sin!

 

Jesus gives eternal life through belief in what He did on the cross and because of His resurrection.  While on the cross He died for every sin; He died for every sin you have committed and will commit in the future.  When you sin - confess it!  Be obedient to what His Word says.  The Bible is His voice to us today – read it, understand it, do it (“and they follow Me!”).  Jesus emphasizes His promise in two different ways.  Believers will not perish and no one can take eternal life from them.  As a Believer, one who is genuinely saved, you are secure in Him.

 

Read other verses that tell of a Believer’s security.  Hebrews 10:10, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  “Jesus’ perfect, one-time work to atone for all sin is the basis for the Believer’s assurance.  Believers cannot save themselves nor keep themselves saved; only the collaborative work of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit can do this (David Jeremiah Study Bible).

 

Romans 11:29 tells us, “For the works and the calling of God are irrevocable.”  God’s gift of eternal life through His Son will not be taken from us.

 

1 Peter 1:3-5 assures us that the Believer’s inheritance is: “incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith….”

 

Jude 24 assures us that He is able to keep us from stumbling and present us as faultless in the final day.  God’s ability to keep His sheep from the enemy is not dependent on human actions.

 

True Believers have known the forgiveness of their sins need to thank God daily for His love and salvation.  Look for ways to please Him every day.  Be obedient to the Word of God (His voice) and follow him.

 

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John 10:9, “I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”  Jesus

 

John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”  Jesus

 

John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and I am known by own.”  Jesus

 

These are some bold statements by Jesus.  But He was the Son of God, sent to save the lost sheep of Israel.  What did He mean by these statements?

 

The sheepfold was an enclosure with an opening for the sheep to enter into it.  The shepherd would herd the sheep into it at night and then lie down in the opening so the sheep could not get out and nothing could get in.  Sheep have a tendency to wander off (no wonder we are compared to them!); the shepherd kept them where they were safe and protected.  Verse 9 above is a statement by Jesus that He is the door to the sheepfold (eternal life).  Those who enter God’s sheepfold must enter through Jesus.  Notice the three benefits He mentions by entering through Him.  They will be saved!  Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved.” Through Jesus, we have all we need to be delivered from sin, guilt, and condemnation.  No other “door” exists!  Secondly, the sheep go in and out; they are able to move freely about in the security of the Shepherd.  He watches intently over His sheep, correcting them when needed.  If one does wander off or gets lost, the Shepherd leaves the rest to go find the one that is lost (Luke 15:3-7).  And the third thing Jesus mentions is the pasture.  The good shepherd makes sure there is provision for his sheep; the Good Shepherd provides constant provision for the soul of His sheep!

 

The statement Jesus made about being the Good Shepherd is a “metaphor that describes His tender and devoted care for His people.  It is as if He is saying, ‘I am toward all who believes in me, as a good shepherd is toward his sheep – caring, watchful, and loving.’” (from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible).  Notice the second part of the verse.  Jesus as the Good Shepherd is willing to die for His sheep.  This points the way to His death on the cross; His death on the cross provides salvation for His sheep.  (Just a quick side note: true pastors care for their “sheep”, while false pastors first of all of themselves and their position!)

 

Then Jesus said I know My sheep.  You have to know that right now Jesus Christ knows you and knows you by name!  He loves you so much, more that you know!  His love is unconditional – no strings attached – because you have placed your faith in Him.  You have to do nothing else to earn it.  His love involves His personal affection and His constant care.  Think about the time(s) that accident might have happened or that time __________ could have happened but didn’t.  Was it God’s intervention?  All I know is we, as His sheep, are never out of His mind and never out of His sight.  That is for our own good!

 

Oh what a Shepherd we have that watches over us, guides us, and does what is best for us.  Take a few minutes to reflect on what He has done for you.   Think about the object of your love, how much your love is extended to that person and know that God loves you so much more.  He knows your coming and going, your every thought and action and He still loves you.  He desires an intimate relationship with you, to be in constant fellowship with you.  Go ahead – right now, in your own way, thank Him for being the Good Shepherd to you.

 

 

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John 10:1-3, “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.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  Jesus

 

When I taught government we would discuss the various responsibilities of the President’s Cabinet, one of the departments is the Treasury Department.  I would begin the discussion by asking students how treasury agents knew the difference between a real bill and a counterfeit bill.  The answer is that the agents would study the real bill in order to know the counterfeit when they saw it. I bet you already know where our discussion went from there.

 

In the time of Jesus, the sheepfold was a place where sheep could be put for the night.  They would enter and leave through a gate and were kept safe by a night guard.  The sheepfold often held sheep belonging to more than one shepherd.  When the shepherd came the next day, he would call his sheep by name; the sheep knew his voice and would leave only with him 

 

It is important for us to understand the role of the shepherd.  He was to watch over the flock making sure they did not wander off and get into danger.   He was to guide them to green pastures so they had plenty of water and food.  And he was to protect them from predators and thieves.  In the process he got to now the sheep to the point of giving them names and the sheep depended on him. 

 

Obviously the shepherd in John 10 is Jesus Christ and the sheep refer to those who have given their life to Him.  Matthew Henry refers to the Church of God in the world as the sheepfold.  His commentary states this, “This sheepfold lies much exposed to thieves and robbers; crafty seducers that debauch and deceive, and cruel persecutors that destroy and devour; grievous wolves; thieves that would steal Christ's sheep from him, to sacrifice them to devils, or steal their food from them, that they might perish for lack of it; wolves in sheep's clothing.”  The Good Shepherd takes care of His sheep, calling them by name.

 

When I first began this blog, I spent time writing about false Christs and deception.  John 10 is about the Good Shepherd, Jesus, as the true shepherd and ruler of His people in contrast to all the false shepherds.  Jesus portrays the Pharisees and other religious leaders as thieves and robbers who are stealing the joy and security of God’s people through false teaching.  They try to get into the sheepfold through deception not the gate; they do not have the best interests of the sheep in their minds.  The true shepherd will enter through the gate and call his sheep by name.  They respond to him because they know him.  That is the character of the true shepherd, he enters through the gate with authority and with the idea he is going to do good to his flock.  All others try to enter through some other way and mislead the sheep.

 

How do you know the Good Shepherd from the false ones?  Study Him and His Word; know Him and His Word so well that you know the real from the false. The more you study and obey the more clearly you will hear His voice when He calls you by name.  He is going to protect you from predators and false shepherds, lead you to green pastures and keep you from wandering off into danger.  Study Him in order to be protected from the false teachers and those who would deceive you.  Study the One who is true in order to protect you from those who are false! The Good Shepherd is willing to die and did die for His flock.  Allow Him alone to be your guide, protector and comfort.

 

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