LEARNING DAILY

 

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

 

Jesus is the way (the toll) for each person to get on the narrow way to eternity in God’s kingdom. When Jesus said He was the gate or door to enter the sheep pen, He meant He was the only way to enter the safety of God’s eternal kingdom. He is the only way to be “saved” or to enter into eternal life in His kingdom; the only way to be delivered from sin, guilt, and condemnation. Other religions base their salvation on being a good person and by doing good works. Jesus made it clear good works were not enough to pay the toll. Every person must declare they are sinful and can do nothing to earn what He has to offer through His death on a cross and through His resurrection. I know if you have been reading this blog for long, you already know and understand that there is no opportunity to know the abundant life Jesus Christ offers apart from Him and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

 

John 10:11 continues with Jesus Christ declaring He is the Good Shepherd. “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Psalm 23:1 declares, The Lord is my Shepherd.” Isaiah 40:11 declares, He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom, and gently leads those who are young.” Ezekiel 34:23 speaks of God sending the Messiah to shepherd His people. “I will establish one shepherd over them and He shall feed them – my servant David. He shall lead them and be their shepherd.”  “My servant David” refers to the Messiah, who will come through the lineage of David to restore Israel. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would shepherd God’s people as a righteous priest and king. He would lay down His life for the sheep, for all who would believe in Him.

The Good Shepherd, the Messiah, had to lay down His life so “whosoever would believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15). John 3:16 affirms this, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” No person can be good enough or do enough to earn their way into heaven. Sin entered the world through Adam; the result is a sin nature born into every person that must be cleansed. The only way sin can be cleansed was for the Son of God to be sacrificed through a sin offering. He had to take your place, my place, and the place of all who would believe in Him on a cross.  It took the spotless, sinless Lamb of God to hang on a cross to provide the only sacrifice God the Father would accept. No one else, nothing else was pure enough to provide the necessary sacrifice for our sin. Jesus Christ was the Good Shepherd because He was willing to die for the sheep -- you, me, and all who would believe.

I know you know all of this. It is only a reminder for none of us to take for granted or become complacent about the saving grace of Jesus Christ and our walk with Him must be daily. I sincerely believe His return is soon; we must be standing firm in faith, looking and listening for His call to join Him in the clouds or if He takes us home first. Eternal life is not something we look forward to; no, it begins the moment one accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior. We need to live like it.