In John 10:1-6, the Lord
Jesus said: “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. And
when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow
him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a
stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not
know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did
not understand the things which He spoke to them.
This last Sunday, the
Ministry Lead of our denomination, Dr. Willie Nolte was the guest preacher in
our continuing sermon series through the gospel of John. He pointed out that the
Apostle John refers to the miracles of Jesus as signs that He is the Christ,
the Son of the living God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. A miracle is defined in
theology as: an event or effect contrary
to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the
known laws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by
Almighty power, as when Christ performed miraculous signs and wonders. The
theme verse of John 20:29-31 tells us Jesus said to his Apostle, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have
believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly
Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not
written in this book; 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.” This is the great purpose of John’s gospel.
The gospel is the history of
the birth, life, actions, death, resurrection, ascension and doctrines of Jesus
Christ; or a revelation of the grace of God to fallen man through a mediator,
including the character, actions, and doctrines of Christ, with the whole
scheme of salvation, as revealed by Christ and his apostles in the Bible. The
word gospel literally means “good news”. Because of our willful sin, we are
guilty, our spirit died and our connection with God and the kingdom of Heaven
was severed. We were designed and created for eternal life in glory, but the
wages of sin is death and we are destined for eternity in Hell as our
punishment. But, God provided a Redeemer, a Savior in His Son Jesus Christ as a
free gift to whosoever repents, believes and by faith receives Him. This is the
gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life.
God the Father sent, His only Son, to reconcile and save the world; regenerating
our spirit, restoring our relationship with God Almighty and giving us eternal
life. The Apostle John opens his gospel this way:
John 1:1-14 “In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were
made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 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. There was
a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for
a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him
might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear
witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light
to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was
made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to
His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as
received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to
those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the
Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Let’s continue with my notes
on Pastor Willie’s gospel sermon in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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