Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Ps. 73:25-28Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a-whoring from thee. 28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [James 4:8]
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. [Ps. 145:18]
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. [Ps. 34:18]
By a complete or whole dependence on God, believers are to come with a right attitude, full assurance of faith, boldly, but not arrogantly, with a true heart, not a hypocritical heart.
A. Draw Near through Adoration:
Believers are to draw near through their adoration, praise, worship, and thanksgiving.
Ps. 100:2Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
B. Draw Near through Meditation:
Believers are to draw near through prayerful meditation on the Word. The gates into the Father’s presence are gates of prayer. They have been perpetually opened by the blood of Jesus. To neglect prayer is to neglect God.
Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Matthew 16:15-19 (MSG)
15He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17-18Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
19"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
When Jesus made these statements, He was using the equivalent of God’s name, as He revealed it to Moses at the burning bush – I AM
In ancient Israel sheep folds were not like the corrals you might see today. They were often built of bushes or branches, or a low row of stones or mud bricks. Some were built next to a cave in the hills. Nothing fancy, but they were enough to contain the sheep and keep them from wandering into danger. The shepherd had a close relationship with the sheep of his flock. Shepherds knew their sheep by name, and the sheep recognized their shepherd’s voice.
-The sheep fold had a single opening to protect against robbers and wild animals. Shepherds would become the gate to the sheep fold. They would lie in front of the opening so that nothing could enter without them knowing. These human gates provided entrance to the fold and protection from threats outside.
-When Jesus told His disciples, “I am the door,” He was making a claim both to deity (by His use of I AM), and to the fact that He was the Messiah – the one who would save His people from their sins and make a way for them to know God. So here is the main thought I’d like for you to consider today:
I. Jesus Is the Door of Access (John 10:1-3, 6-9)
-In the first few verses He makes the point that both shepherds and sheep must enter through the door. If a so-called shepherd tries to get in any other way, he reveals his true identity – thief!
-Then Jesus plainly reveals Himself as the door. Jesus is the way into the sheepfold. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.”
-The apostles never wavered from this exclusive claim: Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." People will look in other places and try to find some other way to satisfy their hunger to know their Creator, but in vain.
-The sheep only came into the fold as they allowed themselves to be inspected by the shepherd. We may talk more about this next week, but here is how one writer expresses the loving care of the Shepherd: “He has the horn filled with olive oil and he has cedar tar, and he anoints a knee bruised on the rocks or a side scratched by thorns. And here comes one that is not bruised but is simply worn and exhausted; he bathes its face and head with the refreshing olive oil and he takes the large two-handled cup and dips it brimming full from the water he has brought for that purpose, and he lets the weary sheep drink. God’s care is not for the wounded only; it is for those who are just worn and weary” (William Allen Knight: The Song of Our Syrian Guest). Psalm 23:5 “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
-When we come to Jesus, we do not face a cross-examination. We face a loving examination. He is the only way in, and He wants us to come in and be with Him.
II. Jesus Is the Door of Provision
9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
-Jehovah Jireh or Yahweh Yireh. Jesus meets our needs and sustains us. He meets our greatest need – that of forgiveness and cleansing. But He also ministers to our other needs and takes good care of us as we’ve already seen.
-The Shepherd knows that the sheep need to eat. He leads them to the right places to find the nourishment they need. Psalm 23:2-3 2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul.”
-Have you allowed the Shepherd to restore your soul lately? Perhaps you need to spend some time at the door, letting Him minister to you and provide what you need.
-TS: Along with provision, Jesus protects us from ourselves and from other sources of danger.
III. Jesus Is the Door of Protection
10a "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy...."
-How many of you like to feel safe? The Shepherd protects his sheep from thieves & other enemies. it was not uncommon for thieves to steal sheep on occasion. Whether it was for the meat or wool or both, it was a very real danger for mid-eastern shepherds. Notice the Shepherd protects us, They are utterly dependent upon their shepherd for food, water, rest, and other provision. He provides what we need and protects us from those who want to steal, kill, and destroy us. -As the door to the sheep fold, the Shepherd is able to keep the sheep in, and the thieves and other predators out. Nothing can get to you without going through Jesus first! And if something unpleasant does come your way, the Shepherd knows you can handle it with the power He has given you.
-This next one is exciting to talk about.
IV. Jesus Is the Door of Life
10b "… I came that they may have life…”
-The word for life here is from the Greek word Zoe. Jesus wants us to know and share in the God-life here and now in this world. We can never become divine, but we share in His nature as Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:3-4: 3 ”His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
-Jesus the door did not come to exclude people or to condemn people, or to harm people. Jesus the Good Shepherd who is also the living door came to give life. Not just physical life, but spiritual connectedness with God who is our very source of life.
-How is life? Are you living or simply existing? Jesus offers you life – a living relationship with the One who created you. John 1 says, “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” I urge you to go to the door and ask Him for life. He is offering the best gift you could ever have. It cost Him His own life, but He did it gladly for you.
-TS: Well, finally, what kind of life does Jesus offer?
V. Jesus Is the Door of Excess
10bc "… I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
-By excess, I do not mean excess bad stuff, but excess good stuff! Jesus is the “more than enough” God. He does not want you to just get by, He wants to lavish His love and life on you so that it will fill you completely and overflow onto somebody else.
-The word for abundant means extraordinary in amount, abundant, profuse, going beyond what is necessary. Isn’t that awesome! God doesn’t just give you enough to get by – He goes far beyond what is necessary and continues to overwhelm us with His inexhaustible grace – extraordinary, more than enough, matchless, overflowing life!
I. Jesus Is the Door of Access – the way into the sheepfold
II. Jesus Is the Door of Provision – meets needs & sustains
III. Jesus Is the Door of Protection – protects from thieves & enemies
IV. Jesus Is the Door of Life – shares the God-life with us
V. Jesus Is the Door of Excess – the “more than enough” God
