SHORT & SWEET SPIRITUAL LIFE
ESH-27
140928AM
Short Clip
As we open to John 10 this morning, we look at the very foundation of Christianity.
Whose birth do we celebrate as God with us, Immanuel? Jesus Christ the Lord.
Who lived the only perfect human life ever lived? Jesus Christ the Lord.
Who dies a substitutionary, atoning death on the Cross of Calvary? Jesus Christ the Lord.
We are to go through life as the Great Commission says, leading people to follow Who? Jesus Christ the Lord.
Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Now as we look at John 10:27: who is the Good Shepherd who saves us, in order for us to follow Him forever? Jesus Christ the Lord.
Jesus made salvation eternal life and assurance of eternal security so SIMPLE. Please stand with me as we listen to Jesus, as He sums EVERYTHING up with these words in v. 27:
John 10:27 (NKJV) My sheep, hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Pray
Salvation is so personal: we are His sheep; we can hear His voice; and the way we know we are His comes from following His voice. Think of a shepherd who speaks, and of sheep that turn their heads, listen and then start walking towards him. That is such a picture of true Christianity!
Note how open-ended that verse is. When we got saved it was because of hearing, responding to, and starting to follow: Jesus Christ the Lord; and following Christ never ends, as the Book of Revelation reminds us: we are forever His Sheep, following Him (Rev. 7:17).
FOLLOWING JESUS NOW & FOREVER
Following Christ’s voice from His Word is how we were saved.
Continuing to follow His Voice heard through His Word is our source of daily assurance.
Jesus said that eternal life is all about following Him; and He summarized His entire plan for the disciples in just two words: “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19). Those two words were what He spoke to Peter, Andrew, James, and John as they fished and to Matthew, as he sat at the tax office (Luke 5:27); and those two words are what He still calls for, as He walks through this world.
Jesus called Himself the “Way”; and described salvation as the beginning of a life-long journey of following Him (John 14:6). This call to a life of following needs to at times–be renewed, as Jesus demonstrated after His resurrection when Peter was restored to ministry as Jesus again said: “follow” Me (John 21:19).
DISCIPLES ARE TAUGHT HOW TO FOLLOW
Check Out All The Sermons In The Series
You can find all the sermons and short clips from this series, Disciple’s Path to Follow here.
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Dr. Barnett has curated an Amazon page with a large collection of resources he uses in his study of God’s Word. You can check it out here.