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John 10:7-10 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Well, amen and good morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 10.
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Well served. Before I do, let me pray for God's blessing on our time.
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Father God, we thank you this morning for your inspired, infallible, authoritative, sufficient Word.
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We pray, Father, this day you will help us by your Spirit to trust it,
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that you will empower the preaching of your Word and the hearing of your Word,
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our understanding and application of it.
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Certainly our very best of attempts are feeble, apart from your intervention.
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So we ask that you would help us as we take up your Word together this day.
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And I pray this in Christ's name. Amen.
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All right, John chapter 10, beginning in verse 1.
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Jesus says,
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Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way,
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that man is a thief and a robber.
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But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
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To him the gatekeeper opens.
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The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
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When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
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A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
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This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
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So Jesus again said to them,
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Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
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All who came before me are thieves and robbers.
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But the sheep did not listen to them.
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I am the door.
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If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
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I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
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I am the good shepherd.
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The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
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He who has a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep,
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sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees,
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and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
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He flees because he has a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
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I am the good shepherd.
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I know my own and my own know me.
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Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father,
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and I lay down my life for the sheep.
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And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.
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I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
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So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
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For this reason, the Father loves me,
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because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
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No one takes it from me,
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but I lay it down of my own accord.
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I have authority to lay it down,
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and I have authority to take it up again.
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This charge I have received from my Father.
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Oh, in the case that you were just joining us in our study of John's Gospel,
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or that you, like me, easily forget details,
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I will remind you where we find ourselves in this narrative of Jesus' life.
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In chapter 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind.
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This causes confusion and commotion.
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So the man is brought before the Pharisees
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and put through a series of examinations.
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At the conclusion of his interrogation,
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the man says, and this is chapter 9, verse 33 and following,
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the man says,
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Jesus said,
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I believe,
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I believe,
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and he worshipped him.
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Jesus said,
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For judgment I came into this world,
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that those who do not see may see,
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and those who see may become blind.
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Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things
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and said to him,
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Are we also blind?
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Jesus said to them,
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If you were blind,
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you would have no guilt.
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But now that you say we see,
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your guilt remains.
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So Jesus,
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having healed a blind man of his physical disability
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and then,
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and more importantly,
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of his spiritual disability,
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uses the sight language
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to expose the prideful Pharisees.
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He speaks here with great irony.
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It is the men who think they see
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who are truly the blind ones.
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And it is into this context
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that Jesus goes on in chapter 10.
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He is speaking to the Pharisees,
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blind men who have thrown out of the synagogue
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a seeing man,
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and he switches from sight language
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to hearing language
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and a rich shepherding metaphor.
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This all is meant to be an indictment
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of these men.
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Our text last week concluded with verse 6.
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I'll just read that again.
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This figure of speech Jesus used with them,
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but they did not understand
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what he was saying to them.
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Verse 7 begins,
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So Jesus again said to them.
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And this transition demands
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just a bit of our attention this morning.
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Some have suggested that verses 1 through 5
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are a parable,
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and that the remainder of the chapter
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is the explanation of those verses.
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Jesus certainly goes on
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as a response to their confusion,
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but if we try to read all of chapter 10
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back into verses 1 through 5,
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we will have to force a lot of connections
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that I don't believe Jesus or John
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meant to communicate.
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So we're going to be careful
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as we proceed through,
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and you may see me not do some things
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you'd like for me to do,
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because I don't think that's what
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they intended for us to do.
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Rather, we should read the chapter
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as an unfolding metaphor.
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The very best, in my opinion,
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Greek scholarship on this chapter
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suggests that this is the most faithful way
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for us to proceed.
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So Jesus presses on.
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Jesus again said to them
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by using a different metaphor
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related to what he has just said.
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It's not a total departure
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to what he's just been speaking about,
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but now he's communicating
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something additional.
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First, he has the shepherd
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leading his sheep out
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from amongst the other sheep
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in the sheepfold.
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Now, he is the door
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to the sheepfold.
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Now, whatever you may think
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of Jesus this morning,
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whether you understand him
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to be the Christ or not,
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when he makes such statements
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as this,
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he demands your attention.
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He's saying something
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incredibly stark.
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Do what you will
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with these declarations,
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but don't just tune out.
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Behold Jesus.
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Deal with him honestly,
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and I earnestly hope,
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accept him on his terms.
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Now, to help us do that this morning,
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I have a simple outline.
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It's three points.
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I've tried to make it four.
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I hate always being
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a three-point preacher.
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It seems like I most often am,
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but it just didn't work.
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So, three points this morning.
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Number one,
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Jesus, the only door of salvation.
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Number two,
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Jesus, the exposer of false saviors.
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Number three,
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Jesus, the way of eternal security
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and abundant life.
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Number one,
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Jesus, the only door of salvation.
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We see this in verse seven.
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pick up a little bit of verse nine.
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So,
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Jesus again said to them,
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truly, truly,
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I say to you,
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I am the door of the sheep.
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And then verse nine,
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he says,
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I am the door.
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If anyone enters by me,
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he will be saved.
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In verse seven,
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Jesus makes the third
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of his seven
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I am statements
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that John records.
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First,
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he says,
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I am the bread of life
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in chapter six.
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Then,
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I am the light of the world
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in chapters eight and nine.
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And now,
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I am the door
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of the sheep
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or gate of the sheep.
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Your translation may prefer.
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These statements
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are extraordinarily significant
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because the I am phrase
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declares Jesus' deity
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in relation to God's name
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as revealed to Moses
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in Exodus chapter three.
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Don't miss it.
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His hearers totally understood
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what he was doing.
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We might read right past it.
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But that is exactly
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what he is doing.
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He is declaring
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that he is God.
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And then,
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he's adding some quality
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of his deity
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to the statement.
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He tells us,
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I am the door
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of the sheep.
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The sheep hold up
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a place
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where a group of families
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would bring their flocks
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in at night
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for protection.
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This is most regularly
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the case.
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A wealthy man
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would not have needed
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to partner together
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to accomplish this.
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But most regularly,
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little flocks
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were brought together
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into a safe place,
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a common courtyard
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or a fenced-in area,
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pen, etc.
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Last week,
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we thought together
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about the man
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who would be hired
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to watch over them
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throughout the night,
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the gatekeeper
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that the shepherd
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comes to
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to gain admittance
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to the sheep.
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The gatekeeper
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only lets the shepherd
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in to take his sheep out.
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The sheep hold
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would have had
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one way in
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and that same way
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would have served
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as the way out.
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The common construction
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of these structures.
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Everybody hearing
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Jesus speak
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knows exactly
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what he means.
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As Jesus,
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metaphorically,
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now presents himself
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as that way
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in
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and that way
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out.
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Notice that he does not say,
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I know where the door is,
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nor does he say,
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I can show you the door.
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He says,
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I am the door.
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In our previous metaphor,
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I spoke about
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the sheep being led out
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to good pasture
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and brought back
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into safety
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at night
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by the shepherd.
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This imagery
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would have been vivid
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for Jesus' listeners,
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both because
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of their daily experience
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in an agrarian economy
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and because
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their familiarity
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with their Bibles.
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More importantly,
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this is what Jesus
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is doing.
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doing.
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Remember,
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these are religious leaders
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that Jesus is directly
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confronting
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and they would have been
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familiar with
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a text like
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Psalm 23.
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So last week,
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that's what we read
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in our scripture reading.
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We did it again
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this morning.
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We're going to do it again
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next week.
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I intend to do it
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all the way through
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chapter 10
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unless our elders
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tell me no.
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So you'll be made aware
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if that's what happens,
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if they tell me no,
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which they do
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from time to time.
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First three verses,
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Psalm 23,
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The Lord is my shepherd.
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I shall not want.
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He makes me lie down
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in green pastures.
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He leads me
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beside still waters.
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He restores my soul.
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He leads me
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in paths of righteousness
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for His name's sake.
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That's what He's laying
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before them
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in the opening verses
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of chapter 10,
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but they don't understand Him,
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we saw in verse 6.
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So now He presents Himself
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as the only way
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to good pasture
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and safe rest
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with another metaphor
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drawn from the Old Testament.
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Jesus is just preaching
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the Word to these men.
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Psalm 118,
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I think you'll appreciate
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going there with me
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and I'll give you
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just a quick second
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if you'd like to join me
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in verse 19.
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Psalm 118,
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verse 19
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and following,
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we read,
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Open to me
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the gates
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of righteousness
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that I may enter
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through them
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and give thanks
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to the Lord.
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This is the gate
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of the Lord.
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The righteous
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shall enter through it.
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I thank you
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that you have answered me
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and have become
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my salvation.
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Now,
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if we stop right there,
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you might go,
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how in the world
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does that connect
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to anything
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that Jesus
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is saying here?
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So let me show you
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by continuing
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to read.
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I hope this
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causes connections
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to fire off
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in your brain.
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Verse 22 says,
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The stone
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that the builders
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rejected
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has become
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the cornerstone.
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This is the Lord's
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doing.
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It is marvelous
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in our eyes.
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This is the day
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that the Lord
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has made.
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Let us rejoice
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and be glad in it.
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I think those verses
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are likely
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very familiar to you.
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Verses 22 through 24,
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they're applied
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to Jesus.
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Matthew 21,
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verse 42,
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2 Peter 2,
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and verse 7.
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So Psalm 118
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is presenting
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this rejected stone
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by these builders
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as the gate
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or door
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to enter into
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the presence
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of God.
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these men
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should have
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gotten
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this.
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Jesus is the gate
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of Psalm 118.
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There is no
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alternative entrance,
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no side gate,
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no secret passage.
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You can't come
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tumbling over the wall
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and be considered
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part of
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the flock.
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One door,
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one means of access.
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Jesus says
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that He
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is
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the access.
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Every blessing
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of God
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comes
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through Him.
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Every promise
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of God
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comes
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through
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Him.
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2 Corinthians
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chapter 1
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and verse 20,
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Paul says,
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for all the promises
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of God
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find their
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yes
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in Jesus
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Christ.
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We take up
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the word
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in any measure
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and read
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any of God's
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promises
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and discard
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Jesus as the Christ.
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None of them
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are sure.
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If we believe
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that Jesus
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is the Christ,
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then all of them
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are sure.
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They find
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their
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yes
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in Him.
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Every hope
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of eternal life
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comes through
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Jesus.
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Every sinner
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who enters
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God's kingdom
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enters
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through
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Him.
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No
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other
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way.
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God
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this is
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a
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God
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God
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takes
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a bit
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of time
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to think
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about.
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Our
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culture
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hates
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exclusivity,
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hates
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absolute
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truth claims.
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The world
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wants us to
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think that
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all roads
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lead to God,
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that every
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religion is
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equally valid.
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the world
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says that
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sincerity
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is
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enough.
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And so
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people
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make for
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themselves
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all sorts
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of paths
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to God
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and all
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sorts
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of
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gods.
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Everyone
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worships
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something
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or
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someone
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and the
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tide of our
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day
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mostly rises
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to the
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worship
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of
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self,
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a bend
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toward
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self-identity
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and self-authority.
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my friends,
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this
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is not
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the door.
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It's a
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wide path
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that leads
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to destruction.
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The way
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is narrow
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that leads
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to eternal
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life,
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meaning it's
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defined.
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There's a
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way
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to God.
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Jesus
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says
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there's
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one door
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and it's
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him.
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He is
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the entrance
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to God.
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The
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modern
17:53
mind
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calls
17:54
that
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narrow.
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Jesus
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called it
17:59
truth.
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He just
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makes the
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claim.
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So you
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have to
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deal with
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him and
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you have
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to deal
18:05
with him
18:05
on
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his
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terms.
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He's
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going to
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say later
18:10
in
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John's
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gospel,
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chapter 14
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and verse
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6,
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I am
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the way
18:14
and the
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truth
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and the
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life.
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No one
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comes to
18:18
the Father
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except
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through
18:20
me.
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Peter
18:22
will
18:22
preach
18:22
in Acts
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chapter 4
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and verse
18:23
12,
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there is
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salvation
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in no
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one
18:26
else.
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Paul
18:28
will
18:28
write
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in
18:29
1 Timothy
18:29
chapter 2
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and verse
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5,
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there is
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one
18:31
mediator
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between
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God
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and
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men,
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the
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man
18:34
Christ
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Jesus.
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The
18:37
testimony
18:38
of
18:38
scripture
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is
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unmistakable.
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There's
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one
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savior,
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one
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mediator,
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one
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redeemer,
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one
18:44
door,
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and that
18:45
door
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is
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Christ.
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And
18:49
perhaps
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someone will
18:50
say,
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why must
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there be
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only
18:52
one
18:53
way?
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The
18:55
answer is
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because
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there's
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only one
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savior,
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only one
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who fulfilled
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God's
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law,
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only one
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sinless
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substitute,
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only one
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who bore
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divine
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wrath,
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only one
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who conquered
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death,
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only one
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who rose
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from the
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grave.
19:12
the
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New
19:14
City
19:15
Catechism
19:15
question
19:15
this
19:16
week,
19:16
it's
19:16
found
19:17
in
19:17
your
19:17
bulletin,
19:19
meant
19:20
for the
19:20
children
19:20
really,
19:21
but
19:21
adults,
19:21
we
19:21
would
19:22
do
19:22
well
19:22
to
19:22
know
19:23
these
19:23
questions
19:24
and
19:24
answers.
19:25
Question
19:26
and answer
19:26
21,
19:27
why must
19:28
the
19:28
redeemer
19:28
be
19:28
truly
19:29
human?
19:31
And
19:31
the
19:31
answer
19:31
is
19:31
that
19:31
in
19:32
human
19:32
nature
19:33
he
19:33
might
19:33
on
19:33
our
19:34
behalf
19:34
perfectly
19:35
obey
19:35
the
19:35
whole
19:36
law
19:36
and
19:37
suffer
19:37
the
19:38
punishment
19:38
for
19:39
human
19:40
sin.
19:42
If
19:42
there
19:42
were
19:43
another
19:43
door,
19:44
there
19:44
would
19:44
need
19:44
to
19:44
be
19:44
another
19:45
savior,
19:45
another
19:46
cross,
19:48
another
19:48
resurrection.
19:51
Our
19:52
problem
19:52
with
19:52
God,
19:53
our
19:53
failure
19:54
to
19:54
keep
19:54
his
19:54
commands
19:55
and
19:56
the
19:56
death
19:56
that
19:57
is
19:57
due
19:57
our
19:57
failure
19:58
is
19:59
only
20:00
solved
20:01
by
20:01
faith
20:02
in
20:02
the
20:02
person
20:02
and
20:03
work
20:03
of
20:04
Jesus
20:04
Christ.
20:05
We
20:06
need
20:07
double
20:07
imputation.
20:09
We
20:09
need
20:09
Jesus'
20:10
righteousness,
20:11
his
20:11
perfect
20:11
law
20:12
giving,
20:12
given
20:12
to
20:13
us,
20:14
that
20:14
we
20:14
would
20:14
fulfill
20:15
God's
20:16
commands
20:17
in
20:17
him
20:18
and
20:19
we
20:19
need
20:19
the
20:20
penalty
20:20
due
20:20
our
20:21
sin
20:21
taken
20:21
away
20:22
by
20:23
Christ,
20:23
our
20:24
sinfulness
20:24
given
20:25
to
20:25
him,
20:27
he
20:27
suffered
20:27
and
20:27
died
20:28
for.
20:30
This
20:30
is
20:30
the
20:31
only
20:31
way
20:32
to
20:32
be
20:32
brought
20:33
back
20:33
into
20:34
the
20:34
presence
20:34
of
20:35
God.
20:36
If
20:37
this
20:37
presents
20:37
to
20:37
you
20:38
as
20:38
an
20:38
unfair,
20:40
just
20:40
consider
20:41
that
20:41
what
20:41
would
20:41
be
20:42
truly
20:42
fair
20:43
would
20:44
be
20:44
the
20:44
destruction
20:44
of
20:44
all
20:45
mankind,
20:46
immediate
20:47
and
20:48
final.
20:49
There
20:50
is only
20:50
one way,
20:51
but there
20:51
is a
20:52
way,
20:53
praise
20:54
be
20:54
to
20:55
God.
20:57
This
20:58
should
20:58
motivate
20:58
faith
20:59
in
20:59
Jesus
20:59
and
21:01
it
21:01
should
21:01
motivate
21:01
evangelism
21:02
to
21:02
the
21:03
very
21:03
ends
21:04
of
21:05
the
21:05
earth.
21:06
Our
21:07
God
21:07
is
21:07
not
21:07
unfair,
21:08
our
21:08
God
21:08
is
21:08
merciful.
21:10
He
21:10
has
21:10
given
21:10
a
21:11
message
21:12
in
21:13
the
21:13
personal
21:13
work
21:13
of
21:13
Jesus
21:14
Christ
21:14
that
21:14
we
21:14
might
21:15
believe
21:15
it
21:15
and
21:15
we
21:15
might
21:16
share
21:16
it
21:16
with
21:16
others
21:17
that
21:17
they
21:17
might
21:18
believe
21:18
it
21:18
as
21:19
well.
21:20
One
21:20
door
21:21
standing
21:23
open
21:23
come
21:25
and
21:25
enter
21:25
all
21:25
who
21:26
may.
21:28
Jesus
21:28
is the
21:28
only
21:28
door
21:29
of
21:29
salvation.
21:30
Secondly,
21:31
Jesus
21:31
is the
21:31
exposer
21:32
of
21:32
false
21:33
saviors.
21:35
We see
21:35
this in
21:36
verse 8
21:36
and I'll
21:37
take up
21:37
a little
21:38
bit of
21:38
verse
21:38
10.
21:40
Verse
21:41
8
21:41
says
21:41
all
21:41
who
21:42
came
21:42
before
21:42
me
21:42
are
21:43
thieves
21:43
and
21:43
robbers
21:44
but
21:45
the
21:45
sheep
21:45
did
21:46
not
21:46
listen
21:46
to
21:47
them.
21:48
Why
21:49
did
21:49
they
21:49
not
21:49
listen
21:49
to
21:49
them?
21:50
Because
21:50
the
21:51
sheep
21:51
belong
21:51
to
21:52
the
21:52
shepherd.
21:53
They
21:53
know
21:53
his
21:54
voice
21:54
and
21:54
they
21:54
follow
21:55
him.
21:58
And
21:58
then
21:58
verse
21:58
10
21:58
says
21:58
the
21:59
thief
21:59
comes
21:59
only
22:00
to
22:00
steal
22:00
and
22:01
kill
22:01
and
22:02
destroy.
22:04
The
22:04
language
22:04
in
22:05
these
22:05
verses
22:05
certainly
22:06
carries
22:06
forward
22:07
from
22:07
Jesus'
22:08
previous
22:08
metaphor.
22:10
To
22:10
whom
22:10
is
22:10
Jesus
22:11
referring
22:11
to?
22:13
We
22:13
should
22:13
immediately
22:14
exclude
22:14
some
22:15
who
22:15
came
22:16
before
22:16
him.
22:16
He
22:16
says
22:17
all
22:17
who
22:17
came
22:17
before
22:18
me
22:18
but
22:18
some
22:19
who
22:19
came
22:19
before
22:19
him.
22:19
Like
22:20
Moses
22:21
or
22:21
Isaiah
22:21
or
22:22
Jeremiah
22:22
or
22:23
John
22:23
the
22:24
Baptist
22:24
comes
22:24
to
22:25
my
22:25
mind.
22:26
Elsewhere
22:27
are
22:27
commended
22:28
by
22:28
them
22:29
for
22:29
their
22:30
faithfulness.
22:32
So
22:32
not
22:33
them.
22:34
So
22:34
who?
22:34
Who is
22:35
it that
22:35
he's
22:35
talking
22:36
about?
22:36
Those
22:36
all
22:37
who
22:37
came
22:37
before
22:39
him?
22:40
Last
22:40
week I
22:41
suggested
22:41
that he
22:41
is drawing
22:42
on
22:42
imagery
22:43
employed
22:43
in
22:44
Ezekiel
22:44
chapter
22:44
34
22:45
to
22:46
speak
22:46
of
22:47
leaders
22:47
who
22:47
should
22:48
have
22:48
been
22:48
caring
22:48
for
22:49
the
22:49
sheep
22:49
but
22:49
instead
22:50
cared
22:51
for
22:51
their
22:52
own
22:52
gain.
22:53
Like
22:53
spiritual
22:53
leaders
22:53
who
22:54
were
22:54
exploiting
22:55
God's
22:55
people
22:56
and not
22:56
serving
22:57
them.
22:58
So
22:58
those men
22:59
to be
22:59
sure.
23:01
Perhaps
23:01
he is
23:01
suggesting
23:02
those who
23:02
had made
23:03
messianic
23:03
claims
23:04
before
23:05
him.
23:05
If you
23:06
know your
23:07
history,
23:07
others had
23:08
come and
23:08
said they
23:09
were the
23:09
Christ
23:09
and led
23:11
insurrections
23:11
and were
23:12
put down
23:12
by the
23:13
Romans
23:13
who
23:13
showed
23:14
themselves
23:14
not
23:14
to
23:15
be
23:15
the
23:16
Christ.
23:17
So
23:17
perhaps
23:18
them,
23:18
they,
23:19
of course,
23:20
were seeking
23:20
their own
23:21
advantage.
23:23
But all
23:24
of this
23:24
language
23:25
is aimed
23:26
at the
23:26
Pharisees
23:27
he is
23:27
presently
23:28
addressing.
23:30
Those
23:30
he is
23:31
speaking
23:31
to
23:31
here
23:32
most
23:32
certainly
23:33
are
23:33
included
23:33
in
23:35
this
23:35
number.
23:36
In
23:37
Matthew
23:37
chapter
23:37
23,
23:38
the
23:38
list
23:40
of
23:40
woes
23:41
to
23:41
the
23:41
Pharisees,
23:42
there
23:42
are
23:42
seven
23:42
of
23:43
them.
23:43
And the
23:43
first
23:43
one
23:43
says
23:43
this
23:44
beginning
23:44
in
23:44
verse
23:44
13,
23:45
but
23:45
woe
23:46
to
23:46
you
23:46
scribes
23:47
and
23:48
Pharisees
23:48
hypocrites
23:50
for you
23:51
shut the
23:51
kingdom of
23:52
heaven
23:52
in people's
23:52
faces
23:53
for you
23:54
neither
23:54
enter
23:55
yourselves
23:55
nor
23:56
allow
23:56
those
23:57
who
23:57
would
23:57
enter
23:57
to
23:57
go
23:58
in.
23:59
Woe
23:59
to
23:59
you
23:59
scribes
24:00
and
24:00
Pharisees
24:00
hypocrites
24:01
for you
24:01
travel
24:02
across
24:02
sea
24:02
and
24:03
land
24:03
to
24:03
make
24:03
a
24:04
single
24:04
proselyte
24:05
and
24:06
when
24:06
he
24:06
becomes
24:06
a
24:06
proselyte
24:07
you
24:08
make
24:08
him
24:08
twice
24:09
as
24:09
much
24:09
a
24:09
child
24:10
of
24:10
hell
24:10
as
24:11
yourselves
24:12
false
24:14
shepherding
24:14
not
24:15
leading
24:15
people
24:16
to
24:16
God
24:17
leading
24:18
them
24:19
rather
24:19
astray
24:21
so
24:21
Jesus
24:22
is
24:22
making
24:22
a
24:22
stark
24:24
contrast
24:25
here
24:25
between
24:26
himself
24:26
and
24:27
the
24:28
false
24:28
shepherd
24:29
false
24:30
shepherds
24:31
take
24:31
Christ
24:32
gives
24:33
false
24:34
shepherds
24:35
consume
24:35
Christ
24:36
saves
24:37
false
24:38
shepherds
24:39
destroy
24:39
Christ
24:40
restores
24:42
what an
24:43
indictment
24:44
Jesus
24:44
is making
24:45
against
24:46
these
24:47
Pharisees
24:47
now
24:49
the
24:49
danger
24:49
for
24:50
us
24:50
is
24:50
no
24:50
longer
24:51
first
24:52
century
24:52
Judaism
24:53
but
24:54
false
24:55
shepherds
24:55
do
24:56
still
24:56
exist
24:57
any
24:59
religious
25:00
leader
25:00
who
25:00
diminishes
25:01
Christ
25:01
is a
25:02
thief
25:03
and a
25:03
robber
25:03
any
25:04
system
25:05
that
25:05
adds
25:05
human
25:06
merit
25:06
to
25:06
grace
25:07
is a
25:07
thief
25:08
and a
25:08
robber
25:09
any
25:10
church
25:11
that
25:11
substitutes
25:11
moralism
25:12
for the
25:12
gospel
25:13
is leading
25:13
people
25:14
astray
25:15
the
25:16
prosperity
25:17
preacher
25:17
promising
25:18
earthly
25:18
riches
25:19
as the
25:19
essence
25:20
of God's
25:20
blessing
25:21
is a
25:21
thief
25:22
and a
25:23
robber
25:23
in most
25:24
cases
25:24
quite
25:25
literally
25:25
the
25:26
liberal
25:27
theologian
25:27
denying
25:28
Christ's
25:28
deity
25:29
is a
25:29
thief
25:29
and a
25:30
robber
25:30
the
25:31
secular
25:32
voice
25:32
insisting
25:33
that
25:33
fulfillment
25:34
is found
25:35
apart from
25:35
God
25:36
is also
25:36
a thief
25:38
and a
25:39
robber
25:39
they come
25:40
to steal
25:42
and kill
25:43
and destroy
25:44
they do
25:46
this under
25:48
the command
25:49
of their
25:49
father
25:50
the father
25:50
of lies
25:51
the devil
25:52
who prowls
25:53
around looking
25:54
for someone
25:55
to devour
25:56
every
25:58
false
25:58
savior
25:59
makes promises
26:00
it cannot
26:02
keep
26:03
our age
26:05
seems obsessed
26:06
with looking
26:07
for doors
26:08
that do
26:08
not exist
26:09
people seek
26:11
salvation
26:12
through politics
26:13
through wealth
26:14
through education
26:15
or personal
26:15
success
26:16
through family
26:18
pleasure
26:19
self
26:20
discovery
26:21
yet
26:22
every
26:22
substitute
26:23
ultimately
26:25
collapses
26:26
you hold
26:28
up Christ
26:29
to any
26:29
of these
26:30
things
26:30
and he
26:31
exposes
26:31
them
26:32
as
26:32
false
26:34
our
26:36
hearts
26:36
were made
26:37
for the
26:38
worship
26:39
of God
26:40
you will
26:41
worship
26:42
you were
26:42
designed
26:43
to be
26:43
a worshiper
26:44
you can
26:46
worship
26:46
self
26:46
you can
26:47
worship
26:48
others
26:48
you can
26:49
worship
26:49
stuff
26:50
we were
26:51
made
26:52
to worship
26:53
God
26:54
and only
26:55
Jesus
26:56
grants us
26:56
access
26:57
to that
26:58
worship
26:59
Augustine
27:01
famously
27:02
said
27:02
quote
27:03
our hearts
27:04
are restless
27:05
until they
27:05
find their
27:06
rest
27:07
in thee
27:08
you're
27:10
missing
27:10
satisfaction
27:12
for your
27:13
heart
27:13
it's found
27:15
in God
27:15
through Christ
27:17
so Jesus
27:19
is the only
27:19
door of
27:19
salvation
27:20
Jesus
27:21
is the
27:21
exposer
27:22
of false
27:23
saviors
27:23
and thirdly
27:25
Jesus
27:25
is the
27:26
way
27:26
of
27:26
eternal
27:27
security
27:27
and
27:28
abundant
27:29
life
27:30
this of
27:31
course
27:31
plays off
27:32
of the
27:32
fact
27:33
that he's
27:33
the only
27:33
door
27:33
of
27:34
salvation
27:35
we see
27:36
in verse
27:37
nine
27:37
and then
27:38
the last
27:38
part
27:38
of verse
27:39
ten
27:40
he says
27:40
I am
27:41
the door
27:41
if anyone
27:41
enters
27:42
by me
27:42
he will
27:43
be saved
27:44
and will
27:44
go in
27:44
and out
27:45
and find
27:46
pasture
27:47
verse ten
27:48
the thief
27:48
comes only
27:49
to steal
27:49
and kill
27:50
and destroy
27:50
and then in
27:51
juxtaposition
27:52
he says
27:52
I came
27:53
that they
27:54
may have
27:55
life
27:55
and have
27:57
it
27:57
abundantly
27:58
if we
28:00
place our
28:01
faith
28:01
in Jesus
28:02
the door
28:03
if we
28:05
enter
28:05
by him
28:06
note
28:08
note what
28:08
it says
28:09
we
28:10
the text
28:11
says he
28:11
will
28:12
be
28:13
saved
28:15
we come
28:17
through
28:17
Jesus
28:17
there's a
28:18
promise
28:19
here
28:19
we
28:20
will
28:21
be
28:22
saved
28:23
Paul
28:25
states
28:25
it
28:25
similarly
28:26
in Romans
28:26
chapter
28:26
ten
28:27
verse
28:27
nine
28:27
if you
28:28
confess
28:28
with your
28:29
mouth
28:29
that Jesus
28:30
is Lord
28:30
and believe
28:31
in your
28:32
heart
28:32
that God
28:32
raised him
28:33
from the
28:33
dead
28:33
you
28:35
will
28:36
be
28:37
saved
28:38
and having
28:40
been saved
28:41
you will
28:42
go in
28:43
and out
28:44
and find
28:45
pasture
28:46
there are
28:47
phrases
28:48
in this
28:49
chapter
28:49
that just
28:49
deserve a
28:50
lifetime
28:51
of
28:51
meditation
28:52
you will
28:52
go in
28:53
and out
28:54
and find
28:55
pasture
28:56
to borrow
28:58
from the
28:58
previous
28:58
metaphor
28:59
the security
29:00
of the
29:00
sheep
29:01
rests
29:01
not in
29:03
the sheep
29:04
fold
29:05
but in
29:05
the shepherd
29:06
this is
29:07
what makes
29:08
them safe
29:09
the phrase
29:10
go in
29:11
and out
29:11
communicates
29:12
safety
29:12
and it
29:13
communicates
29:14
freedom
29:15
in the
29:16
ancient
29:16
world
29:17
security
29:18
was
29:20
precious
29:20
I know
29:22
the men
29:24
in our
29:24
church
29:24
we think
29:24
about
29:25
securing
29:25
our
29:25
homes
29:26
we put
29:27
in
29:27
measures
29:28
for that
29:28
we have
29:29
lights
29:29
and
29:29
doorbell
29:30
cameras
29:30
and
29:31
munitions
29:32
nearby
29:33
nothing like
29:36
they had to
29:36
think about
29:36
though
29:37
wild animals
29:38
are not
29:38
breaking
29:38
into our
29:39
homes
29:39
we don't
29:39
have
29:40
bands
29:40
of
29:40
marauders
29:41
coming
29:42
on their
29:42
camels
29:43
to
29:43
raid our
29:44
camp
29:45
security
29:47
was
29:47
precious
29:48
this
29:49
idea
29:49
of
29:50
safety
29:51
in the
29:52
sheep
29:52
fold
29:53
because
29:53
the
29:53
shepherd
29:54
is
29:54
caring
29:54
for
29:55
them
29:55
was
29:55
a
29:55
big
29:56
big
29:57
deal
29:58
it would
29:59
do well
30:00
to
30:00
stop
30:01
and
30:01
meditate
30:02
and
30:02
think
30:02
about
30:03
what it
30:03
means
30:04
to
30:04
truly
30:04
be
30:05
safe
30:06
and not
30:07
just
30:07
temporally
30:07
I mean
30:08
spiritually
30:09
to move
30:10
freely
30:11
without
30:12
fear
30:12
was a
30:14
great
30:14
sign
30:14
of
30:15
peace
30:16
good
30:17
pasture
30:18
and
30:18
secure
30:19
rest
30:20
is what
30:21
is offered
30:22
by faith
30:23
in Jesus
30:24
the door
30:25
of the
30:26
sheep
30:26
the sheep
30:28
will go
30:28
in and
30:28
out
30:28
and they
30:29
will
30:29
find
30:30
pasture
30:31
sustenance
30:32
for their
30:33
souls
30:35
Jesus
30:36
promises
30:37
that as
30:38
people are
30:38
safe
30:39
under
30:40
his
30:40
care
30:40
not
30:42
safe
30:43
from
30:43
hardship
30:44
loss
30:46
suffering
30:48
persecution
30:49
but
30:51
safe
30:51
from
30:52
ultimate
30:53
final
30:54
destruction
30:54
safe
30:55
from
30:55
condemnation
30:57
secure
30:58
he calls
30:59
the sheep
30:59
out
31:00
the sheep
31:01
know his
31:01
voice
31:02
they go
31:02
through the
31:03
door
31:03
they belong
31:04
to him
31:05
eternally
31:07
secure
31:08
but not
31:10
only are
31:10
we safe
31:11
we are
31:11
also
31:12
given
31:12
abundant
31:14
life
31:15
the language
31:16
here suggests
31:17
life that
31:18
is overflowing
31:20
it's beyond
31:21
measure
31:23
with goodness
31:24
but I've just
31:27
said that we are not
31:27
safe from hardship
31:28
or loss
31:29
or suffering
31:29
or persecution
31:30
so
31:32
by what
31:33
standard
31:34
by what
31:35
standard
31:36
is our
31:36
life
31:37
abundant
31:38
to answer
31:40
that question
31:41
I think
31:42
we will be
31:42
helped
31:42
by first
31:43
hearing
31:43
Jesus'
31:44
definition
31:44
of eternal
31:46
life
31:47
John records
31:48
this in
31:49
chapter 17
31:50
verse 3
31:51
this is
31:53
eternal
31:54
life
31:55
significant
31:57
all of our
31:58
minds go to
31:59
time
31:59
we go to
31:59
span
32:00
when we
32:00
think about
32:01
eternal
32:01
life
32:02
but this
32:03
is what
32:03
Jesus
32:03
says
32:03
this is
32:04
eternal
32:05
life
32:05
that they
32:07
know you
32:07
the only
32:09
true God
32:09
and Jesus
32:10
Christ
32:11
whom you
32:12
have sent
32:13
life now
32:15
and forever
32:16
more
32:16
knowing
32:17
and being
32:18
known
32:19
by the
32:20
God
32:20
that
32:21
is
32:22
eternal
32:22
life
32:24
life
32:24
now
32:25
and forever
32:26
knowing
32:27
and being
32:28
known
32:28
by God
32:30
so
32:31
abundant
32:32
life
32:33
is the
32:34
daily
32:34
experience
32:35
of the
32:36
promises
32:36
and power
32:37
and presence
32:39
of God
32:40
himself
32:41
being his
32:42
sheep
32:42
he's being
32:44
led
32:44
in and
32:45
out
32:46
to the
32:47
safety of
32:47
the sheep
32:48
fold
32:48
and to
32:49
good
32:49
pasture
32:50
it's
32:51
abiding
32:52
with him
32:53
this is
32:55
the offer
32:56
of the
32:56
good news
32:57
of Jesus
32:58
Christ
32:58
the only
33:00
door of
33:01
salvation
33:01
who exposes
33:03
false
33:04
saviors
33:05
that by
33:05
trusting in
33:06
him
33:07
we would be
33:08
eternally
33:08
secure
33:09
and have
33:10
him
33:10
as our
33:11
eternal
33:12
reward
33:13
in closing
33:16
I want to
33:16
read to you
33:17
a brief
33:18
quote from
33:18
D.A.
33:19
Carson's
33:19
commentary
33:21
on this
33:22
text
33:22
he said
33:24
quote
33:24
within the
33:26
metaphorical
33:27
world
33:27
life
33:29
abundantly
33:29
suggests
33:31
fat
33:32
contented
33:32
flourishing
33:33
sheep
33:34
not
33:35
terrorized
33:36
brigands
33:36
which is a
33:37
word means
33:37
part of the
33:38
game
33:38
not terrorized
33:39
brigands
33:41
outside the
33:43
narrative world
33:44
it means
33:45
that the
33:46
life
33:46
Jesus'
33:47
true
33:48
disciples
33:48
enjoy
33:49
is not
33:51
to be
33:51
construed
33:52
as more
33:53
time to
33:54
fill
33:54
catching that
33:55
not
33:56
not merely
33:57
talking about
33:58
everlasting
33:59
life
34:00
not to be
34:00
construed
34:01
as more
34:02
time to
34:03
fill
34:03
but
34:04
life
34:06
at its
34:07
scarcely
34:08
imagined
34:09
best
34:11
I like that
34:12
phrase
34:12
but life
34:15
at its
34:15
scarcely
34:16
imagined
34:17
best
34:19
experience
34:20
and the
34:20
promises
34:21
and power
34:21
and presence
34:22
of God
34:22
himself
34:23
life
34:25
to be
34:26
lived
34:27
end quote
34:28
let's pray
34:30
together