WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.900 Are one. 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:06.020 When I was training for ministry, which is now a long, long time ago, 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:10.900 one of our annual tasks was being examined on doctrine. 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:14.700 ! And one of the examinations that we had, I think it was in two parts, 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:19.699 was the Westminster Shorter Catechism, those lists of questions and answers. 00:00:20.699 --> 00:00:22.500 And question 36 reads, 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:27.660 What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from? 00:00:28.260 --> 00:00:31.339 Justification, adoption, and sanctification. 00:00:32.020 --> 00:00:32.719 Good question. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:38.560 And the answer is, the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from, 00:00:38.980 --> 00:00:40.960 justification, that's being declared righteous, 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.620 adoption, being made a member of God's family, 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:46.260 and sanctification, being made holy, 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:50.060 are assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:53.560 joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:59.920 and fifth, and finally, perseverance therein to the end. 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:04.439 The people of God make it to the end. 00:01:05.100 --> 00:01:08.260 This is a teaching that is throughout Scripture. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:12.120 God has a way of sticking with people. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:14.340 And you might ask, why? 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:16.020 And the answer is, I don't know. 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:18.460 I don't know why he sticks with me. 00:01:18.459 --> 00:01:20.239 I don't know why he sticks with us. 00:01:20.619 --> 00:01:21.539 It's not about us. 00:01:21.619 --> 00:01:22.399 It's about him. 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:24.219 It's about his character. 00:01:24.399 --> 00:01:25.280 It's about his commitment. 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:26.639 It's about his word. 00:01:26.759 --> 00:01:27.819 It's about his truth. 00:01:28.299 --> 00:01:30.000 When he begins, he continues. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:32.339 And when he continues, he concludes. 00:01:32.759 --> 00:01:35.819 That's just the kind of God he is. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:38.439 Because as you read through the pages of Scripture, 00:01:38.899 --> 00:01:41.479 and you read through the pages of your own life, 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:44.579 you see much that would discourage you, 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:46.699 much that would dishearten you. 00:01:46.700 --> 00:01:48.740 You look at the characters of the Bible 00:01:48.740 --> 00:01:50.920 from beginning to end with one exception. 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:54.079 These are fragile, and these are flawed, 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:56.320 and these are finite creatures. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:01:59.320 They constantly get it wrong. 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:04.840 And we are fragile, flawed, and finite creatures, 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:08.039 and we constantly get it wrong. 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:11.439 And the theme I want to emphasize here 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:14.580 is not the strength of our faith, 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:15.860 important as that is, 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:17.880 not the depth of our commitment, 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:19.900 as important as that is, 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:22.680 but what I want to demonstrate from God's word 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:25.120 is the strength of Jesus' commitment, 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.600 and the depth of his commitment to us. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:31.220 Because as we look at John chapter 10, 00:02:31.320 --> 00:02:32.340 it's quite remarkable. 00:02:32.880 --> 00:02:35.160 It's quite remarkable what he says about himself. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:37.500 It's quite remarkable what he says about us. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:43.180 And it's quite remarkable what he is offering to you and to me. 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:47.560 Because here we have none other than God, man, 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:48.979 fully God, fully human. 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:51.020 He became flesh. 00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:52.740 He made his dwelling among us. 00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:55.659 We see God in the flesh, 00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:58.479 with all power, with all authority, 00:02:58.659 --> 00:03:00.740 with all wisdom, with all grace, 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:02.620 with all goodness, and with all love. 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:04.640 So when you hear the voice of Jesus, 00:03:04.780 --> 00:03:06.360 you hear the very voice of God. 00:03:06.620 --> 00:03:08.800 And when you observe the actions of Jesus, 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:10.980 you observe the very actions of God. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:14.400 So we have a face-to-face encounter with Jesus. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:17.580 And he tells us two profound things. 00:03:18.200 --> 00:03:20.240 In verse 7 and verse 9, 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:20.920 he says, 00:03:21.340 --> 00:03:23.080 I am the gate. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.460 And in verse 11 and in verse 14, 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:27.980 again, I think it's interesting, 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:30.180 both of these I am sayings are repeated. 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:32.180 So if you miss it the first time, 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:33.540 you can get it the second time. 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:35.400 I am the good shepherd. 00:03:35.780 --> 00:03:37.020 I am the good shepherd. 00:03:37.700 --> 00:03:40.219 You see, Jesus wants us to know who he is. 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:42.319 Who we are is important. 00:03:42.580 --> 00:03:43.260 Yeah, absolutely. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:45.219 We are made in the image of God. 00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:46.980 We are infinitely precious and valuable. 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:47.659 That's right. 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:50.120 We are chosen by God. 00:03:50.219 --> 00:03:50.980 We are redeemed. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:51.719 We are restored. 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:52.340 We are renewed. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:54.900 All that's true and all that's really important. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:56.719 But first and foremost, 00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:58.700 our attention is upon him. 00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:02.219 Yes, we want to find ourselves in the story, 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:04.000 but we want to first find him. 00:04:04.219 --> 00:04:05.659 Because if we find Jesus, 00:04:05.799 --> 00:04:07.539 then we have a point of orientation. 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:10.459 We have a point of reference 00:04:10.459 --> 00:04:14.299 where we can identify ourselves in terms of him, 00:04:14.679 --> 00:04:15.699 who he is, 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:17.680 and then who we are. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:20.919 So Jesus says that he is the gate. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:22.779 I am the gate of the sheep. 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:23.699 Verse 7, 00:04:24.039 --> 00:04:24.879 I am the gate. 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:26.919 Whoever enters through me will be saved. 00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:27.800 And he says, 00:04:27.960 --> 00:04:29.379 I am the good shepherd. 00:04:29.580 --> 00:04:32.840 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:34.720 I am the good shepherd. 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:36.400 I know my sheep, 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:37.939 and my sheep know me. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:39.379 You see, 00:04:39.520 --> 00:04:41.700 this is all relational language. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:45.300 There's a relationship between God and people. 00:04:45.960 --> 00:04:49.560 Between the God who dwells and who inhabits eternity. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:52.740 Between the God who creates the heaven and earth, 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:54.259 the God who sustains all things. 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:58.379 The God who is perfectly pure, righteous, holy, good. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.379 This God enters into relationships with human beings. 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:05.659 Not just any human beings. 00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:06.959 You and me. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:07.719 Us. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.420 Those of us who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:13.139 We might be very ordinary, 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:14.860 but when we come to know Jesus, 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:16.399 we have just become extraordinary. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:20.459 The Bible tells us that we are now temples of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:21.759 The Spirit dwells within us. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:24.039 The Bible tells us that we are adopted. 00:05:24.219 --> 00:05:25.779 We become members of God's family. 00:05:26.379 --> 00:05:27.620 God now becomes our father. 00:05:27.779 --> 00:05:29.219 Jesus becomes our elder brother. 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:31.379 And we're now part of a worldwide family 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:35.959 that numbers millions upon millions and billions upon billions. 00:05:36.159 --> 00:05:36.819 It's remarkable. 00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:41.800 So Jesus wants us to know that he is the gate or the door. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:44.500 And he wants us to know that he is the good shepherd. 00:05:45.379 --> 00:05:48.480 And the great thing about Jesus is that he not only says it, 00:05:48.539 --> 00:05:49.319 he shows it. 00:05:49.319 --> 00:05:51.579 He not only describes himself, 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:55.560 but he describes himself in terms of what he does. 00:05:56.219 --> 00:05:59.680 He describes himself in terms of what he provides. 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:02.439 Words and actions together. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:05.399 Because he says that he is the gate for the sheep, 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:11.120 and that he is the gate through which the sheep enter and are saved. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:16.300 So the gate to God, the door, is no longer shut. 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:20.180 You see, sin creates a closed door. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:24.060 What's the scene that you have at the end of Genesis chapter 3? 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:26.639 Sin means it's time to go. 00:06:27.460 --> 00:06:30.060 You see, there are two big arrows of the Bible. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.160 Arrow 1 is the away arrow. 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:35.660 Sin moves you away from God. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.139 Sin moved Adam and Eve out of Eden. 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:39.420 Time to go, folks. 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:40.379 Can't stay. 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:43.300 But the gospel reverses that arrow. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:48.819 The gospel of Jesus Christ turns the arrow back towards God and says, 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.100 the door, folks, is now open. 00:06:51.579 --> 00:06:54.219 The door is now open not because of who you are. 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:57.360 The door is now open not because of what you have done, 00:06:57.420 --> 00:06:59.620 but the door is now open because of Jesus, 00:07:00.159 --> 00:07:02.360 who he is and what he has done. 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:03.379 He says, I'm the gate. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:05.719 If you enter through me. 00:07:06.659 --> 00:07:08.279 It's not that he points to the gate. 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:10.319 It's not that he shows us the door. 00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:11.639 He says, I am the door. 00:07:12.259 --> 00:07:15.319 It's as if, you know, the door on the hinge, it pivots, 00:07:15.539 --> 00:07:21.279 and the door opens, and we are ushered into that new relationship with God. 00:07:21.779 --> 00:07:23.579 And notice how he describes it here. 00:07:24.379 --> 00:07:25.519 I am the gate, verse 9. 00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:27.219 Whoever enters through me will be saved. 00:07:27.299 --> 00:07:29.759 They will come in and go out and find pasture. 00:07:30.359 --> 00:07:32.119 So this is a place of sustenance. 00:07:32.419 --> 00:07:35.279 This is a place where you can be sustained and nourished. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:38.939 The thief, however, you see, isn't that interesting? 00:07:39.419 --> 00:07:40.459 There's a contrast. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.519 There's a contrast between the genuine and the false. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.639 You see, it's one thing to say. 00:07:45.739 --> 00:07:46.939 It's another thing to show. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:49.099 Jesus tells the truth. 00:07:49.219 --> 00:07:51.799 He tells the whole truth, and he tells nothing but the truth. 00:07:52.159 --> 00:07:55.879 He says when we enter through him, we find safety. 00:07:56.359 --> 00:07:57.319 We find security. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:58.919 We find salvation. 00:07:59.419 --> 00:08:00.979 We find sufficiency. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:04.540 Our cup, indeed, overflows. 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:08.360 So the gate enables us to come in. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:14.920 Notice in verse 11 and verse 14, the descriptor, I am the good shepherd. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:22.140 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, who he is and what he has done. 00:08:22.780 --> 00:08:26.680 And we see these truths brought together time and time again. 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:32.740 Using theological language, we would say here is the person of Jesus and here is the work of Jesus. 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:36.680 And they are inextricably linked, who he is and what he has done. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.120 What was it that John the Baptist said? 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:41.480 What was it, John chapter 1, verse 29? 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:49.100 Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, describing who he is and describing what he has done. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:51.419 I am the good shepherd, says Jesus. 00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:54.519 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:58.639 And notice in verse 14, the good shepherd establishes a relationship. 00:08:59.699 --> 00:09:03.600 The sheep know the shepherd and the shepherd know the sheep. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:10.600 Now this is a much better illustration with one of our former ministers here, Douglas McMillan. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.460 Douglas was a shepherd. 00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:14.740 He was from a family of shepherds. 00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:18.659 And he told the story in his book, The Lord, Our Shepherd. 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:22.019 He said he and his brother sounded identical. 00:09:22.019 --> 00:09:26.500 You know, so much so that Mary would often mistake them on the phone. 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:34.699 But on the farm, when Douglas would go back to the farm and he would call the sheep, who were his brothers, they didn't come. 00:09:35.439 --> 00:09:39.120 Even though his voice sounded identical to us, it didn't sound identical to them. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:45.799 But when his brother, who sounds just as Douglas sounded, he would call the sheep and they would come running. 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:48.079 Why? Because they were his sheep. 00:09:48.839 --> 00:09:49.620 You see, that's remarkable. 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:50.620 I don't know animals. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.059 I'm not a shepherd. 00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:53.099 I don't know animals well. 00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:59.519 But I think Jesus is telling us that the shepherd intimately knows who his sheep are. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:03.939 And there's a relationship, a two-way relationship here. 00:10:04.479 --> 00:10:06.259 The sheep know who the shepherd are. 00:10:06.819 --> 00:10:08.479 This is the shepherd who cares for them. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:10.319 This is the shepherd who feeds them. 00:10:10.579 --> 00:10:12.199 This is the shepherd who protects them. 00:10:12.439 --> 00:10:14.899 This is the shepherd who guides them and leads them. 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:16.740 And this is the shepherd they hear. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:18.620 This is the shepherd they heed. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:20.360 This is the shepherd they follow. 00:10:21.079 --> 00:10:23.659 So you see, the good shepherd lays down his life. 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:24.079 Why? 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:28.299 To establish a relationship with the sheep. 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:31.500 So this is who Jesus is. 00:10:31.959 --> 00:10:33.600 And this is what Jesus has done. 00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:41.799 But notice that this magnificent passage tells us that Jesus has come to give us something. 00:10:42.939 --> 00:10:43.379 Gift. 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:43.500 Gift. 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:48.600 I think we all love receiving gifts. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:52.299 It's Christmas time and the presents are rightly wrapped. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:52.939 It's birthday. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:56.919 And you get these lovely gifts from people that love you. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:11:01.539 Well, we have two lovely gifts here from one who really loves us. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:04.179 Chapter 10, verse 10. 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.059 It's an easy one to remember. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:06.820 1010. 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:11.200 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:17.920 I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:22.539 The thief will lie, steal and kill. 00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:28.839 But the good shepherd, the gate for the sheep, he's come to give us life. 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:32.000 And not life that's empty, but life that's full. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.780 Not life that's narrow, but life that's broad. 00:11:35.060 --> 00:11:36.280 Life that is fulfilling. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.700 Life that is satisfying. 00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:40.520 This is what he has come to do. 00:11:40.520 --> 00:11:44.860 He wants you to have life and have it to the full. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:49.980 You'll see in verse 11 and verse 12. 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:55.340 You have the genuine carer. 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:57.519 And you have the thief in verse 10. 00:11:57.960 --> 00:12:00.279 You then have verse 12, the hired hand. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:04.700 You see, Jesus is often drawing these sharp contrasts between light and darkness. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.720 True and false. 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:08.220 And he says, yeah, they're hired hands. 00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:11.500 They might do the same thing as a shepherd does. 00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:14.220 They might have some of the same tasks. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.240 But there's no relationship there. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:17.899 Just like the thief. 00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:20.580 The thief might say the same things. 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:25.200 You know what the serpent said in Genesis chapter 3. 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:27.019 He tempted Adam and Eve. 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:31.000 He tempted them with things that sounded right but weren't right. 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:35.340 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. 00:12:35.420 --> 00:12:36.759 There's no relationship there. 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:38.460 There's no commitment there. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:44.799 You see, the shepherd loves the sheep so much that he lays down his life. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:47.360 So how do we get life that's abundant? 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.840 We get life that's abundant not because of who we are but because of who he is. 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:55.759 You see, if you want to know what abundant life is, you look at the life of Jesus. 00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:58.480 You see the fullness of his life. 00:12:59.179 --> 00:13:01.120 The fullness of his character. 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.899 Wherever he went. 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:09.139 In fact, when the apostle Peter was describing the ministry of Jesus in chapter 10 in the book of Acts. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.419 He simply described the ministry of Jesus. 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:12.819 He went around doing good. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.199 He went around. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:15.879 That's not a bad description, isn't it? 00:13:16.059 --> 00:13:17.299 That's not a bad summary. 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:24.259 If somebody could say, well, actually, this man or this woman, these people, they just simply went around and they did good. 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:26.439 Wherever they went, things were better. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:28.360 Wherever they went, things were brighter. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:35.580 When I came here, I came to study now an obscure figure in Scottish history, the Earl of Roseberry. 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:37.300 I could tell you many things. 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:42.139 But one thing that he did which was interesting, he wrote an appreciation of Thomas Chalmers. 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:47.100 And I read this appreciation of Chalmers before I became a Christian. 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:52.600 And I was struck that Roseberry recognized something remarkable in this life. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:56.920 But he was describing Chalmers' ministry in Glasgow. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:06.940 Chalmers in the St. John's parish was attempting to reach this huge population of this growing Scottish city with the gospel. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:11.960 And Roseberry said, Chalmers warmed Glasgow. 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:14.620 He brought warmth to a cold city. 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.420 I thought that was a great illustration. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:21.840 You see, when you become a follower of Jesus, you bring warmth where there's coldness. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.680 When you become a follower of Jesus, you bring light where there was once darkness. 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:30.060 When you become a follower of Jesus, you bring hope where there previously was only despair. 00:14:30.280 --> 00:14:33.160 Not because of you, but because of who you represent. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:36.340 Because Jesus has a way of doing the impossible. 00:14:37.180 --> 00:14:38.200 He shines light. 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:39.680 He brings hope. 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.280 He brings warmth. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.500 He brings love. 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.480 He brings peace. 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:48.879 And he then infuses that love, joy, peace, hope within us. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.300 And enables us to be channels of that blessing to others. 00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:55.460 So the first gift here is life that's abundant. 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.440 Life that's full. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:02.980 But the second gift, and you see this at the end of the passage when we stopped from verses 28 to 30. 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:05.580 Not only does he say, here's life that's full. 00:15:05.680 --> 00:15:07.759 He says, here's life that's eternal. 00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:10.620 Life that never ends. 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:15.500 Verse 28, I give them eternal life. 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:17.720 And they shall never perish. 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:21.560 No one will snatch them out of my hand. 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:28.600 So the key here is not the strength of your commitment to Jesus. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:33.779 The key here is who is the object of your faith. 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:36.019 Not how strong your faith is. 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:37.700 Not how deep your faith is. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.740 Not how broad your faith is. 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:41.820 But who is the object? 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:44.360 In whom are you trusting? 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:48.759 If you're trusting in yourself, I think you'll be disappointed. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:51.980 If you're trusting in other people, I think you'll be disappointed. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:59.399 If you're trusting in ideas or philosophies, I think those ideas and those philosophies will leave you cold. 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:08.399 But if the object of your faith is Jesus, I give them eternal life. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:11.240 And they shall never perish. 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:16.279 No one can snatch them out of my hand. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:20.559 You see, the shepherd keeps a close grip on his sheep. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.179 He doesn't lose them. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.819 He doesn't let them go. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:28.040 He doesn't take his commitments lightly. 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:37.980 So when we talk about perseverance, it's so easy to think perseverance is what I do as a Christian. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.000 I need to keep praying. 00:16:40.219 --> 00:16:41.759 Yes, we do need to keep praying. 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.139 Yeah, I need to read the Bible. 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.639 Yes, we need to read the Bible. 00:16:44.719 --> 00:16:45.339 I need to keep going. 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:47.599 Yes, all these things are absolutely true. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:51.899 But ultimately, the ground of our perseverance is him. 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:53.420 What he does. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:54.720 His commitment. 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.960 His strength. 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.340 His perseverance. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:04.660 R.C. Sproul, an American theologian, he put it this way. 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:11.759 He said, I think this catchphrase, perseverance of the saints, is dangerously misleading. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:18.440 It suggests that the perseverance is something that we do, perhaps in and of ourselves. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:26.039 I believe that saints do persevere in faith, and that those who have been affectionately called by God, 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:29.859 and have been reborn by the power of the Holy Spirit, endure to the end. 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:36.680 However, they persevere not, because they are so diligent in making use of the mercies of God. 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:44.560 The only reason we can give why any of us continue on in the faith is because we have been preserved. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:55.960 So I prefer the term preservation of the saints, because the process by which we are kept in a state of grace is something that is accomplished by God. 00:17:56.779 --> 00:18:01.900 My confidence in my preservation is not in my ability to persevere. 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:07.180 My confidence rests in the power of Christ to sustain me. 00:18:07.780 --> 00:18:15.060 With his grace and by the power of his intercession, he is going to bring us safely home. 00:18:16.300 --> 00:18:18.200 The sheep know the shepherd. 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.660 The sheep recognize the shepherd. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.560 The sheep hear the shepherd's voice. 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:24.540 The sheep follow where the shepherd leads. 00:18:24.900 --> 00:18:29.180 And the shepherd protects and preserves and brings the flock home. 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:34.160 Maybe that's why Jesus told that parable of the ninety and nine. 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:40.560 The shepherd was not satisfied with a 99% success rate. 00:18:41.560 --> 00:18:44.920 Most of us would be satisfied with 99%. 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.279 It's almost 100. 00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:47.660 It's almost perfect. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.200 The shepherd's not satisfied. 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:51.660 There's one missing. 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:59.640 And the shepherd does everything that is required to make sure that all the sheep are safely home. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:05.040 This is what we mean by perseverance, or if you prefer, preservation. 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:10.920 We have a God who holds and doesn't let us go. 00:19:11.580 --> 00:19:17.600 And if you didn't get it in verse 28, again, when you see repetition in the Bible, 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:20.860 God isn't filling out words. 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:24.099 He's not using, God doesn't use extra words. 00:19:24.459 --> 00:19:26.039 He doesn't waste words. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:28.099 So if verse 28 says, 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:30.759 I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. 00:19:31.219 --> 00:19:33.619 No one will snatch them out of my hand. 00:19:34.479 --> 00:19:37.500 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:40.199 No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:42.579 I and the Father are one. 00:19:44.479 --> 00:19:46.819 Now there are profound mysteries in these verses. 00:19:46.959 --> 00:19:48.099 I will not deny that. 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:54.139 But I think what Jesus is saying here is that we are safe in the hands of Jesus. 00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:57.139 And we are safe in the hands of the Father. 00:19:57.659 --> 00:20:01.079 We are secure 100%. 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:06.639 No one and nothing will take us out of that place of safety. 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:11.799 No one and nothing will remove us from the Son or from the Father. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:14.659 Not only because he says it, but because he shows it. 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:18.399 He holds on to us. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:23.400 I remember as a kid, I was obviously smaller than I am now. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:29.820 You know, when you're a kid you kind of think, especially when my dad was a big man, he had big hands. 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:33.600 And there were times where I tried to struggle out of his hands. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.780 It was absolutely impossible. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:40.640 His hand was so big, it just wrapped around my hand. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:43.820 And no matter how hard I tried, I wasn't going anywhere. 00:20:44.520 --> 00:20:49.380 And you see, no matter how hard we tried to remove our hand from his hand, we're not going anywhere. 00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:52.600 Because, let me put it to you this way, folks. 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:56.840 If there's a test of strength between you and Jesus, I'm going to tell you who's going to win. 00:20:57.600 --> 00:21:02.120 If there's a test of commitment between you and Jesus, I'm going to tell you who's going to win. 00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:03.840 And he's going to win all the time. 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:07.140 He holds on to us. 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:11.540 Earlier, Neil read from Psalm 129. 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:14.180 And I don't know if you've read anything by Eugene Peterson. 00:21:14.280 --> 00:21:15.259 I love Eugene Peterson. 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:18.940 He wrote a book called A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. 00:21:19.040 --> 00:21:20.940 And he was looking at the Psalms of Ascent. 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:23.100 Psalms 120 to 134. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:29.100 The journey psalms where the pilgrim people of God would journey towards Jerusalem. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.460 And he makes this important statement. 00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:34.100 He says, the people of God are not tourists. 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:36.800 We're not visiting church. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:39.020 We're not kind of looking around. 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:41.440 The people of God are a pilgrim people. 00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:42.980 We are on a journey. 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:46.600 Oh yeah, I mean, you might be based in a particular place. 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:48.020 I've been here for 35 years. 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:50.000 But we are a pilgrim people. 00:21:50.100 --> 00:21:50.759 We are moving. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:52.180 We are moving onward. 00:21:52.280 --> 00:21:53.720 And literally, we are moving upward. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:56.220 Jerusalem was a city that was on a hill. 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:59.759 So the songs of ascent were songs of elevation. 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.340 The people of God were going up. 00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:03.220 Go up, they said to me. 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:11.559 And each of the Psalms, Psalm 129, which Neil read earlier, Peterson translated. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:15.079 He's a Bible translator as well as a commentator as well as a pastor. 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:19.519 And he translated the opening words of Psalm 129 in this way. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:22.759 They've kicked me around ever since I was young. 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:25.220 This is how Israel tells it. 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:29.779 They've kicked me around ever since I was young, but they never could keep me down. 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:34.119 Their plowman plowed long furrows up and down my back. 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:36.879 But God wouldn't put up with it. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:40.139 He sticks with us. 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:44.980 They've kicked me around my whole life, but God sticks with me. 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:49.820 They kicked me around my whole life, but he wouldn't put up with it. 00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:56.720 And I think that captures something of the grace, of the power, and of the persistence. 00:22:57.100 --> 00:23:01.140 Yes, of the people of God, but more importantly, the God of the people. 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:03.740 He is persistent. 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.380 He is powerful. 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:15.060 In a tribute in that same book, Peterson's son said that his father preached for many, many years. 00:23:15.760 --> 00:23:17.720 But effectively, he had only one sermon. 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:20.480 And he said his sermon had four points. 00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:23.660 He said this, that God loves you. 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:26.280 He is on your side. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.400 He's coming after you. 00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:29.840 And he's relentless. 00:23:30.780 --> 00:23:32.400 That's the God that we worship. 00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:34.120 The God who loves us. 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.759 The God who is on our side. 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:37.179 The God who comes after us. 00:23:37.479 --> 00:23:39.779 And the God who doesn't take no for an answer. 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:42.299 He will hold us fast. 00:23:42.699 --> 00:23:45.199 He will keep us to the end. 00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:47.199 So maybe your faith is weak. 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.419 Well, let me tell you this. 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:54.919 It's much better to have a weak faith and a strong savior than a strong faith and a weak one. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:24:00.779 You see, there are many people who have a hope or a faith in something or someone which is weak. 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:06.359 So if you have a weak faith but a strong savior is the object of that faith, you're okay. 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.599 You're safe. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.339 You're secure. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:11.220 It's not the strength of your commitment to him. 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:14.839 It's the strength of his commitment to you. 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.440 He gives you abundant life. 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.599 He gives you eternal life. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:25.339 He promises no one can snatch them out of my hand. 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:31.720 I don't think you or I will be the first one that's lost. 00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:37.740 I don't think you or I will be the one who proves the exception to the rule. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.839 The life that's abundant. 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.639 The life that's eternal. 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:47.940 Well, it's forgiven at the hands of the one who himself opens the door. 00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:50.340 The one who himself is the door. 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:57.180 The one who himself lays down his life so that we can have life that never, ever ends. 00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:59.060 This is who he is. 00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.880 This is what he's done. 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:03.000 And these are his promises. 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:06.040 And we lay hold of them by faith. 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:14.839 we receive we accept and we say thank you jesus thank you for abundant life and thank you for 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:22.319 eternal life let us pray our father in heaven we thank you for your power we thank you for your 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:27.319 grace we thank you for your goodness we thank you for your word we thank you that even though we 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:34.079 might testify that we have been knocked down our whole life you wouldn't put up with it you stick 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:40.480 with us you protect us you preserve us and we thank you that you will bring your people home 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:46.359 that the good shepherd knows his sheep he speaks and we listen he calls and we follow 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:54.939 and there's a day coming when he will make certain that all of his will be safely at home secure in 00:25:54.939 --> 00:26:03.419 the father's house and until that day remind us that he is committed to us remind us that he 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:12.400 loves us that he's on our side that he comes after us and that he's relentless because we pray all in 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:14.220 jesus name amen