Know and Believe the Truth

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

“So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’” (John 10:1-5,7-10 ESV)

The sheepfold is a gathering of the sheep (followers of Jesus Christ), i.e. a gathering of the church, the body of Christ. The way in which we enter into this gathering of sheep, so that we are one of the sheep, is via genuine God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ whereby we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we are not to let sin be in control in our lives anymore.

But there are those who are not Jesus’ true sheep who disguise themselves as though they are his sheep in order to deceive the people of God. And these are called “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” And in this passage of Scripture they are referred to as thieves and robbers and strangers and as hired hands who care nothing for the sheep (vv. 1-13). For these are false shepherds of the sheep who today are leading many people to a false half-truth gospel which alters the character of God, his church, and the gospel message.

Jesus Christ is both the one who enters by the door, who is the true shepherd of the sheep, and he is that door. And God the Father is the gatekeeper who opens that door. For the door is the way into heaven with God, into salvation from sin, and into eternal life with God. And Jesus is the one who made the way for us to enter into fellowship with God/Jesus Christ, which is the way of the cross. And the way of the cross is death to sin and following our Lord in walks of obedience to him (Romans 6:1-23).

And if we are the Lord’s true sheep, by God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ, who have died with him to sin and who are living to his righteousness in obedience to his commands (New Covenant), then we should be those who are listening to the Lord, and who are walking in his ways in holy living, and who are discerning the lies of these false shepherds of the people who are deceiving the masses into believing that they can “believe” in Jesus and be on their way to heaven, but regardless of how they live.

And we should, thus, not be people who are following after these “wolves in sheep’s clothing” who are leading the people to believe that a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ, or just “praying the prayer,” will be enough to secure them salvation from all sin and eternal life with God in heaven. But we should be students of the Scriptures who study them in their full context, and who understand that true faith in Christ is to result in us dying to sin daily and us walking in obedience to our Lord in holy living.

For it is true that these thieves and liars and manipulators of truth, who are out to deceive the masses, are out to steal, kill, and destroy. For they are of Satan, and they are leading the masses to believe in a false gospel message which, if they follow it, will land them in hell, and not in heaven. For if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, and not obedience to our Lord, we will die in our sins. We will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what we have professed with our lips. So please know and believe the truth.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

A Believer’s Prayer 

An Original Work / July 31, 2012

With my whole heart, Lord, I pray 

To be Yours, and Yours always.

Lead me in Your truth today.

May I love You, and obey.

Lead me in Your righteousness.

When I sin, may I confess;

Bow before You when I pray;

Live for You and You always.

Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.

Life with You will never end.

You are with me through each day,

Giving love and peace always.

You will ne’er abandon me.

From my sin You set me free.

You died on that cruel tree,

So I’d live eternally.

Soon You’re coming back for me;

From this world to set me free;

Live with You eternally.

Oh, what joy that brings to me.

I will walk with You in white;

A pure bride, I’ve been made right

By the blood of Jesus Christ;

Pardoned by His sacrifice.

https://vimeo.com/114796263