top of page
Search

Sheep Qualifications

Writer's picture: David WarrenDavid Warren

John 10:1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Hedge (def) - limit or qualify (something) by conditions or exceptions. There are qualifications for the sheep who want to enter the sheepfold. Sheepfold meaning: It can be a structure or a barrier, such as a fence, that prevents the sheep from straying and is used for shelter, protection from predators, and to facilitate the management of the sheep. In reference to salvation, the sheepfold is where Jesus is, and in the protection of His grace and mercies, the sheepfold is the place we are put by trusting Jesus and entering into this place by faith and life change. When dealing with a perfect God, we must realize there is only one way to receive what is offered by God, and that way is through faith in Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to die and live and, in that great sacrifice on the cross, defeat death, hell, and the grave so that all who believe might have eternal life in paradise. We don't have to go through many religious practices to get this salvation because it is a gift offered by God. But we can't hedge on the rules of getting the gift by bringing in some other way of receiving it. We are the sheep, and we can't try to get in by another way that involves us trying to be "good enough" or religious enough to get this great salvation. Paul wrote about the way to eternal life in heaven this way in Ephesians 2: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

When we believe and receive by faith, a radical change takes place because your life of sin is replaced with a life of grace, peace, and freedom. The above scripture states we are renewed in Jesus and it is because of this great gift. We have gone through the gate and the gatekeeper has received into the shelter of the sheepfold. Satan cannot get to you because you are under the protection of the greatest sheepherder and His name is Jesus. We cannot hedge on the requirements so our lives are completely changed and completely ready for paradise. The thief on the cross beside Jesus had not Christian classes or didn't walk an aisle in a church. He just believed and that was enough to get into paradise. Luke 23:41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Paul warned the church in Galatia about putting manmade rule into the salvation experience because they had a leaning to want to get religious with their faith, and religion only kills, but salvation in Jesus gives us new life. We don't get what we deserve because the gatekeeper is offering a way to the sheepfold and it is through Him. He is the gate.

If you are a "true" believer, you are going to follow the gatekeeper and rely on His protection and His guidance, and you will flourish in that sheepfold because He is protecting and blessing you because He is your gatekeeper. Jesus goes on in the above verses to clarify you new standing as a sheep in His sheepfold. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

What Jesus is saying is something He will say again and again about getting into His sheepfold. The following verses tell it like is. John 14:Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. The purpose of the enemy is to defeat all who come to Jesus, but He protects us, the sheep. Jesus not only protects us but He also gives us a rich and satisfying life. Other translations call this the "abundant life," and I like the word abundance! The abundant life is not a life of defeat but a life of daily victories. We must live in that abundant life and trust God for better days every day. Abundance (def) -

a very large quantity of something. We serve a BIG God, so expect Him to be BIG in the circumstances of our lives and come through every time. Cause He does. Draw near to Him and you will find an Abba Father who is very near and very involved in your life while in His sheepfold.

James says this in James 4:Come close to God, and God will come close to you. This relationship is offered to all who come through Jesus to salvation. ONLY JESUS!! God loves you and has given His son to make a sheepfold we can live in, with a requirement that says we receive through faith in Jesus the gatekeeper. He is the ONLY way to heaven, so don't try to hedge on the rules of the sheepfold and the gatekeeper.


Today's Message,


David Warren

6 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

One Life for Many Lives

John12: 2 0  Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21  paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in...

Comments


© REVOLVER

  • w-facebook
  • w-twitter
  • w-tbird
bottom of page