Toledo Reformed Theological Conference
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Saturday Morning Session
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Steve Lawson
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (part 2)
John 10:7-18
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Another great sermon from Lawson, he is quite a preacher. This conference is more preaching than academic, but that makes sense given all the Baptists here versus the Presbyterians in Grand Rapids.
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The shepherd was the most familiar occupation in ancient Israel, due in large part to the nature and geography of the land. The land is rough and rocky, rising 3000 feet above sea level, of little use for anything other than the raising of sheep.
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Two different sheepfolds
- verses 1 to 6, the community sheepfold, where many flocks mingled, guarded by a doorkeeper and called out by their shepherd by name.
- verses 7 A different sheepfold. A small sheepfold, built by the shepherd for only his own flock.
The first guarded by the doorkeeper, the second by the shepherd himself.
The first they are called out, the second they are brought in.
The first, the elect and the non-elect, the second only the elect sheep.
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The central themes of verses 7-18
- The exclusive claim of Christ
- The excellent character of Christ
- The eternal covenant with Christ
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The exclusive claim of Christ (v. 7-10)
The great “I AM” statement. Jesus takes this name to Himself, a declaration of His deity, of His authority.
In ancient times, the shepherds slept in the doorway of the sheepfold. He would be the door, the sheep would pass through him to enter and there was no other way to get into the sheepfold.
He alone is the door, the access to heaven. He is not “a” door, one of many ways to God, He is the way, the only way, a exclusive path. He is the door for the sheep, and only His sheep. No goats get in.
“ALL” who came before Me are thieves and robbers. All who preceded Jesus and all who have come since are liars, thieves.
(What does a door do? A door opens and closes. It allows access and it bars access. He is not a doorman at a fancy hotel, with a tuxedo and a top hat, who tips his hat as he lets people in.)
The gate is wide and there are many who find it that lead to destruction (there is plenty of room in hell) and narrow is the gate and few find it that leads to salvation
(When the wolves come, only those in the sheepfold will be saved for the shepherd will save them. Those who are not protected by the shepherd have no defense from the ravenous wolves)
They will be saved from hell, from the wolves, from God Himself and His wrath.
(Presenting the Gospel again)
The sheep go in and out. The out and out Christian is an in and out sheep. They come in at night, through the Good Shepherd, for protection but they go out in the day. Only the shepherd can lead the sheep to green pastures and still waters, the wandering sheep will never find it on their own.
False shepherds come only to steal, to fleece the flock, to take. The Good Shepherd comes to give. What does He give? In a nutshell He gives life, life abundantly. Abundantly: to have more than is needed (Matthew 14:20)(Eph 1:8)(Rom 5:17)
Have you received the second blessing? Are you kidding? The second blessing is to realize that you received all you would ever need in the first blessing.
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The excellent character of Christ (v.11-15)
The GOOD shepherd. So noble, so superior, so infinitely good.
Why is He so good? Because He lays down His life for the sheep.
The false shepherds kill the sheep, the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (1 Cor 15:3)Gal 1:4)(Matt 20:28)(Gal 2:20)
The hired hand does what he does for pay, not for love. He is not concerned about the sheep. The Shepherd lays down His life, His concern is for them, not Himself.
I AM the Good Shepherd. I and I alone. I know them, not just about them, but He KNOWS them. Depart from me who work iniquity, I never knew you.
Only a shepherd could love sheep.
One of the distinguishing marks of Biblical theology is the intentional death of Christ for His sheep. He did not lay down His life for those who are not His sheep. He died not to make salvation possible, but to accomplish salvation. He laid down His life for all those chosen by and given to Him by His Father in heaven.
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The eternal covenant with Christ (v. 16-18)
The covenant between the Father and the Son. Before time began I chose the sheep and gave them to the Son, before the worlds were created.
I have other sheep, not of this fold. The elect not of the Jews, the elect Gentiles. Notice the certainty with which they respond “I must, they will” I must bring them and they will listen. Spurgeon “I love God’s shalls and wills” Men break their word. With God, they SHALL come. If God says the shall come, they will come. Can God make me a Christian, yes!
It doesn’t ask for consent, it gives it! You say, I don’t want to be saved, Christ says you shall!
He did not die as a martyr, he gave Himself as a Savior. He laid down His life on His own initiative.
When the wolves come, the Good Shepherd stands in the door and says you can’t have them, these are Mine!
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