by David Brenneman
"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 10:14-18 NASB
"Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:25-30 NASB
"But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB
No doubt the title brought to mind the Christmas carol. But what's important above all else is separating supposed intellectual understanding from Spiritual understanding of God's word.
Many have undertaken reading the Bible who aren't truly saved and its confusing to them or its been dismissed as fairytales and myths.
What better understanding of what Jesus said in the book of John than to read what Paul said to the people of Corinth?
The proverbial light bulb won't turn on within individuals until the indwelling Spirit plugs in what's missing.
My favorite part of the first quoted Scripture is where Jesus says there are other sheep that He's going after...those would be the Gentiles, also known as everyone who isn't a Jew. Meaning people like me...maybe people like you.
I love this portion too "and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." This wasn't just a gauntlet thrown down concerning Satan and his minions it is a command given that will NOT be broken by him nor will it be altered by him.
Those who have come to Christ cannot lose their salvation in Christ Jesus because Jesus said so. Nobody, not even ourselves, are strong enough to break this word of Christ.
Hearing the Spirit through the Word of God is what happens after we come to Christ for salvation. Jesus said "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17 NASB.
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful." John 14:26-27 NASB
I have been in awe of an understanding given to me in recent weeks about Jesus separating the saved from the unsaved at the Final Judgment. He asks nothing. Reading these passages from John it gives the greatest clue why. He knows His sheep. Secondly we know it says in the Bible that it is He who searches the hearts knows what's in the heart of mankind. We read in many places where Jesus says to Himself that He was not trusting Himself to the people because He knew them.
Jesus knows you.
Jesus knows whether or not you seriously came to Him to be saved or you appeased someone else's push to you to do so.
Jesus knows whether or not you are faking it. "Fake it till you make it" doesn't work with being a Child of God.
Jesus knows whether or not you are seriously looking to be in a right relationship with Him.
Jesus knows whether or not you're living for self or living for Him.
Jesus knows when you lie to yourself about why you do things.
Whether a Believer or not, Jesus knows.
When a person truly comes to Christ for salvation, the Spirit comes into them. The proper translation of Helper is another of the same kind as Christ. The Paraclete. Advocate. Helper. Teacher. Healer. Another of the same kind as Himself. Jesus did all those things in His ministry.
Every second children are being born.
Every second people are dying.
Every second people are finding themselves either in Heaven or in Hell.
If the Spirit does not testify that the person was saved in Christ Jesus, they are refused entry into Heaven. Not Peter, not anyone else in Human history. Peter isn't at the gates of Heaven. We read in Ephesians 1:13-14 NASB "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Jesus needs to know nothing more than if the seal of the Spirit is on a person.
There are millions per minute waking up in Hell because they were not. Horror stricken they only then realize too late. Crying out to God to please give them another chance.
At the same time there are millions showing up in Heaven who hadn't realized that their doubts were unfounded. Some not realizing they indeed were saved.
You who read this have the chance to be sure that indeed you are sealed in the Spirit.
You who read this can know for sure that should you die today that Heaven is your home.
This is between you and Jesus.
There's no one on Earth who you will point to nor need to point to in explaining why you should be let into Heaven. The Spirit will be the one to testify about you.
If you're not hearing from God or God's Word, stop right now and give your life to Christ. Settle the question, stop doubting, stop running. Stop putting it off for another day when you don't even know if you have 10 more minutes to live.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”" Romans 10:8-13 NASB
Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and become the leader of your life.
Then you really will hear what I hear. Not only what I hear but what millions of other Believers hear. You will begin to experience the love of God in Christ Jesus. Even your world won't look the same.
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