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We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. This week we turn our attention to the positive side of why Christians persevere, even when things get really tough. We have learned those who don’t believe Jesus don’t believe Him because they are not His sheep, or bluntly said, they don’t believe Him because they are not saved. Our focal passage is John 10, and we are going to focus on v. 27. V. 25, 26 answer the questions in v. 24. Jesus gives 3 mandatory truths that reveal true salvation, and drives a Christian to continue to live every day as a Christian regardless of any outside circumstance that may arise trying to influence them to stop living as a Christian should live. Notice 1st is:
A CHRISTIAN’S REGARD = To hear the Lord’s voice! One of the most basic and fundamental characteristics of a Christian is they are always listening to hear their Savior speak to them. In the NT the Greek word translated “to hear” means “to understand the significance/importance of what is being said.” The NT concept of hearing means a Christian is always alert and listening to hear the voice of God speaking to him/her because that person knows the only way they can learn, know, and understand what God is revealing to them, is to listen to God speaking to them. If you really want to hear God speak all you have to do is open The Word and read!!! When Jesus says “My sheep hear my voice” He is saying, as a true Christian goes about their daily life, they do so with their ears always alert to the voice of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They want God to speak to them because they know He has the words of life and what He speaks is truth revealed to them to conform them into Christ’s image. Listen to this statement by one NT scholar: he says concerning hearing what Jesus has to say; “There is no record concerning the appearance of Jesus, in which the 1st Christians showed no interest.” Next is:
CHRIST’S RECOGNITION – I know them. One writer defines know/knowledge as John uses it to mean: the awareness in our heart that we live in a relationship we have with God The Father because we trusted in the finished work of Christ for our salvation. The relationship with God The Father is because He adopts us as His children when we are saved. As a result of the salvation relationship with God, we have fellowship with Him because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Obedience and love from the heart are two identifying characteristics of true Christians. Obedience and love define the quality of fellowship that results from the salvation relationship with God. Now notice:
THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE. Notice also in v. 27 when Jesus’s sheep hear Him, they follow Him. Following Jesus is a visible evidence of perseverance. When Jesus says “they follow me” He is saying in just 3 words the driving or covering or whole philosophy of those Christians who have come to the point in their life where to follow Christ is their only option! It means they become like Him behaving as He does. Once again the “behaving as He does” encompasses the person’s entire life to include their thinking, emotions, and even the motives and intents of their heart! In the NT the concept of “follow” always means to follow Christ. Another interesting fact is that the concept of following Christ is limited exclusively to one who becomes a disciple of Christ. Here is where the whole Biblical doctrine of following Christ focuses of perseverance. One follows Christ, not as the historical Jesus, but as Messiah. Why is that distinction important? Because to follow after Jesus; to become like Him; to imitate Him in daily living; to have and display His nature and character – as a true disciple means to participate in the salvation experience offered only to those who come to Christ for redemption. To follow Christ is the highest calling a person can receive. That calling is extended to everyone, but is only effective for those who answer and come to Christ for redemption!
If we can help you with your spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.
