WHO
BELONGS TO JESUS?
John
10:1-6
Introduction: Suppose you were an architect who had developed
plans for a particular type of building.
You laid out these plans the way you saw fit and then gave them to the
builders so they could build your building. How would you feel if each builder added to
your plans or took away from those plans as he saw fit? You wanted the bathroom here, but they put it
there. You wanted bay windows, but they
gave you regular. You asked for brick,
yet they gave you aluminum siding. How
would you feel? And then they insist
that this is YOUR house?
A.
Jesus is the designer and planner of the church;
He is its only architect
1.
Jesus had purposed the church's existence (Mat.
2.
Jesus had a specific design (Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Tim.
3:15)
B.
There are churches that exist outside of Jesus
plans and that are not fitted toward his purpose
1.
These were built by men who took it upon
themselves to add and take away from Jesus' initial design
2.
Yet, they insist that such churches belong to Christ
C. If such
was not according to Christ's plans and built to his purpose, it is a plant
that God did not plant and such will be rooted up (Matt.
I.
One shepherd over one fold (John
A.
The Lord brought together both Jew and Gentile in
one body in accordance with bible prophecy (Isa. 56:8)
1.
There are specific people that make up the body or
fold (John
2.
There is only one body or fold (Eph. 4:4)
3.
There is only one Chief Shepherd (Col. 1:18 1 Pet.
5:4)
B.
Only Jesus' Sheep have eternal life with Him (John
1.
As long as they continue to hear and follow the
will have this life
2.
As long as they continue to hear and follow they
will not fall away
C. The
Bible makes plain the will of the Chief Shepherd
1.
Salvation
2.
The church
3.
Worship
D. There
are those who are not listening to what Jesus said on these issues; instead
they are listening to other voices
1.
There is obvious religious division in the
community
2.
Obviously everyone in this community is not
following Christ since he claims only one bride (Rev. 21:2, 9)
E.
To listen to or to hear Christ means to do his
will (Matt.
1.
There are some activities that are done in some of
these churches that are an obvious addition to Jesus word (2 John 9)
2.
Thus, They are not Christ's sheep
II.
Who, then, belongs to Jesus?
A.
Those who hear the Shepherd's voice and follow Him
(John
1.
They know his voice: the word of God
2.
They do not follow a stranger's voice
a.
Know the doctrine
(John
b.
Willingness to investigate with a readiness to
apply (Acts
B.
Those who truly love Jesus (John
C. Those
who are Jesus
D. Those
who abide in Christ (John 15:5-8)
III.
Those who hear and follow are known by the
Shepherd (John
A.
The opposite, however is true
1.
Matthew 7:21-23 – Some are religious but not
according to God's will
2.
These are not known by Jesus – He knows only those
who do his will
B.
Those who go astray are those who hear and follow
a stranger
1.
Those who belong to Jesus do not know the voice of
strangers (John 10:5)
2.
Yet, many people will follow a stranger's voice
rather than Christ's voice
a.
Luther
b.
Calvin
c.
Bishop Eddie Long
d.
Creflo Dollar
e.
Charles Spence
3.
If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of
God (1 Pet.
Conclusion: The Bible makes Christians
only (Tomato seed will not produce corn). Wear the name of Christ only (Acts