CHRIST DIED FOR HIS SHEEP: John 10:11

I. CHRIST IS GOOD (v. 11a)

II. CHRIST IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD (v. 11b)

III. CHRIST IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE (v. 11b)

IV. CHRIST IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP IN PARTICULAR (v. 11c)

John 10:25-26 “25 Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.’”

The angel told Joseph in Matthew 1:21
“[Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Paul tells the saints in Ephesus in Ephesians 5:25,
“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Paul tells the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:28,
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

APPLICATION

I. When it comes to definite atonement, the comfort of the saints is at stake.

I) If you are in Christ, Jesus actually propitiated His Father’s wrath for you on the cross.

Hebrews 2:17
“[Christ] had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

II) If you are in Christ, Jesus actually paid your ransom on the cross and that is why God personally redeemed you.

This is why in Revelation 5:9-10,
“They sang a new song, saying,
‘Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.’”

II. When it comes to definite atonement, the glory of Christ is at stake.

We try to rob Christ of His glory when we turn His death on the cross into a meer possibility of salvation. The cross does not make salvation possible; rather it is the accomplishment of the salvation of Christ’s particular people.

CONCLUSION

How do you respond to this message of Christ’s definite atonement?

Do you respond to this like the unbelieving Jews of Jesus’ day?

John 10:19-20
“There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”

or

Do you respond like the believing Paul?

Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”