Sermon Outline:
The Good Shepherd Pt. 5 – “Faith Works” (John 10:31-42)
1. Divine Confrontation (v.31-33)
2. Divine Consecration (v.34-39)
3. Divine Commission (v.40-42)
Sermon Text:
John 10:31-42
31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.
Sermon Notes:
Thinking Biblically
Definition of Sanctification: to be set apart from sin to holiness.
Sanctification is All of Grace Too
The Christian life is all of grace isn’t it? We are justified by grace (Roms. 5:1-2); we are being sanctified by grace (Titus 2:12); and we will be glorified by grace (Jude 24f). Even our ability to obey is all of grace. Does grace nullify our responsibility to walk faithfully in the Lord? Not at all (consider Roms. 6-7). But when we eliminate grace as the foundation and empowerment for our obedience, then we are in danger of turning sanctification into a self-effort.
In our sanctification, we are given grace to have victory. Grace never winks at sin (Romans 6:1-2); grace never leads to further ungodliness and worldly desires (Titus 2:12); and grace does not cherish sin (Psalm 66:18). Grace is our teacher and calls us to turn from our sin and to turn to God. That is what repentance is: an abrupt about-face in the face of sin. This takes grace – for none of us are strong enough to just say “stop sinning” and be done with it. “Stop it sanctification” exalts man and leaves God out. “Stop it sanctification” makes me the Lord of my own issues and world. “Stop it sanctification” is not even me cooperating with God; it makes out to be god. It breeds something for us to glory in within ourselves – which is idolatry (see Roms. 1:18ff). “Stop it sanctification” is unbiblical, ungodly, and idolatrous.
Paul communicates this idea to a young, timid Timothy when he writes, “flee youthful lust and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22). Notice these three things to living in victory over sin: flee – be a fugitive from it; pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace; and do so with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. IOW, we need by grace to demonstrate: repentance, righteousness, and right relationships. And let’s not forget, that Paul preface this command to Timothy: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” (2 Tim. 2:1). He could not fulfill his ministry, his calling, or live to the glory of God a part from grace.
Sin strikes at God and says,
“I don’t care what You said, I’ll do what I want.” It is God’s would be murderer. Sin would un-God God if it could. Sin defiles the conscience. Sin is irrational and forfeits blessing. Sin is painful – it hurts. Sin is damning. Sin is degrading it mares the image of God and man. Like Samson, it cuts the locks of purity and leaves men morally weak. Sin poisons the springs of love and turns beauty in leprosy. Sin defeats the mind, the heart, the will, the affections and it has made a whole world of people – all of mankind – children of wrath by nature. Man and the world is a slave to sin, open rebellion and defiance to God and a slave to Satan.” (author unknown)
Sin is a subtle foe and wants us to be self-dependent rather than completely and wholly trusting and relying on God for all things in our lives. May 2011 be a year of completely trusting in Christ Jesus – withholding nothing!
