John 10:1-10
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
(John 10:10)
We might think of this verse only for the "down and out" in life - those who appear to have given up on life. I know I have. I've quoted this verse to drug addicts and alcoholics. It exposes Satan's intentions behind those substances. My intentions were good. I meant to show the miserable end result of those things and the hope that can be theirs. But the ferocity of Satan's hate is not limited to addicts. He is equally happy to steal, kill and destroy a successful executive or a housewife caring for the family, a plumber or a religious monk trusting in his own piety. He is not particular.
The message of the Gospel is that Jesus - also no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-36) - is God, and He came to earth to do for us what we never could: save us from all that holds us captive. He alone can break the bonds of sin shackling every human heart. Apart from Jesus we have only death, even in our greatest earthly successes. True life, overflowing life, eternal life, is found only in Jesus, the life-giving Savior.
INSIGHT
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 14,15
Psalm 78
John 19
New International Version 1984
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John 10:1-10
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
The Shepherd and His Flock
10 “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Footnotes:
a. John 10:9 Or kept safe
CAN A MORMON BE A CHRISTIAN [PART 1]
with Judy Robertson
There's a broadway hit, a candidate for president, and an ongoing nationwide marketing campaign by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But does this church teach historic Christianity?
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