...works that he may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him.
Therefore they sought to get to take him, but his came out of their hand,
and went away again to get beyond Jordan and to the place where John first baptized and there we go.
And many resorted unto him and said,
John did no miracle, but all things that John spake of this man were true,
and many believed on him there.
Tell us, pray, our Heavenly Father, thank you for your word, thank you for the Bible,
please bless brothers that we may impart unto you and unto us.
There is a message regarding this chapter that we will disagree in Jesus' name, amen.
Alright, we're here in John chapter 10.
We're going to look at actually six points tonight as we kind of glide through these,
but the first point we have in John 10 is,
number one, believers won't hear the voice of a heretic.
Believers won't hear the voice of a heretic or a false prophet.
John 10, starting in verse 1, the Bible reads,
Verily, verily, I say to you, he that enterth not by the door into the sheepfold,
but climbeth up some other way, the same as a thief in a robin.
But he that enterth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice,
and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them,
and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him,
for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus on to them,
but they understood not what things they were which he spake on to them.
And so, first off, this is a parable at the beginning of John chapter 10,
and one thing we need to remember is that with parables,
we need to be careful not to take things too literally.
When Jesus says, I am the door, he's not saying he's the literal door.
He's using an analogy, and so he's using an analogy about salvation,
and the name of this sermon is, The Door of Salvation.
It's a great analogy, we'll talk about it here tonight.
We've got to be careful about not being too literal.
But he's showing the difference between basically himself and all these false prophets.
And he makes it very clear that they will not follow,
they don't know the voice of strangers.
Now his disciples, it says they understood not the things which they were which he spake on to them.
And you say, why is it that we today can understand these things,
and they couldn't understand them?
The reason why they probably didn't understand this,
is because of the fact that you don't really understand things like this until you see it in action.
We have all seen false prophets rise up that seem to be just like us,
and they go sowing with us, and they turn out to be Judas Iscariot.
Now before you actually see that take place, you don't really get it.
None of us does.
You're just like, wow, I can't believe that person ended up being a phony or a heretic.
We would be the same way if we were the fact,
and we wouldn't have understood those things.
But looking on the other side of this, we can understand this.
We understand the example of being a door, we understand false prophets.
We understand how people that are saved are not going to follow the voice of strangers.
Now when it says a stranger, obviously that can refer to any unsafe person or any false prophet.
But look, obviously no safe person is going to follow the voice.
But there are going to be people that actually look like us and seem to be like us.
And the truth is that if you're saved, you're not going to follow that phony that pretends to be like us.
Now this is a very common theme throughout the entire Bible.
Go back to John 8.
And I want you to understand that when it comes to these people that are phonies,
it says they climb up some other way, and they climb up so they can't be seen.
It's not like it's obvious that they're climbing up and infiltrating.
They're going to just walk through and make it seem like they're like us.
They want to hide themselves. They want to disguise themselves.
They don't make it obvious that they're phonies.
Now I've heard just this week a conversation between two oneness Baptists that are pretending to be like us.
And they both said this, that they don't base people's salvation based on whether or not they believe certain doctrines.
They say, we think that's false. You can't base someone's salvation.
Now I don't know about you, but I just saw verses that said we can do that.
When people believe really false doctrine.
And here's the thing about this. Those people are hypocrites.
Because let's say, for example, that you ran into someone who said, hey, I believe salvation is by grace through faith.
It's believe only.
And then they said, you know what, I think the greatest miracle we have today is speaking in tongues.
And then I see people speaking in tongues. I see Benny and Neil and people.
I think it's great. He's such a great man of God.
There's no way those people would think that person's saved.
It's like you're being a hypocrite because of the fact you would look at the things they believe,
even though it's not related to salvation, and you say that person's not saved.
See, everybody draws the line.
Everybody will look at doctrine to some degree of whether or not people are saved.
Now, yes, you can go overboard, and if they don't believe just like us, you can say they're not saved.
Look, I've done so-and-so with people that do not believe Jesus went to hell.
I didn't always believe Jesus went to a literal hell.
Even though I saw it in Acts 2, because you get brainwashed, that doesn't necessarily mean somebody's unsaved.
But look, when somebody believes crazy things like, hey, I believe speaking in tongues is straight from God, stuff like that,
well, of course that person wouldn't be saved.
Or they just got saved, and you show them one verse, and they change immediately.
Because no one's going to believe such crazy things.
The Bible says we can base people's salvation based on some of the doctrines they believe in.
Now, we can definitely go overboard with this.
New people come to this church that just got saved, and we give them a chance to grow,
and it's going to take them some time.
But, yeah, the Bible says that you're not going to follow the voice of a stranger if you're a safe person.
John 8, verse 47.
He that is of God heareth God's words.
Ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God.
So Jesus says you don't hear the words of God because you're not of God.
Look, you know, when people are saved, when somebody just preaches just blasphemy and heresy,
they're going to know it's false.
As a saved person, especially the more you know the Bible, you're going to say that just does not make sense.
And even things that aren't necessarily heresy.
When I first got saved and I heard certain things preached in Baptist churches,
I didn't have a verse that would show me that they were wrong.
But I was like, this just doesn't seem right.
The first two Baptist churches I went to didn't have an altar call, which is kind of weird.
I guess I went to unique Baptist churches.
And then the next church I went to had an altar call.
And, you know, I wasn't expecting it because I had heard of altar calls.
I thought only weird churches did that.
And so then all of a sudden he does this altar call and I'm like, what in the world?
And like immediately I'm like, that just isn't right.
I'd never heard a sermon against it. I didn't know any verses against it.
But I was just like, this is just weird.
And, you know, just when you're a saved person, you're going to hear the voice of God.
And even as of God, the Bible says, heareth God's words.
Okay? Turn to 1 John 4. 1 John 4.
And honestly, this is a good test of somebody's salvation.
Because the truth is, all of us get false conferences.
See, John the Baptist baptized people who God was saved.
John the Baptist didn't screw up in the week.
Now, people like to mock us and say, well, we don't think all those people are getting saved.
Well, look, I don't think all of them are getting saved.
I'm sure there are some false conferences, but are some of them getting saved?
Look, I mean, let's just say that we go soul winning on Saturday,
and only 5% of our converts are real.
And let's say in Case on Memorial Circle there's 60 salvations and only 3 of them are real.
Well, that's still more than you have.
At least it's some.
It's like, yeah, if more of them aren't getting saved, then I realize.
It doesn't change a fact, soul winning still works.
And look, you know how I got saved? It wasn't online preaching.
Somebody actually gave me the gospel and that's how I got saved.
Soul winning works.
And even if some of our numbers aren't real, and even if, you know, it doesn't change the fact that soul winning still works.
And look, you know, honestly, sometimes we get people saying we don't need to realize.
We were soul winning the other day. I was with Brother Jay on Sunday.
And, you know, there was one of the people that I had talked to.
I talked to a group of people, and I only counted two of them.
And, you know, he quizzed the one person. I was surprised they were saved.
I was like, Amen.
You know, they answered right that you can't lose your salvation just by faith alone.
I didn't even think that person got saved.
And I was like, man, maybe more of them got saved than I expected.
Look, you know, we don't necessarily know who gets saved sometimes.
And, yes, we're going to have false converts, but, you know, some of them aren't getting saved.
But if you bring somebody to church, let's say, or you have a convert, and you start showing them things in the Bible,
and they just don't believe any of it, then they might not have gotten saved.
That's a possibility.
Now, you don't let that get you down because of the fact we all have some false converts.
It's not the end of the world.
If every convert you get into being false, then you might want to work here.
So would a presentation, okay?
But, you know, when I went to WVU, you run into the same people all the time.
And so I would have people check, you know, the salvation of the people I led in the Lord,
and I'd run into the same people.
And, you know, most of the time, those people would write on the money.
But then every once in a while, you know, there's someone who seems like they didn't get it.
You know, it's not the end of the world, okay? It's going to happen.
But here's the thing. Somebody says they get saved, and you're showing them new things in the Bible,
and they just aren't believing it.
When I was in college, the person that I got saved from, you know, he led me to the Lord,
and then the next day, I told him, hey, can you talk to my roommate?
And I convinced my roommate to hear the Gospel
because I wanted to give my roommate the Gospel, but I didn't know how to save him.
Just like everyone when they first get saved.
And so my roommate, we thought got saved, okay?
But then it was just like every other weekend, you know,
because he'd go home and visit his parents, and then he'd say, hey, you know, my dad, man, he really knows the Bible well.
He really knows Greek, and he was showing me, you know, I think you do have to get baptized to go to hell.
And it's just like you'd always come up with these weird doctrines,
and then we'd think, man, we think he's got to set them now.
We'd show them from the Bible. We'd make it clear.
He'd come back the next week. Yeah, I mean, maybe there are ways you can lose your salvation.
It's like, look, that person didn't get saved.
Now, those are issues related to salvation, but if people just don't believe in the Bible sense,
you show up for clear things and they just deny it, then there's a good chance they didn't get saved.
Now, there are topics that people can have different opinions.
On Sunday when I preach in the Lord's Supper, I'm fully persuaded of what I believe.
But there are other pastors I respect that have a different view.
That's a topic you could have a different view on.
You know, you determine the verses differently in 1 Corinthians 11, that's fine.
You know, people interpret it differently. It's not the end of the world.
Obviously, when we get to heaven, you know, we're probably all going to find out.
Man, I was wrong about what I expected.
But, you know, there are certain things that are very clear.
And if you don't get them, then all of a sudden a question mark comes up.
It's like, do you understand salvation?
Because it doesn't seem like you hear the voice of the shepherd.
First John 4, verse 1.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.
Because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
See, the Bible says try the spirits whether or not they're true.
Now, look, obviously, if somebody says salvation is by the works, they're a false prophet.
When I talk about trying the spirits here, and he's talking to believers,
I kind of think when he's writing, it's kind of the more seasoned believers.
And he's saying, hey, everybody who goes out there and says that he's like you, test that person.
Make sure what he's saying is true.
Verse 2.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God.
Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come from the flesh is of God.
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come from the flesh is not of God.
And this is that spirit of antichrist where if he had heard that it should come,
even now already is it in the world.
Now, when it comes to testing the spirits, let me give you guys some advice.
When you listen to online preaching, test that spirit.
Don't just assume that what they're saying is true.
Look, when it comes to people being in our movement, so to speak,
we've seen pastors come up that ended up being false prophets.
It's going to happen.
It's inevitable.
And so if you're going to listen to sermons online,
don't just walk away and assume, hey, that is right because this guy is someone I trust.
No, you make sure that what he's saying is actually true.
I'm kind of amazed with some of the things that have been said in some of these churches
where it turned out the person was a false prophet or whatever,
and it's like, man, you preached obvious heresy. Nobody spotted it.
And it's just like, man, if I was in that church, I would have been like, what in the world?
You say, why is it that they didn't catch the heresy?
Because they trusted that person a little bit too much,
and they weren't doing what the Bible said of actually testing those spirits.
You're supposed to actually make sure what they're saying is true.
There's obviously, no matter who it is, they're going to believe something's wrong anyway,
but look, some people, they're going to start to mix in some false doctrine,
and if you trust them too much, then you can start believing some false things,
and that might be their goal.
And look, you make sure what they're saying is true.
Now, look, anything you hear, it's probably, unless you know that topic pretty well,
it's probably going to sound smooth. It's probably going to sound like it's right.
Why? If they're a false prophet, they're good at what they do.
They're good at convincing you to believe something that's false.
They're going to use a verse that sounds like what they're saying is true.
You need to make sure, see, what do the breeds do?
They actually search the script.
They didn't just say, wow, I heard that sermon, that's right.
Now, look, if you know a topic really well left, right, and down the center,
like if somebody gets up here and preaches repentance of sensual salvation,
you already know that's false.
But there are some topics that, you know what, honestly, we're not experts at every topic,
and somebody could get up here and preach on something that you maybe haven't really studied out
or you haven't heard a lot of sermons about,
and then they bring it to the fold or whatever,
and it's going to sound convincing, it's going to sound smooth.
We must check what the Bible says.
Why? Many false prophets are entered into the world, right?
And it's only inevitable that there will be false prophets that link themselves up to us.
You say, why?
Because, honestly, 20 years ago, there wasn't really a market for believing in things that we do.
But if you say that you believe like we do, hey, if somebody started a church here in the Philippines,
and, I mean, let's say they started in Bicol, and, you know, I don't know if there's anyone like us in Bicol,
not that no, maybe there is, I don't know.
But if somebody started a church in Bicol and said they were just like us,
they would have people in their church that they wouldn't have a problem with.
But there's a real market to be like us.
And so if there's a real market to be like us, false prophets are going to be like,
hey, man, we'll pretend to be like you.
What? Oh, man, I could have people from the church that they want to give money.
That's the reality. It's just logically it makes sense.
So, you know what, even more so than before.
We must test these spirits and make sure what they're saying is true.
Verse number four, hear of God, little children, and have overcome them.
Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
They are of the world. Therefore speak they of the world and the world hear it.
And so, you know, somebody could get up here and preach a sermon,
someone who was an unsaved false prophet, and the world would love what they had to say.
And the world would hear them and say, man, that makes sense. Why?
Because they're of the world.
They hear me speak and they think I'm crazy.
I'm, you know, overwhelming.
You end up being on Irish radio.
I can get up and say things and it's like, man, this guy is crazy.
I can't believe he believes that stuff.
Why? Because we're preaching what the Bible says and most people are of the world.
Most are unsaved and most people follow the words of the world.
Verse six, we are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us.
He that is not of God heareth the goddess,
hereby knowing the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
And so what John is saying is that those that are of God, they hear us.
They hear these words.
It doesn't matter whether it was Jesus Christ
or whether it's someone preaching the same words from the Bible that Jesus preached.
If you're preaching the words of God,
people that are saved are going to be able to hear those words.
Whereas unsaved people aren't going to be able to hear those words.
And so we need to pay attention to this because there are many false prophets.
Now turn back to John 10.
John 10.
And I think that's one of the concerns with the online ministry.
The online ministry is a great tool
and we have an online ministry and stuff like that
but quite honestly a lot of people,
they don't really check everything from the Bible that they've preached in service.
They just assume that what's being said is true.
And it might be true 95% of the time
because the Bible commands us to check what's being said.
Even if it's some great preacher,
look, it doesn't mean they're 100% perfect.
They might say something wrong.
They might believe something that's wrong.
Or they might accidentally say something that's wrong and not realize it.
Let me give you an example.
I remember hearing Pastor Anderson preach
and he misspoke in the sermon.
He clarifies later in the sermon, like 10 minutes later.
But he was preaching in Luke 16
and he said that Luke 16 was a parable by mistake.
And he just went on preaching.
He clearly said, Luke 16 is a parable.
And I was hearing that and I was like, no it's not.
I was like, is he insane?
I was like, what is he talking about?
It's not a parable.
I mean, it's literally talking about a story of someone who's in hell.
And there's many reasons why we know that.
Why? Because of the fact that he uses real names.
And obviously we know that.
But he just completely misspoke.
Ten minutes later in the sermon, he's like,
and I guess it just clicked with him.
He's like, I don't know what I was talking about earlier.
He's like, Luke 16 is not a parable.
But here's the thing.
Someone would just listen to that and say,
wow, Luke 16 must be a parable because Pastor Anderson said it.
I promise you people will listen to that.
And that was their reaction.
And then they switched 10 minutes later.
Why? Because he said, whoops, I misspoke.
And look, everybody misspeaks.
I listened to my sermon just today from the morning sermon,
either today or last night, about necessary sacrifices.
And I misspoke a couple of times.
I kept saying Monday.
And I was like, why did I say Monday?
I can't remember what I was talking about, but I noticed.
I'm like, that doesn't even make sense what I was saying.
I misspoke.
I meant to say morning.
And I said Monday twice.
Now, that's not heresy.
It just doesn't make any sense.
But everybody, when they preach, they make mistakes.
And so we need to test the spirits
whether they're a great preacher or whether they're false.
Because every great preacher says things wrong sometimes.
They accidentally say, Luke 16 is a parable
because they're just not thinking.
You preach a sermon against repentance.
And you preach against it for like 55 minutes.
And then one segment, you accidentally say,
you must repent of your sins to be saved.
You must say the opposite.
And I've done that before.
And I'm just like, man, I didn't even notice it.
And then all of a sudden, it's like you
listen to the sermon later.
It's like, I can't believe I said that.
I'm just going to get things backwards.
So anyways, just to remind you that if you
listen to the sermon online, just make sure.
Or I preach sermon.
Make sure what I'm saying is true.
Make sure it lines up with what the Bible says.
John chapter 10.
Let's talk about the door of salvation.
And I want you to realize point number two.
The door of salvation has always been there.
Verse 7.
Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you,
I am the door of the sheep.
So when Jesus Christ was alive, he said, I am the door.
Not a door, the door.
He's obviously the only way to have it.
He said, I am the door.
Obviously today, Jesus is still that door.
We know that.
But notice what he says in verse number 8.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not hear them.
So what does Jesus say?
He's like, everyone before me was a thief and a robber.
Which means there was never anyone before Jesus Christ who
was the door.
And he said, but the sheep did not hear them.
So before Jesus Christ was here on earth, he was the door,
and there were also sheep before.
Because he says the sheep did not hear them.
Before Jesus came, there were thieves and there were robbers.
And the sheep, the people that were saved back then,
they did not hear them.
So 4,000 years ago, there were thieves, there were robbers,
and there were sheep.
And Jesus was the door back then,
because everyone before Jesus Christ was a thief and a robber.
People that were proclaiming to be the way to heaven.
And so what we see is that even in the Old Testament,
we see that there were sheep.
What does that mean?
It means dispensational salvation is stupid,
and it's heresy.
Because before Jesus Christ, everyone else
was a thief and a robber.
See, Jesus Christ was the door of salvation
before he ever came here on earth.
This idea, well, in the Old Testament,
there was a door of salvation, and those three works
and this and that.
No, Jesus has always been the door.
It's very clear.
And look, people got saved before Jesus came.
They were sheep before he came.
There were sheep and there were ghosts before Jesus came.
There were children of God, there
were children of the devil before Jesus came.
Now, a goat's not necessarily a child of the devil,
but I'm just saying, it was the same in the Old Testament
as it is today.
Before Jesus came, there were sheep.
Turn to Revelation 13.
Revelation 13.
And I know this is a common verse,
but we're just kind of going over it.
Obviously, the book of John is great.
It refreshes us on salvation.
And in Revelation 13, I want you to notice verse 7.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints
and to overcome them.
And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues
and nations.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
whose names are not written in the book of life,
like the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
See, Jesus Christ was slain from the foundation of the world.
It was always God's plan that Jesus Christ would come here
and die and pay for our sins.
The plan did not change.
He was always the door of salvation.
So if someone were to come up today and say,
well, I'm the Son of God, I'm the door of salvation
in today's world, or I'm the door of salvation
for these people, it's false because he said, I am the door.
And beforehand, it was the same way,
because there were thieves and robbers back then.
Then there were thieves and robbers when Jesus was alive.
Look, there's thieves and robbers in today's world as well.
And the salvation has always been the same.
There's always been sheep, and there have been goats.
We as saved people were sheep.
We believe on Jesus Christ.
And look, in today's world, we're
not going to hear the voice of a thief and a robber.
In Jesus' time, they didn't hear the voice
of a thief and a robber.
In the Old Testament, they didn't hear the voice
of a thief and a robber.
Even though they were not dwelled with the Holy Ghost,
as saved people, they would still
follow what the truth was.
They wouldn't follow after some thief or some robber.
Now turn back to John 10.
So we see that the door of salvation has always been there.
And I also want to talk about that point number three,
Jesus is the only door.
So in verse number nine, he reiterates
what he said in verse seven when he says, I am the door.
By me, if any men enter in, he shall be saved
and shall go in and out and find pasture.
The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy.
I am come that they might have life
and that they might have it more abundantly.
So when it comes to a false prophet or a thief,
what is their objective?
One objective is to steal.
They want to basically steal money from people
and be a lying false prophet.
They get people to donate to them
because they're phonies.
They want to kill, the Bible says.
As reprobates, that's something that
doesn't seem too strange to them.
And they're not going to tell you they want to kill you.
But the truth is, if someone is a reprobate,
their mind is fully corrupt and they have no conscience.
So honestly, it's not really that big of a deal anymore.
And so he says to steal and to kill.
And look, this is something you just have to take by faith.
Because of the fact, none of these false prophets,
none of these many hints will ever tell you
that he wants to kill someone.
But honestly, that's not something
that would be so strange for him to do.
Because as a false prophet, they're the scum of the earth.
And so it says to steal, to kill, and to destroy.
Their goal is to destroy us.
They don't like believers.
They hate us.
They hate what we believe.
Now, it's very clear in verse number nine, I am the door.
And so when people say, well, you know what?
Our religion, yeah, Jesus is the way.
But you could also follow Buddhism and get to heaven.
Follow the eightfold path.
You could follow Hinduism and just reincarnate your way
up to heaven eventually.
You could follow Islam.
Well, the Bible says, I am the door.
That's what Jesus Christ said.
He's not a door.
He's not a way of salvation.
He is the way of salvation.
Now, this is consistent in John.
Turn to John 11.
John 11.
And we can look at this point over and over again.
And honestly, when it comes to this,
I explain it when I preach the gospel.
I make sure people understand Jesus is the only way to heaven.
But if you show someone a few of these verses
and they just don't believe it, they're just not going to.
I don't really care what the Bible says.
They just want to believe.
There's multiple ways to heaven.
Because look, there's a lot of false doctrines out there.
And with most false doctrines, they
have some verses they can use that sound
like what they're saying is true.
Look, if you believe baptism is the way to heaven,
Acts 2.38 would seem pretty convincing to you.
Now, look, I put a video on our YouTube channel
and explained Acts 2.38.
I don't find it confusing as a saved person
that has the Holy Spirit.
But if I was an unsaved person that believed baptism
got you to heaven, of course I'd use that verse.
Or if I thought repentance of sins got you to heaven,
I'd use Acts 2.38.
That's a verse that I can see people using.
And there's verses you can see why they would use that verse.
When it comes to thinking there's multiple ways to heaven,
I mean, what verse would you even turn to?
You say that there's another way to heaven
besides Jesus Christ.
There's no verse you can even turn to.
Because the Bible is very clear, it's by Jesus.
John 11, verse 25, Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection and the life.
He that believeth in me, though it were dead,
yet shall he live it.
Whosoever liveth it believeth in me, shall never die.
Believeth in this or do you believe this?
When he says I am the resurrection, the life,
the is a definite article.
What it means is there's one resurrection.
I am the resurrection.
So nobody else can be the resurrection.
Who else has resurrected themselves from the dead?
Nobody.
He says I am the resurrection.
I am the life.
Which means he's the only way to heaven.
Turn to John 14.
John 14, verse 6, a very famous verse.
This is probably a good verse to commit to memory.
And it says in John 14, verse 6, Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No man cometh unto the Father alone by me.
I mean, could it be any more clear?
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
He reiterates it and repeats it various different ways
to make it super clear.
You know, honestly, you'll find Baptists that will say things
like, well, you know, if somebody's never heard the gospel
in that deep, dark jungle in whatever country,
then maybe they get a free pass or maybe God
looks at them differently.
Baptists say that.
If you hear stories about that at Bible college,
there's like a debate about it.
What if someone's never heard the name of Jesus?
It's like, what is there to debate about?
I am the way.
That's the only way.
Look, once somebody reaches the age where they can understand
the difference between right and wrong,
whether the age is four, five, six, whatever age,
or whatever person, you know, probably varies
depending on their ability to reason and understand things,
look, they must believe on Jesus Christ to be saved.
Now, we know these things,
but let me just mention something to think about.
Think about salvation because there's the broad way
that leads to destruction and there's the narrow way, okay?
Now, once somebody reaches that age where they can understand,
let's say it's five years old.
Once somebody is five years old,
they are on the way to destruction already.
They're already on that road,
and the only way out of that road is to open that door.
Now, when you're five years old, that door is right there.
When you're six years old.
Now, obviously, eventually someone can become a reprobate
and that door can become closed,
but I want you to understand that as you get closer down to hell,
it's actually much harder for you to open that door.
See, when you're younger, it's a lot easier to open that door,
not because salvation's difficult.
I mean, salvation's believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,
but the truth is, as you get older,
you start to get more set in your ways.
Honestly, when you're 18 years old,
you're much closer to hell than when you're 17.
It's much harder to end up believing in Jesus Christ.
When you're 19, when you're 20, when you're 21,
look, people that we see today on the streets,
when we see them tomorrow,
it's harder for them to get saved than it was today,
and that shows us the importance for us to preach the gospel now
because you might run into people that you could preach the gospel to
that wouldn't have received it a couple years ago
or won't receive it in a few years.
You say, what sort of application do we need to make?
Well, we preach the gospel to anyone we can find.
We have these so many marathons, and that's definitely the case.
But what about your family and people you know?
People that you're waiting to give the gospel to.
You have that cousin that you're waiting for the right time to preach the gospel.
I hate to break it to you,
the more you wait, the harder you're making it for them to believe in Jesus Christ.
That's the truth.
You need to do it now.
It's like if you have a bandaid on.
Some people just slowly take off the bandaid,
kind of cut around a little bit,
oh that hurt a little bit,
take a five minute break,
just rip that off.
Just go for it.
Because it's not going to be easier six months down the line.
It's not going to be easier two years down the line.
And even if you do still have that opportunity,
look, they're less likely to get saved as they get older.
Someone who's 25 years old is less likely to believe in Jesus Christ than 15 years old.
Look, if I run into a 15 year old,
if they listen to the gospel, I think they're probably going to get it.
But if they're 25, 35, 45, they're going to be less likely to get saved.
The vast majority of people we get saved are people that aren't that old.
And look, when it comes to your family and people you know,
I eventually need to preach the gospel to this person.
The thing is, the more you wait, the less likely they are to get saved.
You really should try to do that now.
Because the more you wait, it's going to be harder for them to get saved.
And look, we all have those people in our lives that we know we should preach to the gospel.
Turn back to John 10.
So I'm not absolving myself from this because I have people and it's just like,
you know, God gives me an opportunity.
I didn't take that opportunity though.
Make it a point to take that opportunity.
Now here in the Philippines, you know, I can't really say that I have family,
but my wife has a lot of family in the Philippines.
The truth is, it's much more likely for them to get saved now than it's going to be in a year from now,
or two years from now, or three years from now.
So we need to take those opportunities.
We're rolling up on Easter here in a few days,
and you know, I don't know what everyone's plans are,
but some of you might be hanging out with an unsafe family.
And if you're hanging out with an unsafe family, you should try to get them saved.
Do what you can.
And I understand that family functions, it can be difficult,
because if there's 50 people, it might be impossible.
But you should try to do what you can,
pray for that opportunity.
Don't just devote all your time to get people saved on Saturday,
and then Easter rolls around when you're spending time with family or whatever,
and you go home Sunday evening, and you say,
well, you already did my soldiers.
It's like, you know what?
Those are people who got to put their life that you're expecting.
That's the truth.
John chapter 10.
And I want you to see a point there before that
the phony or false prophet or thief or robber,
they will flee from getting into trouble.
Verse number 11.
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,
but he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd,
whose own the sheep are not,
seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeeth,
and the wolf catches them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeeth because he is an hireling,
and careth not for the sheep.
See, when it comes to false prophets,
they don't care for the sheep.
They'll pretend to care about the sheep,
but they don't really care about the sheep.
Look, no false prophet cares about the people that are at the church.
They'll pretend to care because they want your money.
They don't really care.
Why? Because if they see a wolf coming,
if they see potential trouble, they'll just get out of there.
They'll make sure that they save themselves,
and say, well, forget about them. I don't really care about them.
And look, when it comes to someone who's a good pastor,
the mark of a good pastor is not how big your church is.
It's how much they actually care for the members God's given them.
That's the mark of someone. Why?
Because of the fact that if someone's true,
they're going to actually care for the sheep they have.
Now look, obviously the good shepherd is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
But when it comes to people that are shepherds in today's book,
people that are pastors,
the person that's a really good pastor
is someone who actually really cares about his sheep and his members.
See, the false prophet only cares about himself.
He wants to get money, and he'll do whatever he can to get that money.
But he doesn't really care about the members that he has.
Now look, obviously I hope our church grows.
I believe it will grow.
But what's more important to me is actually caring for the members God's given us.
Because that's what a good shepherd's going to do.
Verse 14,
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father.
And I lay down my life the sheep,
and other sheep I have which are not of this world.
Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice,
and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
I have power to God that my Father love me,
because I lay down my life that I might take it again.
Verse 18,
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down on myself.
I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment I have received of my Father.
Verse number 18 says I have power to take it again.
Basically, I have power to lay down my life,
and I also have power to resurrect myself in the dead.
Like we do later on.
But here he's talking about why he is a good shepherd,
but honestly the mark of someone who would be a modern day shepherd,
or has members,
is someone who actually cares about his members.
And look, the truth is that
no matter what church you have,
or who your members are,
we're all sinners.
We all have problems.
And there are sermons that sometimes I need to preach
that I realized in my head,
so I might get offended by this.
I preach sermons that I didn't want to preach.
And you know, I'm not always just preaching on cool topics
that are just like postured, and you know, whatever.
Unfortunately, you know, you have to preach the whole Bible.
And there are some sermons that aren't the most comfortable to preach,
and you know people might get offended.
You preach certain sermons and nobody else notices it,
but you see somebody in the crowd that's obviously affected by that sermon.
Either they're angry or they're really sad.
Sometimes you see tears.
But look, you still have to preach that sermon.
And look, at this church,
I'll preach cool sermons sometimes,
but also preach through the characters of Ruth
because that's the sort of stuff all of us, including myself, need as well.
Why? Because our goal is to actually care about who God's given us,
and I just believe that God's going to bless this church if we do that.
If we zealously go soloing and preach the sermons that God would have us to preach,
I believe He's going to bless and build this church.
Now, turn to verse, look at verse number 19.
The fifth point is the lame excuses of the unbelievers,
the lame excuses of the unbelievers.
Verse 19,
There is a division, therefore, among the Jews with these sayings.
Isn't that in every chapter there's a division?
Wherever Jesus goes, people are just, like, divided on what He said.
See, most people when they preach sermons,
no one's really divided.
Joel Osteen preaches a sermon and everyone's like,
well, you know, that was kind of nice.
I think people were kind of good.
But, you know, when someone who preaches a real sermon,
the reaction is it divides.
Even in a church like this, it causes division
because some people agree and some people disagree.
You say, Brother Stuckey, you've said some things that I disagree on.
Well, you know, it makes sense because when you preach the truth
and you preach hard what the Bible says,
it's going to cause some people sometimes to agree and sometimes disagree.
When I listen to the sermons online,
sometimes I don't agree with what someone says or how they said it.
But, look, the truth is, someone who's a good pastor,
when he preaches, it is going to divide some people.
And even sometimes people that are good members might disagree with someone.
You know, it's not the end of the world.
Honestly, that's what we see in the Bible.
And there's a division among the Jews in verse 20.
And many of them said, yeah, the devil is mad.
Why fear you?
Because that's one extreme end.
He's a devil.
You know, basically what the Jews would say about him today,
that he's a devil and he's possessed or whatever.
Verse 21.
Others said these are not the words of him that have the devil.
Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
See, that makes sense to me.
I mean, he's healing people.
The blind are receiving their sight.
He's creating bread for everyone.
It makes sense to me that he's the real deal,
but they didn't see it that way.
Verse 22.
And it was at Jerusalem, the feast of the dedication,
and it was winter.
And Jesus walked in the temple on Solomon's porch.
Then came the Jews round about him and said unto him,
how long dost thou make us to doubt?
If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Verse 24 is a stupid Lincoln speech.
They say, if thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
He has told them over and over again.
I am the door.
Now, he's using a parable,
but it was very obvious to them that he was claiming to be the real deal.
You say, how do you know that?
Because in John 8, they took up stones to stone.
Why?
Because he was quoting from before Abraham was, I am.
No, that's what he said in John 8.
Before Abraham was, I am.
Quoting from Exodus 3, he says, before Abraham was, I am.
Look, he told you plainly.
And that's why he tried to kill him.
That's why he took up stones to stone him,
because you knew he was quoting where God said unto Moses,
I am that I am.
That's why he was saying to the children of Israel, I am had to set me on to you.
So, it was very obvious to them that he was claiming to be the real deal,
and he did tell them.
Now, he also spoke to them in parables, and you say, why?
Because of the fact that he's given them chance after chance after chance.
Eventually, your chances run out.
Verse number 25, Jesus answered them, I told you that you believed not.
The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
But he believed not because you're not of my sheep as I said unto you.
And so, look, unbelievers today, they'll say the same sorts of things.
They'll say, well, you know what, if God would just reveal himself to me,
so you're expecting God to just come down from heaven and talk to you face to face.
That's what they're basically saying.
The truth is, even though he did that, they still wouldn't believe in Jesus Christ.
They just choose not to believe.
I mean, we could show them what the Bible says very plainly,
and they could claim to believe the Bible, and we show them what the Bible says,
but isn't it true that some people just completely reject it?
Now, some people believe on Jesus Christ, some people don't understand fully,
and then some people just choose to reject it.
It's those three things.
Some people hear it, and they're not really rejecting it,
they just don't fully grasp it yet.
But it's like, you know, you talk to people, you give them the gospel,
you go through it very clearly, and they still think that you can lose your salvation
because, well, what if you commit a divorce?
And they think when you're saying, hey, it's eternal life,
you can never lose your salvation, it's like, oh, that makes sense,
you can never lose your salvation unless, of course, you commit a mortal sin.
Now, unless you commit murder or suicide or something like that,
then they still don't get it because, honestly, it takes some people some time to understand.
But the truth is, all these people today would say the same thing.
They would say they believe if God would just reveal himself,
but they've been saying that for 6,000 years, and they're just lying around.
Look at verse number 27.
And if they're not lying, then they may think it's true,
but, honestly, they wouldn't believe even if they heard it.
And the sixth point and final point tonight is this,
that Jesus claimed to be God.
And verse number 27,
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father was gave them, he is greater than all,
and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Verses 27 through 29, pretty strong eternal security verses.
You're in the Father's hand, and no one's going to pluck you out.
And, look, you're not going to pluck yourself out either.
And, look, you're not going to try to pluck yourself out.
That's stupid.
Oh, I just want to burn in hell.
Nobody wants to burn in hell.
Now, people that say they want to burn in hell,
they don't really believe hell is a place of fire.
No one wants to burn in hell.
Nobody wants to be on their way to hell and burn forever.
People that say stupid things like that,
they don't understand what the Bible says.
They don't believe what the Bible says.
But, look, theoretically, no,
I couldn't pluck myself out of the Father's hand.
If I wanted to go to hell,
which I'm never going to want to go to hell,
then I couldn't go to hell.
Look, when a kid says, I'm running away from home,
99% of the time, they don't really mean it.
They're just trying to cause reaction from their parents.
But, look, even if they really did want to run away from their parents' home,
and even if they did run away from their parents' home,
hey, there's something called, biologically,
your mom and dad are still your mom and dad.
You can't change that, no matter what.
It's the same thing with us spiritually.
Verse number 30, he says,
I and my Father are one.
Now, this statement's pretty similar to 1 John 5-7,
when these three are one.
So, people could look at this verse and take it wrongly
and say, well, there is no God the Son.
There are just one.
I mean, even in this chapter,
He's talked about God the Father.
But, look at me, there's one Matthew stuck.
But I have a body, I have a soul, and I have a spirit.
Now, do I fully grasp that?
Not really.
Like I say sometimes, it's not a math problem.
We have a lot of math-oriented people here tonight.
Look, salvation is very simple.
We can understand that.
It's believe on Jesus Christ, honey.
Understanding the nature of God
and understanding my body, soul, and spirit,
it's not too close to it.
It was full.
I know I have a body, soul, and spirit.
I know there's one of me, and yet there's three of me.
Now, honestly, I was thinking about this this week,
because people interpret verses differently, which is fine.
People can interpret verses differently,
and fully grasping this, honestly,
I don't think it's that simple to grasp.
I've heard some people say it is,
but honestly, I don't really think so.
We know that there's three,
and Jesus was here at the beginning.
But here's the thing.
In the beginning of this chapter,
it talked about hearing the voice of the shepherd.
And you say, well, what about these people
that have been oneness or people like that?
How do you know that they're not safe?
Because they don't hear the voice of the shepherd.
Now, there's other reasons why,
but then I hear them interpret some obviously very clear verses,
because sometimes they'll pretend to be like us,
and they'll sound like us,
but then you hear them interpret verses,
and it's like, what in the world?
Just crazy things like, oh, he's talking about the angels
in the Book of Genesis.
Let's make man in our image.
And it's like, what in the world?
When you hear that, it's just like that person who,
I mean, it's not somebody who's newly saved.
It's someone who's supposedly been saved for a long time.
It's like, that person's not safe.
They clearly don't hear the voice of the shepherd.
And so they might interpret certain of these verses
and sound like they believe like us
or try to persuade us like they believe the same thing.
Like, oh, no, I believe in the Trinity.
But then you hear them interpret stuff,
and it's like, they don't hear the voice of the shepherd.
Right.
Now, I get that maybe some people
can be confused on certain of these things and things like that.
And maybe verse 30, I don't really know
what people's interpretations are.
I look at it kind of the same thing as verse 9, 5, 7,
which I've never really been that confused on.
There's God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost.
There's just one God.
These three are one.
Now, I've never until this last couple of years
even tried to really think about super in depth.
I've always understood that there was God the Son
in the beginning, God the Father, God the Holy Ghost.
It's always been that way.
And yet they are one.
I think it's okay if people can interpret some things differently.
But then you hear certain of their interpretations,
and it's just like, that's not okay though.
When you don't believe Jesus was here in the beginning,
you're called pretty much like a Jehovah's Witness.
Because that's what they believe.
Like the archangel turned into Jesus.
Okay.
That's what they believe.
See, it's okay if certain of these verses,
people have different interpretations of.
But when you say Jesus wasn't here in the beginning,
man, that is something just the biggest cult to believe.
And then you hear people that claim to be Baptist believe that.
It's like, that's crazy.
In the beginning was the Word.
That's not confusing.
In the beginning was the Word.
Genesis 1, God said, let us make man in our image.
The next verse, he created man in his own image.
I've always thought that was strong proof of the Trinity
in Genesis chapter 1.
If people don't get that,
then they don't seem to get the voice of the shepherd.
He says, I and my father are one.
I don't really think it's that confusing.
There's one of me, and yet there's three of me.
You can interpret that.
Here's the thing.
I'm not a philosophical sort of person.
I'm a math guy.
So if I can't fully understand a math problem,
I just believe.
That's the way I operate.
If it's not just as simple as a math problem,
like 2x plus 4 equals 8, that I get.
Then I'm just going to believe what the Bible says.
I and my father are one.
I've always just looked at it as naked as hell.
As naked and very clear that he is God.
Quite honestly, I think the Jews get the same reaction.
You say, why?
Because in the next verse, he tried to stone him.
Remember why they stoned him in John 8?
Because he was proclaiming to be God.
It says in verse 31,
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Jesus answered them,
Many good works have I shown you from my father,
for which of these works do you stone me?
The Jews answered him, saying,
For good work be stoned he not, but for blasphemy,
because thou being a man makest thyself God.
They fully knew that Jesus was proclaiming to be God.
When you say, I am the door of the sheep,
you're basically saying you're God.
Look at false prophets that have come in the last 100 years.
Look at guys like Jim Jones or other false prophets we know.
When they claim to be the way of salvation,
they eventually claim to be God as well.
That's what always ends up happening.
Or manifestation of God or something like that.
Because when you're claiming to be the way of heaven,
you're basically claiming to be God as well.
They understood that.
Verse 34,
Jesus answered them,
Is it not written in your law I say to your gods?
If he called them gods unto whom the word of God came,
the scripture cannot be broken.
Say of him whom the Father hath sanctified,
and said to the world, Thou blasphemous,
because I said I am the Son of God.
Verse 36 mentions both the Father and the Son.
And Jesus said, I proclaim to be the Son of God.
But they knew that by proclaiming to be the Son of God,
you were proclaiming to be God.
Why?
Because the training was in the Old Testament.
There is the Son of God and God the Father
and God the Holy Ghost.
There's always been.
And they always had that understanding.
Now yes, the New Testament talks about it more
and it clarifies it more.
The book of John is the number one book
that clarifies these things actually.
It's the number one book that really talks
about the nature of God,
which is why we've talked about it a lot
during this book of John series.
I don't personally think it's the most interesting topic
to talk about.
I used to joke around with my friends and I just said,
man, I'm really glad I don't live in England
because we have to just talk about the nature of God
every time he preached the gospel.
That would get super annoying.
Here, pretty much everybody believes the Trinity.
They basically have this understanding
unless they've been brainwashed by one of these bizarre
cults.
But they understood, the Jews understood
that when you're claiming to be the Son of God,
you're claiming to be God.
They understood that.
Verse 37.
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
If I do, though he believe not me,
believe the works that ye may know
and believe that the Father is in me and I in him.
Therefore they sought again to take him,
but he escaped out of their hand
and went away again beyond Jordan
into the place where John had first baptized
and there he abode.
And many resorted on to him and said,
John did no miracle,
but all things that John spake of this man were true
and many believed on him there.
And so in verse 42 we see kind of the same theme
that when there's all these arguments going on,
it's not that he's trying to win an argument with false prophets.
Many people believed on him
because crowds would listen to Jesus Christ
and the crowds would be filled with reprobates,
saved, and unsaved.
A mix of all three of those.
And there's no hope for the reprobates,
but unfortunately if you're preaching the gospel,
the reprobates will try to end that conversation.
So it's impossible for him to just talk about salvation.
He has to go off the rails to review these false prophets.
Look, if you talk to a group of like four or five people
and one of them is a sodomite,
they always try to make jokes or mess up the conversation.
And you basically just have to be stern
and kind of just lay the hammer down on them.
Otherwise you're going to lose that whole conversation.
That's just the reality.
And anyone who knows so many knows that.
Look, when you preach to...
And even sometimes if it's not a reprobate,
you preach to a group of five people.
Oftentimes there's somebody
who just wants to interrupt the conversation and destroy it.
And to take control you have to be kind of mean.
And so Jesus, it's not that he's trying to win an argument.
It's not that he's just debating a thousand false prophets.
You know, many people believed on him there
because they were just simply unsaved people
that were listening.
And that is why he's going back and forth.
And unfortunately he has to review the false prophets,
the reprobates.
Why?
Because they will always try to destroy the conversation.
All of us in this room know that
because we're also soul energy.
We've all experienced it.
And that's one of the challenges to preaching to a large group.
So in John 10, there's nothing really unique here tonight.
These are things that we already know.
But he makes salvation very clear.
He makes his nature very clear
because he's proclaimed himself to be God
and yet he also sees God the Father
and God the Son clearly in his chapter.
And he's also believed in false prophets
which that's always fun as well.
And people end up getting saved.
So let's close in word of prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
thank you for allowing us to be here today
and just getting to read your word
and to see things from John chapter 10, God.
And help us to just fly everything we've heard to our lives
and just do the Bible
and loving every chapter
and loving every line.
God, it's an amazing book.
And ask you to do with us tonight
as we sing one more song
but also have prayer
especially for this coming mega marathon, God.
And I know there are a lot of marathons
here in the Philippines
but also all over the world.
God, we ask you to bless.
And hopefully this week,
it will be a weekend
where we'll find new church members
and people will get integrated
and also other churches throughout the world
that are like-minded churches
and building new members
as a result of this big mega marathon, God.
It's just great to be here.
Thank you.
Thank you for being here every time.
It's just great to take some Jesus name
Amen.
Psalm 63.