Oh! I'm a Sheep…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

 

From <https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/jhn/10/1/s_1007001>

 

I have always struggled to understand how God could care about me. How I a sinner, a fallen man, could ever be desirable to Adonai Elohim. What is there about me that merits His love and forgiveness. Especially, when you factor in that repentance is a daily struggle for me and one that I am seldom the victor in.

 

I have always appreciated that Jesus said He was the good shepherd in a kind of 'That's so cool God kind of way.' You know, soft woolly feelings of cuteness and warm fuzzy hearts. I just didn't understand what He was actually saying here. I almost completely missed the most important thing in John's gospel.

 

You see Jesus is saying here He is the Good Shepherd. He's saying I know my sheep and they know me. We're talking people with sheep like characteristics. If you know sheep they have many endearing characteristics. Lambs are cute and playful. Ewes are maternal, protective and loving of their offspring and family groups. Rams are dominant and show leadership of the flock. Sheep are loyal and loving and can be wise, gracious, obedient and worthy of admiration just like people.

 

Sheep can also be rebellious, obstinate, independent, arrogant, angry, violent, aggressive, impulsive, unwise, foolish and stupid creatures, just like people. If God can love sheep so completely that he would give His life to find one of the flock that is lost. I can finally understand how God can love me. I completely associate with all of the characteristics of sheep. I can be stupid and sinful and make the worst and most impulsive decisions and yet Jesus Christ is my Lord, my Savior and my Good Shepherd. I am His sheep and I know Him and He knows me. He loves me and I love Him. My beloved Adonai Elohim. I'll be a sheep in His flock any day and forever.

 

Sin and Salvation

 

 

Romans 6:23

'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' ESV

 

Every human being has sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of God.

 

Definition of Sin in Merriam Webster

 

1         a : an offense against religious or moral law

 b : an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible

it's a sin to waste food

 c : an often serious shortcoming : fault

2         a : transgression of the law of God

           b : a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God

 

From <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sin>

 

The impact of sin and need for reconciliation with the Creator God - Yahweh Elohim.

 

Colossians 1:20-22

'And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him…'

 

From <https://www.openbible.info/topics/the_impact_of_sin_and_the_need_for_reconciliation_with_god>

 

All of creation bares the effects of sin and needs to be reconciled to God whether here on Earth or in Heaven. Christ Jesus has made peace through the blood of His cross and has made a path to salvation and reconciliation firstly through the justification of those who believe on Him unto eternal life. Then, through the sanctification of those same believers in the waters of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. So that, they might have the forgiveness of sins and receive the Holy Spirit who puts God's Law in their hearts and minds while working in their hearts a process of life long sanctification.

 

Thus, the impact of sin from the Garden of Eden and the fall of Adam and Eve and subsequently all of mankind is atoned for in the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross at Calvary. This is through the shedding of His blood for the sins of all men. So, that those who believe on Him are cleansed of sin, atoned for, receive salvation in His name, Jesus Christ, and are reconciled unto the creator God, Yahweh Elohim.

 

In the future that God has planned for mankind there can be no sin and no sinners. Therefore it remains up to you that when you hear the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. When you understand that He shed His, pure and perfect, blood on the cross as the Lamb of God. He did this that you might be saved and receive eternal life. Your purpose in this life is to choose. Will you believe on Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the Savior or, will you perish out of eternity and die in your sins?

Matthew Chapter One Study

 

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. ESV

 

Verse One to Seventeen: This genealogy is the family tree of Jesus adoptive father Joseph and primarily addresses prophecy regarding the lineage of Jesus as a descendant of King David of Israel. This line of family also establishes Jesus legal right to claim to be the Messiah through the genealogy of His adoptive father Joseph.

 

The genealogy is notable in that it includes women in line of descent which was unusual but shows God's mercy and intent to include women and gentiles in the lineage of Jesus the Messiah. Indicating perhaps, that God always had a greater scope in mind for the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary.

 

The genealogy mentions the generational duration from His promise and covenant with Abraham through to David ascending the throne of Israel. Then from David to the deportation to Babylon where Israel were taken as punishment for taking on other Gods. after seventy years in captivity, Israel were restored to their homeland. Then from the restoration in Israel to the birth of the Messiah, Christ Jesus. The period between each event being fourteen generations and the total length from the promise to Abraham to the birth of Jesus being forty two generations. This shows God's faithfulness to His people as He honored the promises He made and the covenants that He set in place culminating in the birth of the Messiah.

 

The Birth of Jesus Christ

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. ESV

 

Verses Eighteen to Twenty Five: This section of the passage tells the story of Jesus birth. The important facts are that Mary was a virgin; That the baby was conceived of the Holy Spirit; That God appeared to Joseph, Mary's betrothed, and told him not to fear to marry Mary as the baby in her womb was conceived of the Holy Spirit; The baby would be a son and Joseph was to name Him Jesus; Jesus would save His people from their sins; That the prophecy that a virgin shall conceive and they shall call His name Immanuel would be fulfilled (Isaiah 7:14); Joseph did as the angel commanded and did not sleep with Mary until after the baby was born; He called the child Jesus.

Walking With Jesus – Matthew Chapter Three Verses One to Ten

 

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

 

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.’”

 

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

 

From <https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/mat/3/1/s_932001>

 

Verses One to Four: John the Baptist came to Judea and preached the gospel of the Kingdom. This was a gospel of repentance and the coming Kingdom of God. John preached that this was spoken of by Isaiah the Prophet when he spoke of one crying in the wilderness crying ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ By saying this he proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. The Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Verse Five to Six: All of the peoples from the region of Jerusalem and Judea came to hear John preach and were baptized by him in the river Jordan. They confessed their sins unto repentance. By preaching repentance John was instructing them to turn from unrighteousness and to stop sinning. Instead to obey the Law and to walk in righteousness in obedience to God.

 

Verses Eight to Ten: The Pharisees and Sadducees came out to observe John, probably to see what all the commotion was about and whether John represented a threat to their rule. He immediately confronted them accusing them of being a brood of vipers and expressing dismay that they would come to hear him preach that they might escape the wrath of God. He noted that they claimed to be the children of Abraham but because they were not repentant and did not truly understand the Law the rulers were not really truly the sons of God. John told them God could raise children for Abraham from the stones around them. He told them that if they were not careful God would take the axe and cut them out of spiritual Israel.

 

John's preaching in here matches the preaching of Jesus Christ to the rulers of Israel in Matthew chapter twenty three verses thirteen to thirty six and his preaching about the vine dresser in John chapter fifteen verses one to ten. The apostle Paul also speaks of the olive tree and the unproductive branches being torn out and new Christian branches being grafted in Romans chapter eleven verses seventeen to twenty four. John the Baptist was laying a common foundational theme for how God viewed the Pharisees, Sadducees and other rulers of Israel at the time of Christ and what God would achieve through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary.