João 10:9

DISCOURSE: 1662
THE GOOD SHEPHERD

João 10:9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

THE importance of sound doctrine cannot be too strongly insisted on. Error, especially in the fundamentals of religion, is as destructive as vice. In innumerable instances, it brings both those who propagate, and those who receive it, into eternal ruin: hence St. Paul denounced anathemas against any one, even though he should be an angel from heaven, who should blend Judaism with Christianity. Our Lord himself also spake of false teachers with indignation. The Pharisees, while they rejected him, taught the people to look for salvation to their own ritual or superstitious observances; Jesus therefore declared them to be only as “thieves and robbers,” who, instead of belonging to the flock of God, sought eventually their destruction, and, in opposition to their false doctrines, affirmed [Note: The affirmation is exceeding strong, ver. 7 and it is repeated in the text.] himself to be the only door of admission into the fold of God.

We shall consider,

I. The metaphor by which Jesus represents his own character—

He had been delivering “the parable” of “the Good Shepherd [Note: ver. 6, 11.];” in elucidating which, he speaks of himself as “the door of the sheepfold.”

The Church of God is here compared to a sheepfold—
[All men in their natural state are wandering at a distance from God [Note: Isaías 53:6.]: they neither acknowledge him as their Shepherd, nor feed in his pastures; they are strangers to that flock which is under his immediate care [Note: Efésios 2:12.]. But in every age God has had “a chosen and peculiar people:” in the days of Moses he brought them into a visible fold; till the time of Christ all his sheep were kept within the pale of the Jewish Church. But our Lord announced his purpose to introduce the Gentiles also into his fold [Note: ver. 16.]. Now all who name the name of Christ are called his sheep. All however who are nominally his, are not really so [Note: Romanos 2:28; Romanos 9:6.]. It is to be feared that his sincere followers still form but “a little flock;” but the truly upright, of whatever denomination they be, belong to him: they are indeed often ready to cast out each other as aliens; nevertheless they are equally the objects of his superintending care.]

Of this fold Christ is “the door”—
[Parts of Judζa were probably still infested with wolves: the sheepfolds therefore were better secured than ours: perhaps the entrance into them was guarded by a door. Now, what that door was to the fold, that is Christ to the Church: every sheep must enter into it by faith in him [Note: Gálatas 3:26.]. We are expressly said to have access unto God through him [Note: Efésios 2:18.]; nor indeed has there ever been any other way into the fold [Note: João 14:6.]. It was the blood of the sacrifice which procured admission for the high-priest within the vail [Note: Hebreus 9:7; Hebreus 9:25.]. Through that, all believers, from the very beginning, were brought nigh to God [Note: Apocalipse 13:8. with Efésios 2:13.]; and, through that, we also have boldness to enter into the holiest [Note: Hebreus 10:19.]. Some, it is true, have “climbed up into the fold some other way [Note: ver. 1.]:” they profess to be his without having ever believed in him; but they are regarded by him only as thieves and robbers; nor will they ever be admitted into the fold above.]

This description of Christ is of great importance.

II.

The benefit of receiving him under that character—

There is no benefit which can accrue to a well-attended flock, which does not arise to those who believe in Christ—

1. Security; “He shall be saved”—

[Protection is of unspeakable benefit to a defenceless sheep: but who can estimate the value of salvation to an immortal soul? Yet, such is the portion of those who enter into the fold aright: they shall be rescued out of the jaws of the devouring lion [Note: 2 Timóteo 2:26; 1 Pedro 5:8.]: they shall be freed from the curse and condemnation of the law [Note: Romanos 8:1.]: death itself, disarmed of its sting, shall have no power to hurt them [Note: 1 Coríntios 15:55.]: every kind and degree of penal evil shall be averted from them. He that is empowered, is also engaged, to “save them to the uttermost:” and this benefit he bestows, because they “come unto God by him [Note: Hebreus 7:25.].”]

2. Liberty; “He shall go in and out”—

[A sheep left to wander on the mountains infested with wolves, might boast of its freedom from restraint; but it would soon find what little reason there was to glory in such a privilege: its truest liberty is to submit itself to the direction of the shepherd. Thus they, who live without God in the world, may boast of their liberty; but their very freedom is, in fact, the sorest bondage: [Note: 2 Pedro 2:19.] and every moment they are in danger of everlasting destruction [Note: Salmos 7:12.Deuteronômio 32:35.]. It is far otherwise with those who have entered into the fold by Christ. Whether at large by day, or enclosed by night, they feel no restraint. Through Christ they have all the liberty which their souls can desire [Note: João 8:36.]. Secure of God’s favour, “they go in and out” before him in perfect peace [Note: Salmos 25:13.]

3. Provision; “He shall find pasture”—

[Good pasture comprises all the wants of a highly favoured flock: and how rich, how abundant is that, which the sheep of Christ partake of! There are “exceeding great and precious promises,” on which they feed. It is utterly their own fault if ever they experience a dearth [Note: Salmos 23:2.]. David from his personal knowledge attests this truth [Note: Salmos 22:26.]; and God confirms it by an express promise to all his people [Note: Ezequiel 34:14.]. This privilege too, no less than the others, is the consequence of entering into the fold by the appointed door [Note: João 6:35.]

Address—
1.

Those who are wandering at a distance from the fold—

[Perhaps, like the silly sheep, you are insensible of your danger; but the more confident you are of safety, the more certain is your ruin. If they only, who enter in by the door, are saved, what can you expect? O consider, that the loss of bodily life, is not to be compared with the doom that awaits you; nor do you know how soon that doom may be inflicted upon you. Blessed be God, however, the door is yet open to all who come, and the Saviour’s declaration is yet sounding in your ears [Note: João 6:37.]— He is even now desirous to bring you home on his shoulders rejoicing [Note: Lucas 15:4.]. Stay not then till the door be for ever closed upon you. Let the caution given by our Lord stir you up to improve the present moment [Note: Lucas 13:25.]—]

2. Those who are desirous of returning to God—

[It has been already shewn, that they only are saved who enter in at the door. Now our proud hearts are extremely averse to be saved in this way. We would rather come into the fold by some less humiliating means. But our self-righteous attempts will be of no avail. We must come unto God by Christ, or not at all: salvation never was, nor can be, obtained through any other name than his [Note: Atos 4:12.]. Seek then, and that with earnestness, to enter in at the strait gate [Note: Lucas 13:24.], and then you shall have that promise fulfilled to you [Note: Isaías 45:17.]—]

3. Those who are dwelling in the fold of God—

[What debtors are ye to the grace which brought you to the knowledge of Christ! and what inestimable blessings are you now made to enjoy! Yet these are only an earnest of the blessings that await you hereafter. Rich as your present pastures are, they are not to be compared with those above. Let nothing tempt you then to wander from the fold to which you are brought. Follow not those who are but “goats,” or “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Let it be your delight to hear your Shepherd’s voice, and to follow his steps: then shall you be separated from the goats in the day of judgment [Note: Mateus 25:33.], and receive from the Chief Shepherd the portion reserved for you [Note: 1 Pedro 5:4.]