Access to Heaven: Whose Sheep are You?

In the tenth chapter of the Book of John, Jesus uses a parable about shepherds, sheep, and gates to reveal not only the importance of receiving Him into our lives but one of the best benefits of having Him as our Lord. To fully understand what He is saying we need to know what was occurring at that time. Before Jesus came, other men appeared and claimed to be the Messiah. One of the Pharisees spoke of it:

And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice… (Acts 5:35-39 ESV)

God’s people knew it was time for the Messiah, and many wanted to rule Israel, but God didn’t permit them to prosper in their endeavors. They eventually came to nothing. We must be careful when coming against someone who claims to be from God. If we rally people against them and they are called and anointed by the Father, we are in rebellion against our Lord!

Unlike the false messiahs, once Jesus died, His followers multiplied exponentially because, unlike the others, He rose from the grave. This is the one fact the Jews couldn’t dispute: Jesus was seen alive after the crucifixion.

Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:6 ESV)

Because Jesus appeared to more than 500 people over 40 days, no one could deny that He was seen after He was crucified. The Pharisees could only try to muddy the waters about how Jesus had survived:

And said, “Tell people, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we were sleeping. And if the governor hears of it, we will appease him and make you safe and free from trouble and care.”

So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this story has been current among the Jews to the present day. (Matthew 28:13-15 AMPC)

To keep people from listening to Jesus, they paid people to lie and say His body was stolen instead of admitting to the truth. The religious leaders wanted to stay in the position of power they were in. They didn’t want to admit they were wrong and most certainly didn’t want to acknowledge another leader whose authority may supersede their own.

Jesus is our access point to Heaven, not only when we die but right now! He did what was necessary for all to get back to God. This was prophesied about so many times in the Old Testament. When God sends a prophecy about a person and their job, He will make sure the right person comes into that position. Jesus fulfilled over 100 prophecies to prove He is the Messiah and God’s Son. Ezekiel 34 is one such prophecy.

And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken. (Ezekiel 34:23-24 ESV)

The “Good Shepherd” parable in this chapter of John is based on a prophecy from Ezekiel 34 about God setting up His servant “David” as a shepherd over them. God’s prophecies often use a key figure to speak about someone born in their generational line. Because Ezekiel lived long after King David’s reign, we know this is a prophecy about a descendant of David’s that would be the Good Shepherd. By using this parable of a Shepherd, Jesus claims to be that descendant, the prophesied Messiah.

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (John 10:1-2 AMPC)

All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them. I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. (John 10:8-9 AMPC)

Jesus says there is a right and a wrong way to enter the “sheepfold.” When the listeners do not understand, Jesus gets a bit more specific. He is the way in and out of the sheepfold, He is the Door. What is He the door to? By receiving Jesus as our Lord, we get to go to Heaven!

The door He provides is not a “one-time” door to go to Heaven just when we die. It is a door that can be used over and over again. There are many types of access to Heaven, which is the grand prize that Jesus brought us when He came.

There is no doubt that other people and even religions have encounters in the spiritual realm, but their access is not legit. They are aligned with Satan, who is the thief, and no lasting benefits come from these encounters. In the case of this parable, Jesus is showing us that even those claiming to be God’s people may be accessing Heaven in a wrong way. Just because someone sees something in the spiritual realm, it doesn’t mean it is God. Paul tells us we must test what we see and hear:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14 ESV)

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God… (1 John 4:2 ESV)

Satan loves to imitate God. He will appear to people to mislead them. We should not believe every account of a spiritual encounter, nor should we follow those to base their teaching on these encounters if they are not testing the spirits. They may have had a spiritual experience, but who was it with?

Up to this point, Israel’s high priest could go before God in the part of the Temple called the Holy of Holies. This claim to be the access point to all who could enter Heaven was a direct threat to the power and control of the Pharisees. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness, He is our High Priest, and we all have access to our God!

For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need… (Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV)

When we accept Jesus as our Lord, we no longer need a man to pray, make an offering, or do anything for us. We all have direct access to God’s throne in Heaven. When everyone has access, no High Priest (no Pope) is necessary to connect with God and receive forgiveness for sins. If you are in a church that tells you your access to Heaven has anything to do with them, then they are acting like a Pharisee; they want to have power over people. This was not God’s plan. He wanted all people to have access to Him.

And might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…(Ephesians 2:16-19 ESV Strong’s)

The word Gentile means those without a relationship to God. That was the dividing line between Israel and the rest of the world. Either you had access to God or you didn’t. Jesus changed all that!

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. (John 10:16 ESV)

Jesus prophesied that there were “other sheep” whom He would bring in. Not everyone who knows Jesus is the Son of God gets to go in; only those who listen to His voice. If you are willing to listen to Jesus, you are one of His sheep. There are no longer Jews and Gentiles any longer. There are only the sheep listening to the Good Shepherd. We are one!

Jesus told them why He was able to create a new way to God for all people:

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 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.” (John 10:17-18 ESV)

The Lord stated why He was given such access to Heaven and why He could bring it to others: He would be able to “give up” His life and then resume living again. This had never been done before and hasn’t been done since. Jesus was the only one able to die when He wanted and become alive again, on His own, with no one to pray over Him.

This is the proof we rely on when we accept Jesus as our Lord. Because He was raised from the dead, we trust we will be too!

Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak, assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along] with you into His presence. (2 Corinthians 4:13-14 AMPC)

This is why we learn God’s ways to hear His voice: we KNOW that Jesus was raised from the dead and are trusting in and relying on Him to do the same for us! This was a radical new teaching. John notes that some thought Jesus was insane for saying such things; however, others knew only a righteous man could heal the blind from birth, so they listened to Him.

Whose Sheep Are You?

The religious leaders were in a panic: this man intended to take away the power of the priests of the Temple. People wouldn’t need to ask God if they could do it themselves. At the feast of Hanukkah, they cornered Jesus, demanding to know if He was the Christ, the Messiah.

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:25-28 ESV)

Why did the Pharisees refuse to believe Jesus? Even though they read the scriptures, believed in God, and prayed a lot, they were not His sheep. How do you become one of His sheep? You must realize whose voice you have been listening to!

• Does it grieve your heart to hurt the innocent?

  • Satan is a murder (takes innocent lives) (John 8:44)

  • Jesus is the healer (John 14:26, Matthew 15:30-31)

    • Do you get joy from helping others?

• Do you act like Satan, who is a liar? (John 8:44)

  • Do you get joy over misleading others?

  • Jesus is Truth, and He is Light. (John 14:6)

• Do you seek the adoration of man?

  • Satan fell because of pride. (Ezekiel 28:17)

    • Do you want to be recognized for a position, taking great pride in how others see you?

• Are you quick to judge, criticize, condemn, and accuse others?

  • Satan is the accuser of God’s people. (Revelation 12:10)

  • The Pharisees rallied people against and attacked Jesus

    • God gives grace to us and tells us to speak blessings, not curses. (Colossians 4:6)

These are some aspects of sin that the religious leaders portrayed. Are you guilty of any of these? If you are attached to sin and unwilling to leave sin behind, then you are not one of God’s sheep. You are not listening to His voice.

The Pharisees couldn’t receive what Jesus was saying. They tolerated it and debated with Him until Jesus concluded the discussion with this statement:

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 ESV)

The Pharisees were looking for a way to kill Jesus and they used this statement to try and stone Him. To claim to be God would be blasphemy for anyone but Jesus, who is God. Even though, on the surface, their actions seem to be right, Jesus reveals that we need to look at all of what is happening:

If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe Me; 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.” (John 10:37-38 ESV)

We need to judge what we see by what we know about God. Miracles were happening that no man had ever done. Jesus was doing GOOD works, healing all who were sick, lame, and blind. This should have proved that He was the Messiah, that God was with Him. Yet, instead of looking at that, they were looking for a way to kill Him.

Have you done this? Do you judge leaders based on gender or man-ordained qualifications? If so, then are you one of His sheep?

Jesus escaped the Pharisees and went across Jordan to where John the Baptist had ministered. Many followed Him there. Many have followed Jesus because of the words written by His disciples two thousand years ago.

But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine]. The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:26-27 AMPC)

Have you been listening to a voice that is not from God? Have you condemned others or held onto a different form of sin? Do you want to be one of God’s sheep?

I hope you have heard from God through this message. Perhaps you believe that Jesus is God’s Son but still have difficulty acting like His sheep. The Lord has provided the way back to God:

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation… (2 Corinthians 5:16-18 ESV)

Are you willing to be one of God’s sheep? If you doubt that you are one of God’s sheep, now is the time to act. If you want to receive all God has for you through Jesus, He has provided the way. If you are a Christian who has been continuing in sin, it is time to pray:

Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. That You died and rose again on the third day. Both I and my ancestors have sinned against God. This is wrong. Let the blood of Your sacrifice pay for all my past sins. You told us that he whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Jesus, I call You Lord; I am Your servant. Set me free from all the sins of the past, both mine and my ancestors!

Help me not to sin anymore, for Your Word says that when I receive You, I am a “new creation.” Jesus, come into my life and make me new. I desire to be one of Your sheep, to Hear Your voice. Help me to learn Your ways and do them!

If you said this prayer, today is a new beginning for you. It is time to learn and apply God’s ways to your life to remain free. God has created a place for you to learn from His word for FREE. It is online, so all can learn! Look for the Online Christian Church (OCC) app or at our website: OnlineChristianChurch.com.

If you want to know more about visiting with Jesus in Heaven now, not when you die, please see the free online course at LynnHardy.com and the free book Seeing Jesus Face to Face!

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John 10: Access to Heaven Whose Sheep are you? Online Christian Church

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