It may come as a surprise to you to learn that the first generation of Christians after Jesus died and rose again, and as a message went out around the known world and the Roman Empire, that the first Christians were considered Atheists! That seems to us utterly strange that here we are in the place where we delight in worshipping God, but Christians were thought of as being atheists. Why? because they denied the pantheon of the gods, and we were so narrow-minded as to keep to one god and to one god alone. And so when the opportunity was given to Christians to offer a sacrifice to Caesar and thereby show their allegiance to the state, declining to do so, many were put to death, suffered martyrdom. for their love for the Lord Jesus. Well, why was it a problem to fail to give a sacrifice to Caesar? Well, the state claims the allegiance of the citizens of that nation. You just have to think back into the Old Testament, the days of Daniel, I think one of the most beloved of Old Testament stories for children growing up and going through the Sunday school. It's a wonderful story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And the circumstances that there were simply that Nebuchadnezzar had raised up this magnificent statue on the plains so that the nations over which he ruled, not just one nation, but the multiple nations could all assemble together and they could show that there was a single point of worship for the many nations that Nebuchadnezzar ruled. and that by falling down before that statue they could show that they were good citizens and that Nebuchadnezzar could therefore rest content that his throne was safe. Well it was spoiled, wasn't it, by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to bend the knee and memorably as they say to King Nebuchadnezzar, our God can save, our God will save. But even if he does not, or he does not appear to in your eyes, we will not bend the knee to your false God. The saint has always been saying, well, you can keep your God, whoever you call him, whatever he might look like, but just have these things, these ways in which you can show your allegiance to the saint, state, And that's where the offense of the gospel truly comes in. The first commandment tells us, as we examined just in brief some time ago, that we should have no other gods before the one true and living God. No other gods before me. Well, the world of Nebuchadnezzar may seem so very far removed from our experience. Long, long ago, hundreds of years before Christ, and Christ had his ministry upon the earth now some 2,000 years ago, so after all the passing of so many centuries and yet the world still remains the same. That doesn't cause us truly a whole lot of surprise. Why not? Because the world and the ways of the world really haven't changed. The nature of man hasn't changed and the sin that occupies the thinking of man is no different really to what it was in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. the world really isn't so very different. And the world will still say to us, you can keep your religion as long as you keep it to yourself. And if I want to identify as a watermelon, you may not. Yeah, I got your attention, didn't I? Well, well done. If I want to identify as a watermelon, you may not tell me anything different. And if you do, well, then you're surely guilty of hate speech. I have to tell you, I don't hate watermelons at all. But that doesn't mean to say that somebody has any right to call himself legitimately a watermelon or anything that he really is not. There is a radical uniqueness at the heart of the gospel. Well, what's the alternative? The alternative means to be right with God. What we believe about God and the way of salvation, God reveals about himself, he's holy, just, and pure. And a deed of God is not wholly just and pure, then we have no basis for saying anything is either right or wrong. It's belief in an absolute that gives legitimacy to any moral code. It is philosophically really indefensible to say that you don't believe in God but still have a moral code. Why? Because, well, you may say that something's wrong, but if I say it's not wrong, unless there is some ultimate source of our morality, ultimate source of our laws, then just because you say it's wrong, why should I be impressed by that? You have no ability to say that your morality is better than anybody else's. So if there isn't a God who is holy, just, and pure, then there's no basis for saying that anything is ultimately good or evil. But there's an alternative to that, and the possibility is that God is actually holy and just and pure, And so man finds other ways to get around that difficulty by saying, well, there aren't many ways to get there, the way to eternal life. Along the way, we face many dangers, toils, and many tears. Many griefs enter into our lives, unbidden. But just because they're unbidden doesn't mean to say that they do not happen upon us anyway. Jesus is declaring himself, as we have read in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Christ by John. He declares himself to be the good shepherd, and it is difficult, perhaps even impossible, not to make the association with that wonderful Psalm 23, which even in something of a post-Christian world, still people will recognize. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Well, great David's greater son declares himself to be the good shepherd. And so when we read or sing the 23rd Psalm, there's an association made in our minds that ultimately that good shepherd that David knew is our good shepherd as well. Though at times you may feel as though you are walking barefoot across broken glass, even though you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death, we're following our Master. And in the hardest of days, we are learning to trust Him. When we're walking along a path that we would not choose for ourselves, it seemed strewn with broken and jagged rocks that cut our feet. Nevertheless, we are led there by the one who always has our best end in view, teaching us to trust Even better still, what could be better than learning to trust in God? Well, that verse to which I have often personally had to refer to myself in times of distress. And no doubt you too have when the burdens of this world seem almost too great to bear, all things work together for good. To them that love God who are called according to his purpose. But as I almost invariably would assure you, read on into the next verse, because the question as to what that purpose is, is far from being left unanswered. The next verse tells us exactly what the purpose of God is. Even while we're passing through those heartaches, those sorrows, when we're looking down at our bleeding feet cut by the rocks on the path on which we are walking, His purpose is to conform us to the likeness of His Son. And it's not only a comfort to us, therefore, that in the midst of difficulties we know that God is working out His purposes, we learn to trust Him. And one of the ways in which we learn to trust Him is simply this, that we know the end of the path, we know where He's leading us. In leading us along that path, that is the way in which we are conformed to the likeness of his Son. Now we set these words from John chapter 10 in the context of what's gone before, and even as we began this chapter, I drew to your attention that Jesus is speaking to the same people he's been speaking to throughout chapters eight and nine. And they did not want to hear the message that Jesus had, and in spite of the fact that they should have been shepherds of the sheep, were driving them away from the good shepherd. And indeed, even as we read the concluding verse of this particular section, there were many that said, well, he's quite clearly demon-possessed. He's insane. Not exactly a commendation from those who were called by God to be the shepherds of the flock. Bad-mouthing, as we might say, the good shepherd. Well, it's no different today. There are many who would draw their own conclusions, quite aside from what is revealed in the Word of God. And in some ways we might even thank them. Thank them not because they're leading men and women and boys and girls astray, but because they're making a clear distinction between what Jesus is saying and what they're proclaiming. Here's an easier way. Look at your feet, they're all cut and bleeding. You're making your way along the path which is strewn with so many difficulties, but just take the side road and you'll arrive at the same place in the end. Or at least that's the promise. No short walks for your feet along this path. It's a broad and easy way. And you don't need to go through all those struggles of which Jesus and his disciples spoke. Indeed, not only will you avoid those heartaches and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, but you'll find yourself acclaimed by the world. You'll be popular by the world. You'll be hailed as being enlightened and accepting. And best of all, you're inclusive because you are willing to embrace anything and everything in a non-judgmental way. And what in our generation is more greatly to be desired than being inclusive of anything and everything? Everything is accepted. Accepting of everything? Well, not quite. Accepting of everything except the unique claims of Christ. If there is an easier way, you'd be a fool not to take it. Well, what fools there were in the early generations of the Christian faith. And of course, the idea of Christians being fed to the lions is a commonplace for the early centuries. It didn't matter how young or how old, male or female. If you weren't willing to bend the knee to the gods of this world, then they would find a way of enhancing or speeding up your exit from this world. Polycarp, one of the first Christian martyrs, that old man in his 80s, that didn't spare him the flames of martyrdom. But what's happening when people say there's an easier way, there are other ways to get to heaven apart from that difficult path of which Jesus and the disciples would speak? Well, to a perfectly blunt and frank, such a view impugns the wisdom of those who follow. Why would you go the way of a painful death and the flames of martyrdom when you could have taken an easier way? I mean, isn't that the height of stupidity? But it's not just the disciples whose wisdom is being impugned. Ultimately, it traces its way back all the way to Jesus himself and God the Father. What kind of cruel father would submit his own son to a painful death upon the cross if there was another way to accomplish the same ends? And although they would never say this, the logic of that position, that there are other ways to heaven apart from the way that Christ would set before us, is to impugn both the wisdom and the love of God God is foolish to submit his own son and cruel to do so. And if we have our feet set upon the path which is so very similar to that of our beloved master and say, I will follow where he leads me, then we in the eyes of the world are both foolish and cruel. who would encourage our own children to follow in that path ourselves. The times we do sing that well-known hymn, there is no other good enough to pay the price of sin. He only can unlock the door of heaven and let us in. So, our Savior makes clear that he is the only way to eternal life. He says quite explicitly, quite clearly, quite boldly, I am the door. If you want to enter into eternal life, then the only way of doing so is through the Lord Jesus. And it may seem enlightening, particularly in our generation, to say, well, there are many ways. It's like the spokes of a wheel. We all want to get to the center, but there are all sorts of different spokes that go in different directions, and they all lead to the center. And it doesn't matter which religion you want to adopt, it all amounts to the same thing. Well, not according to Jesus, and surely he must have known a thing or two about the way to get to the Father. I'm the door, he says. And it certainly doesn't allow for there being any other way to come to the Father. And it's a mark of belonging to the flock that we hear his voice and follow him. Others that came with their messages, whatever that might be, whatever false religion might scoop up the gullible or the faint of heart even, they did not hear them. And what marks out the sheep, the flock of God, is that they hear the Master's voice and say, I'm following. I recognize that voice. I hear that voice. I follow that voice. I love that voice. To be sure there are those other options which seem so appealing, especially when we are told that they will be so much easier than the path that God seems to set before us. They're easier options. And they appeal to the heart of man. And the big difference between Christianity, true Christianity, and all the other religions of this world, all the other religions are the religion of the do's. Do this, do that, earn your way into heaven. And Christianity is the religion of the done. that Jesus Christ has taken my place upon the cross. In his active and his passive obedience, that we recognize that in the Lord Jesus, he has paid the penalty for our sins. But the reason why he could do that was because he had lived the perfect life that neither you nor I ever do. He loved his father perfectly, with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his strength, with all his mind. So when he offered himself, he was the perfect sacrifice. So where I have utterly failed, and yes, where you have utterly failed, the Lord Jesus has completely succeeded. The world will offer you all sorts of easier routes to take, but they all lead to a false destination. You may even get the crowds singing your praise along the street, waving their glad chorus that you're doing such a wonderful thing. even as you are commending an ungodly lifestyle. Commended for your being, so accepting, no non-judgmental, inclusive. The last thing that Jesus is setting before us is such a path. No, he says quite clearly, I am the door. And if you wish to be right with God, the only way that that's going to happen is if you enter through me, that you place your trust in what I have done. And then in short compass, he sets before us a number of blessings. Those that enter in by that door, even Jesus Christ, are promised salvation. The Son of God, by His complete work on the cross, promises salvation to all who trust in Him. Salvation is to be found in no one else, and there is no other way to eternal life than through the door that Jesus proclaims Himself to be. Now, you can deny that. You can say, I don't believe that, in which case you are in the company with countless millions. But if you are to have eternal life, Jesus makes it clear that the only way to eternal life is through entering into that life through Him. That's the message of the gospel and it is indeed offensive to the world. Deeply offensive. Are you telling me that you think you are right and everybody else is wrong, all these other religions? That's exactly what I'm saying. Because that's exactly what Jesus was saying. I'm the door. For you to have eternal life you must enter through me. From salvation he turns to security. You can go in and out, live your lives day by day in the comfort and the security of knowing that your Good Shepherd is watching over you day by day, indeed moment by moment. William Hendrickson has a wonderful illustration. I had the privilege of going to a conference in London, yes, boys and girls, last century. And William Hendrickson was the main speaker at the conference, and he just recently published his commentary on the Book of Romans. So William Hendrickson speaking on Romans at a conference, would I go? Bit of a no-brainer, I went. When he was talking about that wonderful beginning to chapter five of the Book of Romans, therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God. He talked about what does that peace look like? And he gave a number of illustrations. Is it like the peace that you find in a graveyard? Nice and quiet in the graveyard. Well, I'm also reminded of Andrew Marvell's short poem. The grave's a fine and private place, but none, I think, do there embrace. And Hendrickson said, you know, what's the piece of a graveyard? It's a piece of dead men's bones. No, that's not a good enough illustration. Or perhaps you're thinking about some summer's vacation. You're away from home, and you're in the midst of the countryside, and you're sitting out perhaps on the deck in the cool of the evening. There's a nice, gentle, warm breeze that's swaying the crops in the fields. Sun's just setting, and with the last rays of the sun, everything just seems to be peaceful and quiet. And Hendrickson says, no, that's not really a good enough illustration for the peace of God. And from there, he turned down attention. Imagine a storm. The storm is crashing with thunder and lightning. But there in the cleft of a rock sits a bird on its nest. In the cleft of the rock, the flashes of lightning and the crashes of the thunder are disturbing the tranquility of the scene. But there's the bird sitting on its nest singing because the bird is at peace. There's the peace of God. There may be all sorts of turmoil in the world around us. Whatever the equivalent of lightning and thunder might be in your life, but we have been led to that rock that is higher than I. Well, let the world storm about me. When God holds me in the hollow of his hand, I fear nothing that this world has. I'm at peace with God. And that's something of what Jesus is speaking of. If you follow Him as the Good Shepherd, not only will salvation come to you, but also He will lead you in and lead you out. You can come and go and know that the Good Shepherd continues to watch over you. Salvation, security, sustaining your fine pasture, the Lord's provision for His people. What does a sheep eat? eats the grass in the field. The Lord provides for his sheep the nourishment that they need, that they might grow in strength. And that's the promise of Jesus, the good shepherd to his flock. You can come in, you can go out, and you'll find pasture. He will sustain you. Somewhat a loss for the fourth one, but bear with me. Super provision. Not only are we promised life, but here we are promised, because God is always better than we can imagine, life in its abundance. Not just life. And in contrast, the great enemy of your soul offers you an endless array of easier options. And what Jesus is setting before you is not only the way, but your ultimate destination. The sheep hear the good shepherd. They recognize his voice. They trust it. They love it. And so we would say to the good shepherd, lead on. I will follow. No turning back. We desire no other shepherd. We have need of no other shepherd. And though for a season the path may indeed be difficult, there may be sorrows aplenty. You wonder if your eyes have cried all the tears that they have. But the good shepherd leads. And the sheep hear his voice and will not follow another because he's our shepherd and we trust him. Not the foolish fancies of this world promising the easier path, the broad path. Our feet are upon the path that leads to eternal life, and we will not surrender it. Let's pray. Our gracious God, our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thou didst send Thy Son into the world Now following him is neither folly nor is it calling thee a cruel father. We follow the Good Shepherd because by thy grace we have heard his voice, we recognize it. We know that the Lord will offer us all sorts of temptations and promises that the path that they have is easier by far. And just look how we earn our own salvation by our good deeds, by how non-judgmental we are, by how inclusive we are. But we pray, Father, that we may hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow only Him. Follow the one who declares then and now that He is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Him, and has even in this portion of Thy Word which we have read together declared to us that He, and He alone, is the door. So might we, even at this hour, forsaking the world, and all its empty promises. Come to Christ. Hear His voice. Follow the Good Shepherd. Hear us, we pray. In Jesus' name, for His sake, and all God's people said, Amen. Let us respond to the preaching