“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who DOES NOT ENTER THE SHEEPFOLD BY THE DOOR, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1) In this portion of John, Jesus tries to describe the intimate connection between Himself and His followers, He uses images that may not touch our hearts and minds as they would have touched His original hearers.
Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I AM THE 1DOOR of the sheep.” (John 10:7) 1thura: portal or entrance. Through Jesus as the portal or entrance is the way into the church. “After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they nourishes and cherishes it, JUST AS CHRIST DOES THE CHURCH—(He nourishes and cherishes it) for we are members of His body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be JOINED TO HIS WIFE, and the two will become ONE FLESH.” This is a profound mystery—but I AM TALKING ABOUT CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.” (Eph. 5:29-32) So, how are a husband and wife “joined?” By a covenant of marriage. How is Christ the “door” of the sheep? We enter in and become “one flesh” with Him, by a covenant. Maybe something like this:
Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these witnesses that you will accept this Bible as the Word of God, believe and practice its teachings rightly divided—the New Testament as your rule of faith, practice, government, and discipline, and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability? The answer is, “I will.”
This covenant makes us members of Christ’s body, “…as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are ONE BODY IN CHRIST, and individually MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER.” (Rom. 12:4-5) It’s Christ’s body we must respect it, “…there should be NO DIVISION in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corin. 12:25-27)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham