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Firm Foundations

Creation to Christ

Lesson 42 - Jesus is the Only Doorway to Eternal Life

Questions for the LFC Firm Foundations Coordinator may be emailed to firmfoundations@lenoxchurch.org

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REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Is it important who we believe Jesus really is? Yes. If we do not believe that Jesus is the Deliverer whom God sent into the world, then we will be separated from God and go to everlasting punishment.

2. Who did Peter believe Jesus to be? Peter believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Deliverer whom God had sent into the world.

3. What did Jesus tell His disciples was going to happen to Him? Jesus said that He would be rejected by the rulers of the Jews and be killed, but that He would rise from the dead after three days.

4. When people saw Jesus, did He look just like an ordinary man? Yes, He was no different from any other man in appearance.

5. Even though Jesus looked like other men, what was different about Him? Jesus was God as well as man.

6. What happened to Jesus on the mountain? The “God part” of Jesus began to shine out through His human body.

7. Who was Elijah? Elijah was one of God’s prophets, who, like Enoch, was taken to Heaven without dying.

8. What were Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talking about up on the mountain? They were talking about the soon-coming death of Jesus in Jerusalem.

9. What did God the Father say to Peter and the others? God told them that Jesus was His Son with whom He was fully satisfied and that they were to listen to and believe Him.

10. How can we know the words of Jesus so that we, too, can believe? All of the words of Jesus which God wants us to know and trust in are written in the Word of God, the Bible.

Safety.

Security.

Do those words mean anything to you? These words were important to the people of Jesus’ time, too. Many of the people whom we have read about in the Old Testament were shepherds. In the days when Jesus lived here on earth, shepherding was still common work among the Jews. So when Jesus spoke of sheep and shepherds, the people were able to identify with what He was telling them. Though we may not be familiar with sheep, the message of this story applies to every one of us.

- Background:

Much of the land of Israel is dry and barren, and sometimes it was very hard to find grass for the sheep. Often, the shepherds had to leave their homes and lead their sheep a long way in search of food. Many times, the shepherds would be so far from their homes at nightfall that they had to sleep out in the fields or mountains with their sheep. It was dangerous to sleep out in the open because there were robbers who would try to steal the sheep, and there were wild animals which would kill them. So, before the night came, the shepherds would find a cave where the sheep would be safe, or they would make places where they could put their sheep for the night. The places which the shepherds built were usually enclosures with walls of thorn bushes and stones.

- Explanation:

This is a picture of a Jewish sheep pen, called a sheepfold. Pens built like this can still be found in the area of Israel today. When night came, the shepherds would put their sheep in this protected area and then lie down at the entrance. Anyone who went into the sheepfold had to go past the shepherd. He was like the door or the gate into the sheep enclosure. There was only one door into the sheepfold, and that was where the shepherd was lying.

Jesus meant that He was the way into the place of safety and security.

- Outside, in this world, are Satan, his evil spirits, sin, and death.

- They are like the robbers and the wild animals which killed and ate the sheep.

- Consider:

To those “outside the sheepfold,” Satan gives the message that it is much safer out in his territory. After all, wouldn’t a person have to give up a lot of life’s pleasures to step inside that door? And what would other people think if someone began to believe Christ instead of following the crowd? That could make life really difficult. That person might get a lot of pressure and even lose some of his friends. These are some of the thoughts Satan puts into people’s minds as they contemplate putting their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Satan is a liar and a deceiver. As we have read in God’s Word, Satan tells only part of the truth, and he appeals to our sinful desires.

Think about it:

What if a person had every selfish pleasure this life could offer him, but one day he died and went to Hell. (Satan doesn’t mention that part.) And what if a person were able to keep all his friends with him and keep on the good side of all of them. One day, that person and, eventually, all of his friends might end up in the lonely separation and eternal fire of punishment. But if a man cares about his own life and cares about his friends, he will believe in the only one who can save him, Jesus Christ. And perhaps some of his friends will see that he has a new life and decide to learn about Jesus, too. (Satan doesn’t tell people that part either.)

Is Satan’s territory better? Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

In John 8:44, Jesus called Satan a liar and a murderer.

Satan has been deceiving and destroying people for thousands of years.

- We are born under his control, because we are born into Adam’s race of sinners.

- Satan’s only purpose is to destroy us so we will be separated from God forever.

- Remember, he is a deceiver—he does everything he can to make his way look best.

- But it is the way of death, separation, and eternal punishment.

There is only one door or gate into the sheepfold, the place of safety, security, and life.

- Jesus is God, and He is the Savior.

- Jesus is the only door to eternal life.

- There is no other way.

- Consider:

Just as a shepherd loved and cared for his sheep, the Lord Jesus loves and cares for all people. He wants to be our Deliverer from Satan, sin, and death—separation from God.

Before Jesus was born, other men had come to the Jews, each one claiming to be the Deliverer sent from God Jesus said that these people were like the robbers who came at night to steal and kill the sheep. Satan uses many tricks to try to make us think that the way he teaches is the right way.

- The ways of Satan may look good.

- But the end of all his ways is death, everlasting separation from God in the fire where God will throw Satan and all his followers.

How can we know what is really true? The only way that we can really know the truth is to know what the Bible says.

John 8:32,36 says, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you seaech for Me with all your heart.”

Are you confused over what is true? Ask God to show you the truth in His Word. That is why we are studying together—so that we can know Him and know Jesus Christ, whom He sent to be our Savior.

There was only one door into the sheepfold. Likewise, Jesus is the only doorway into eternal life.

- Consider:

Some people may say to you that what the Bible teaches is all right for Christians, but there are other religions that also lead people to God. That is a lie of Satan. There are not many ways or many doors to acceptance and oneness with God. There are not many ways to eternal life. There is only one door to God and to eternal life. Jesus is that door. He came to be the Savior of all people, in every place, no matter what language they speak or how they live.

- Recall:

God told Noah to build the ark because God was going to punish the whole world. God commanded Noah to build only one boat and to put only one door in it. Only those who came through that one door into the ark Noah built were saved from God’s judgment.

- Noah believed God, and he entered by the door into the ark.

- Because Noah trusted in God and His words, he entered by the door and was saved from the punishment of God.

The way to enter the door to everlasting life is to agree with God and His Word and trust only in Jesus who is the Savior.

- Jesus is the doorway to God.

- There is no other way to God.

Jesus said that He is not like Satan, who only wants to destroy people. Jesus came into the world to give life with God forever to all who believe on Him.

- Consider:

One of Satan’s lies is that his way is the best, the most interesting and fun way to live. He gives people just enough pleasure to make them think that his way is better than the way offered by Jesus Christ. What a terrible lie! The Bible makes it very clear that all who refuse to believe Jesus’ offer of life will be separated from God and punished forever in the Lake of Fire.

Jesus said clearly here in this verse that He gives us life and gives it in the fullest way.

- His promises are true.

- The life Jesus gives is the best way, and it is never disappointing in the end.

- He came to give new life, eternal life to those who will believe in Him.

- We read in an earlier lesson that the life given by Jesus is life that truly satisfies.

Jesus had already told His disciples that the leaders of the Jews would not believe that He was the Son of God and the Savior sent by God. Therefore, the Jewish leaders would kill Him. Jesus said that He was like a shepherd who loved his sheep so much that he would die for them in order to save them from the robbers or the wild animals who planned to kill them.

Isaiah the prophet said that Jesus would suffer and die for others.

God did everything that He promised through His prophet Isaiah.

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                       Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                                in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

John 10:11 is the record of the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4,5. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

Jesus is the only way to God and everlasting life. Jesus is the one who came to tell us everything that God wants to say to us.

- All that Jesus said is the truth.

- He cannot tell a lie.

Jesus is the Savior of all who believe. He is the only one who can save us from everlasting death—separation from God—and give us everlasting life.

One God.

One Savior.

For the whole world.

For you.

For me.

There is no other way to be saved.

QUESTIONS:

1. How did the shepherds in Jesus’ day make themselves like a door to the sheep?

2. Why did Jesus call Himself the door of the sheep?

3. How does the one door into Noah’s ark remind us of Jesus?

a.

b.

4. Of whom do the thieves and robbers who killed the sheep remind us?

5. What did Jesus say He would do for His sheep?

6. What did Jesus promise to give to His sheep?

7. Who are Jesus’ sheep?

8. Is there another way to God for people in other countries?

Suggested Daily Bible Readings:

Day 206: Mark, Chapters 11 and 12

Day 207: Mark, Chapters 13 and 14

Day 208: Mark, Chapters 15 and 16

Day 209: Luke, Chapters 21 and 22

Day 210: Luke, Chapters 23 and 24