The Father's Love For The Son - [John 10:17-18]

The Evangelistic Slogan and Why It Fails Biblically

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Spiritual law number one probably from the most Distributed track ever by the founder of campus crusade for Christ Bill Bright. I Think I recently found out from pastor Mike that that wasn't originally.

The first spiritual lie, I think it began with spiritual law number two talking about our sin against the Holy God. But then he decided to to change it in the end. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

What a way to start an Evangelistic encounter as we were exhorted and reminded again this morning the passion that we are to have for those who are lost. Can you imagine approaching somebody this week?

Could be a family member a friend in Beginning your evangelistic encounter and saying God loves you and has a wonderful plan For your life. Not only is it not biblical as we even see through the book of Romans that the love of God means absolutely nothing unless we understand Romans 1 through 3 God's wrath and judgment and condemnation.

But even though God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life is bad evangelism. I Suggest to you tonight that it is good Trinitarianism. The doctrine of the Trinity how so God Loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

Imagine in the Council of eternity past the triune God the Father saying to the Son God I God the Father Love you the Son and have a wonderful plan a sovereign eternal purpose for your incarnation when you enter into humanity.

John 10 and the Divisive Words of Christ

Please turn with me to John chapter 10 that you heard read tonight John chapter 10 if you were to take a Seminary class or go to seminary even maybe IBS one of the first classes that is offered in systematic theology is Trinitarianism.

There's prolegomena and bibliology and then there's Trinitarianism and it was to my joy I found out last year as I was chatting with pastor Pat a been dropped pastor Mike's brother that the Teacher the professor I had for Trinitarianism Ken Charles.

He happened to have when I was at Dallas seminary. Pastor Pat had him when he was at masters. Obviously Ken saw the light and he left Dallas and went to masters. But we will see here as John does so beautifully.

Of course all the gospel writers do it but even more so the Apostle John. We see the relationship between the first and second member of the Trinity and today we're going to focus on two verses chapter 10 verses 17 and 18.

For this reason The father loves me. Because I laid 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've received for my father. The title for tonight's message is the father's love for the son. I was encouraged to see that when As Lewis Johnson preached this years ago. He entitled it the father's love for the redeeming God man.

So I figured I was on track. When we see here from the words of Christ, he says it from the get-go in verse 17 for this reason the father loves me and we're going to look at the reason and reasons as he Tells us in these verses why the father loves the son.

But before we do that, I want us to step back a little bit. And that's why I had Andrew read the whole chapter just to set it in its context. I want us to see here from a general background before we get into the specifics Christ's words here in these two verses and I want us to highlight three things with his words.

First of all Christ's words here. We'll see our divisive. Very divisive. Is it any surprise at all? That his words are divisive. Secondly his words here in these two verses are important because they help us understand the flow of chapter 10 within the gospel of John and Finally they are important because it will show us that they are consistent with John's Authorial intent.

Why he wrote this particular gospel. Well, first of all, his words are divisive. How do we know that? Look at the response verse 19 there was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said he has a demon is in and is insane.

Why listen to him? Others said. These are not the words of one who was oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? They were of course referring to chapter 9. One of the sign miracles of Christ giving sight to the blind man.

There was a division here a dividing line. Jesus as always as he does and he does vividly here. Set the line in the sand so to speak with Jesus. There is no straddling the fence. You're either for me.

He said. Or you're against me. And we see from people's response where they stood. I'm sure as always I think of Luke when he records in chapter 4 as Jesus entered into Nazareth where Luke says where he had been brought up so the people knew him.

And he goes into the synagogue as was typical in the Sabbath day and they give him the scroll. And where does he read from the book of Isaiah? The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor and he continues and finishes that and after he gives the scroll Luke says and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

This is what's happening here. Their eyes their ears are fixated on the words of Jesus Christ that he just said and there was a division. Alexander McLaren the the great preacher. It's been said of him that if you're taking the text that he's already preached on you better take another text or take his outline.

He said that he feels that the division here happened because of what? Christ said earlier where he says in verse 16 if you look there in our text and I have other sheep. He's talking to Jews here. I have other sheep that are not of this fold.

I must bring them also and They will listen to my voice. Matthew does that in a very classic way. The gospel of Matthew? Where he says at the beginning? The genealogy of Jesus Christ. The son of whom David.

David was king of the Jews and in Matthew 10 Matthew says do not go by the way of the Gentiles go only to the house of Israel. But by the time we get to the end of the book Matthew 28 as we were reminded again this morning.

Go therefore make disciples of whom all nations so the Jews. McLaren says they were divided over the fact that This was the Shepherd not only for us, but also for the Gentiles possibly. But I think as we look at the greater context it the division happened over something else.

It said in our text verse 19 There was again a division meaning that this was not the first time there was a division. Turn with me back one chapter to chapter 9 in verse 16. Here based on the words of Christ in chapter 10.

There was again a division. Where was the division before this? Chapter 9 verse 16 some of the Pharisees said This man is not from God for he does not keep the Sabbath because he had healed the blind man on the Sabbath but others said how can a man who was a sinner do such signs and There was a division among them.

Some were claiming there's no way he can be from God because he broke the Sabbath. Others are saying well, he's doing this miraculous sign that can a sinner do such a thing. In our in our text in verse 19 It said part of the division was those who were against him as it were said he has a demon.

That was not the first time he was accused of that turn back to chapter 8 in the gospel of John. When was this again accused accusation thrown at Jesus John chapter 8? Of course Jesus again with his verge of being very poignant verse 44 He says to them you are of your father who the devil.

And Verse 47 if you jump to there you are not of God you are of your father the devil. You are not of God because they had just claimed to Christ God is our father. Verse 48 it continues of chapter 8 the Jews answered him.

Are we not right in saying that you are Samaritan and have a demon? There's that accusation. Towards the end of the chapter verse 51 of chapter 8 truly truly I say to you Jesus says to them if anyone keeps my word he will never see death the Jews said to him.

Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died as did the prophets yet you say if anyone keeps my word he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham who died and the prophets died?

Who do you make yourself out to be? That was the issue and that's the issue in our text why there was a division over the identity of who Jesus was and It's no wonder because earlier in chapter 8 verse 24 and 25.

It said Christ speaking I told you that you would die in your sins for unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sin. So they said to him Who are you? Who do you make yourself out to be. Who are you?

That was the division over the identity of who Jesus was. Secondly, not only do these words of Christ in these brief verses that we're looking at tonight brought a division. But they help us understand the flow of the chapter chapter 10.

Granted chapter 10 is a classic chapter. Jesus Christ right the Great Shepherd the Good Shepherd of the sheep who lays down his life for the sheep and we reminded of Psalm 23 the Lord is my shepherd and It's okay in systematic theology.

There's when we study ecclesiology the doctrine of the church. There are certain word pictures in the Bible that help us understand the church's relationship to Christ. John 10 is one of them. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd.

We are the Sheep in John 15. He gives us another word picture. Jesus Christ is the true vine. We are the branches. Paul has some nice metaphors classic ones. Christ is the head we are the body. We are the bride.

He is a bridegroom. But that's not The first and primary purpose that the Apostle is including chapter 10 here, it's not so much ecclesiological in nature. It's more Christological to show who Jesus is.

This is the ending of the first section of chapter 10. Where there was a division of these words of Christ in verses 17 and 18 and the second part continues from verse 22 to the very end notice verse 24 in our chapter.

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him how long will you keep us in suspense if you are the Christ. Tell us plainly and we just heard the passage read classic passage. Verse 28 I give them eternal life.

They will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the father's hand. I and the father are one.

Crisis of making explicit what they felt was implicit before in our text. And what is their response there? Then the second part of John 10 will see it's the same flow as the first part of John 10. Verse 31 the Jews picked up stones again to stone him.

Jesus answered them. I've shown you many good words from the father. For which of them are you going to stone me? The Jews answered him it is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy.

Because you being a man make yourself God. This was John's intent here in chapter 10 two parts. Ending in those words that we're going to look at in more detail in verses 17 and 18. There was a division and now they said show us who you really are.

Tell us plainly. Okay, I am the father of one. They wanted to stone them. Because he was claiming deity for himself. But these words are also important not only because it shows us the divisiveness that it brought shows us the flow of chapter 10.

But these words of Christ in 17 and 18, they're consistent with John's intent. John chapter 20 he says now Jesus did many other signs. Miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book, but these are written.

There's eight if we trace the book of John so that you may believe. Purpose statement that Jesus is the Christ The Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name. The purpose of John is not just to believe.

I love Warren Worsby's Kind of outline of John's books. John is in one word to remember believe. First John is be sure Revelation is be ready. It is to believe but it's not just to believe it's the object of faith.

I was talking with someone recently helping them with their testimony and we're talking about how well they were saying to me how somebody has faith in Education somebody has faith in religion and I have faith.

I just happen to have faith in Jesus. Well, the emphasis there is not on the object of faith. Obviously, it's that you have faith in one thing. No John's point is that he's trying to show who Jesus is that you may believe the object that Jesus is the Christ.

Who the Son of God his deity? And one of the ways Jesus highlighted that throughout the gospel of John is to talk about his eternal relationship with a father. It's almost like Hebrews 1. Yes, there are miraculous signs that John highlighted to prove the deity of Christ, but Jesus in his words Consistently talks about his relationship with the father.

Going back to our text notice in verse 17. Some of the things he says about the father and the son. For this reason the father what? Loves me verse 18 this charge. I've received from my father. Verse 15 just as the father knows me and I know the father.

Verse 29 my father who has given them referring to the sheep to me and then verse 36 of our chapter 10 him whom the father consecrated and sent into The world actually that's one of Jesus favorites. Throughout the gospel of John the father who sent me he says it over and over again.

John 524 he who believes he were here's my word and believes him who sent me in his high priestly prayer. He says the same thing and this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you sent and by relating his relationship the second member of the Trinity the son to the father.

He's highlighting his deity. The Jews understood that because in John 518 It says this was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him because not only was he breaking the Sabbath. But he was even calling God his own father making himself equal with God.

The Four Reasons the Father Loves the Son

Well, let's look at our two verses the ones that brought Such division amongst the people and I want to highlight tonight. The reasons why the father loves the son. From the words of Christ, I'll give you four simple words to help us.

Remember. The first reason is sacrifice. Sacrifice the father the first member of the triune God loves the son the second member of the triune God because of the sons Perfect and to use the terms of Hebrews once for all sacrifice.

He says it clearly right in verse 17 for this reason Jesus says the father loves me for what reason. Because I lay down my Life, it's sacrificial language and he says it again in verse 18. No more. No less than twice.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down Sacrifice and That is why even when the Apostle John begins this gospel and introduces John the Baptist. What a John the Baptist say chapter 1 verse 29 behold the Lamb of God the sacrificial lamb of God.

The father loves the son because of the son's perfect sacrifice question. Why is the son willing to sacrifice? We'll see from the context because he is the Good Shepherd. Only he is the Good Shepherd and therefore only he cares for the sheep.

Look with me at the context beginning in verse 11. To show the care of the Good Shepherd for the sheep Jesus says I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd and here's a sacrificial language again lays down his life for the sheep.

He who is a hard hand and not a shepherd who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming. Leaves the sheep and flees and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hard hand and listen to this and cares nothing for the sheep.

I Am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Just as the father knows me and I know the father and lay down my life for the sheep over and over and over again. Sacrificial language the father loves me because I laid down my life for the sheep.

Why. Because as the Good Shepherd I care for the sheep. I'm not like a hard hand. Now, of course when The Jews are listening to this they might be thinking of Psalm 23. But because Christ is highlighting and contrasting the difference here.

I think they're also thinking of something else. Jesus also highlighted this in Luke chapter 15 where Luke writes this. What man of you having a hundred sheep if he has lost one of them does not leave the 99 in the open country.

Go after the one that is lost until he finds it when he has found it He lays it on his shoulders rejoicing and when he comes home He calls together his friends and his neighbors saying to them rejoice with me for I found my sheep.

That was lost. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He alone cares for the sheep. Unlike those that are hard hands. Turn with me for a moment to Ezekiel chapter 34. The Jews as they're listening to the words of Christ here as The Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep unlike the hard hand who cares nothing for the sheep.

Christ might have had this in mind. They must have been thinking of the Prophet Ezekiel chapter 34. Verses 2 and 3 and here you will see notice the language. This is God's indictment of the shepherds.

Because they were not feeding the sheep. They were feeding themselves. Verse 2 son of man prophesy. Not for the shepherds against the shepherds of Israel prophesy and say to them even to the shepherds.

Thus says the Lord God our shepherds of Israel who have been feeding. Yourselves should not shepherds feed the sheep. You eat the fat you clothe yourselves with the wool you slaughter the fat ones but you do not feed the sheep as I live declares the Lord God surely because my sheep have become a prey and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts.

Since there was no shepherd and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep. But the shepherds have fed themselves and have not fed my sheep. Verse 9 therefore you shepherds hear the word of the Lord.

Thus says the Lord God behold I am against the shepherds and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their. Feeding the sheep no longer show the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths that they may not be food for them.

God Made it very clear that he was against those shepherds who were not the true shepherds because they were feeding themselves. Not the sheep not so for not so with Christ the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.

You can't get away from the sacrificial language in John 10 as much as you try. Many have tried. Margaret Miles and Meredith professor of historical theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

That's a mouthful. She wrote an article called God's love Mother's milk and her thesis was that the ultimate symbol of God's love is not the cross but a nursing mother. And she says and I quote. That the the cross is not the symbol of God's love because it presents a violent act as salvific.

To her the cross is a violent act and it represents it. Represents it as salvific. Therefore. It cannot be a demonstration of God's love. She might think so. But Hebrews 922 tells us that without the shedding of blood There is no forgiveness of sins.

She Continues and says in the article the equation quote of love with heroic violence and suffering is typically a male centered perspective. She might say it's a male centered perspective. But the man Christ Jesus said in John 15 13 that greater love has no one than this.

That someone laid down his life for his friends. Christ said it himself. The reason the father loves me is because of my sacrifice. I laid down my life. But notice in our text verse 17 the second part.

For this reason the father loves me because I laid down my life. Here's a purpose clause in a clause that why I may take it up again. Does it end there? Of course not. He sacrificed why so that he might be risen from the dead.

You looked at the apostolic preaching in the book of Acts. It's always the death and resurrection of Christ and in many ways they highlight the resurrection even more. So quote him back to the Old Testament.

That is the gospel, right? Is it not? I was talking with a family member recently and they went to Some kind of funeral in an orthodox church and we're highlighting how great the words that the priest said.

What did the priest say? I said he said we should love the Lord our God with all our heart soul mind and strength and our neighbor as ourself great. Is it in the Bible? Yes, but did he teach the gospel preach the gospel?

Of course not because he doesn't know the gospel in the first place. He laid down his life First Corinthians 15 for our sins that I may take it up again, and he doesn't say it only once verse 18. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord.

I have authority to lay it down. That's the crucifixion and I have authority to take it up again. That's the resurrection. The father loves the son first and foremost because of the son's sacrifice number two.

The Father Loves the Son as Our Substitute

Second keyword substitute. The father loves the son because the son was our substitute our substitute. Notice verses 11 and 15, which I read earlier. The Good Shepherd verse 11 lays down his life and here's the key phrase for the sheep verse 15.

Just as the father knows me and I know the father and I laid down my life for the sheep. There's probably no more important. I shall and say word of course in the Bible, but preposition in the New Testament.

Where we base one of our solid foundational doctrines the doctrine of substitutionary atonement than this word for. In the Greek, there are two words that are used for the word for one of them is the word on D.

Which literally means in the place of somebody else instead of You me. For example in Matthew 20 verse 28 Jesus says even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many in the place of in the stead of.

But there's another Greek word used for the term for and that's a word eat bed, which means literally on behalf of. One reference that helps us understand. 1st Timothy chapter 2 of verse 1. Paul says first of all then I urge that supplications prayers Intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people on behalf of all people.

That's the word that's used here. He bet on behalf of. In a treatise on the grammar of the New Testament Weiner writes this quote. In most cases one who acts on behalf of that's a bed the one that's used here.

One who acts on behalf of another appears for him in the hands. Eat bed borders on Andy which means instead of. This is substitutionary language. Leon Morris wrote this in the cross in the New Testament quote.

Christ took our place. I Realized that the significance of sacrifice is widely disputed in that. There are some who reject any substitutionary Aspect. I can only state dogmatically that in my judgment sacrifice cannot be satisfactorily understood without including an aspect of substitution.

Sacrifice cannot be satisfactorily understood without including an aspect of substitution and he finishes by saying in Christ died as our Sacrifice he died accordingly as our Substitute. This is substitutionary atonement.

But not only the substitutionary atonement. There's another kind of atonement that we see here from the same phrase in verses 11 and 15. Christ laid down his life for as a substitute for the sheep who are the sheep.

The sheep represent believers. Goats represent non-believers. Matthew 25. When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.

He will place his sheep on his right the goats on the left. Then the king will say to those on his right come you who are blessed by my father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Then he will say to those on his left Depart from me you cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. He lays down his life for the sheep not for the goats. As we reminded again this morning, it's not all without Exception.

But it's all without distinction Jews and Gentiles alike. A few years ago, I had the privileged opportunity as I met up with a Friend of mine. We grew up together and we both have children. His children are much older than mine.

I had the privilege of talking with his son about some of the biblical doctrines of grace and his son was really excited about it and the Lord graciously opened his eyes to the truth and then again we hooked up again this past summer and His son says to me a little bit older now.

I said, well, what about John 3 16? I said, that's a great question. What about John 3 16? I? Said but would you agree with me that it has to be taken into context? He says sure. I said good your father's been teaching you pretty well.

Let's look at verse 17. John 3 16 for God so loved the world right. John verse 17 for God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world. But to save the world through him. Let's assume let's take your interpretation that the world means every single human being who has ever lived.

Therefore verse 17 means that God's Eternal purpose is that he sent Jesus the first time not to condemn everybody but to save everybody. If that's correct, then you have one or two options either you believe in Universalism that everyone's gonna go to heaven which kind of places a big question mark on why Jesus taught about hell so much.

But secondly, I said, do you believe that God is sovereign? He said of course he is then God somehow his plan a failed. So he has to resort to plan B because the text tells us that is what was his plan from the beginning?

He was so excited about these truths that he went and told his uncle about him and his uncle who? Was looking at him kind of dumbfound. He says, where did you learn these truths? And though I'm not physically his uncle.

He said from uncle Harry. He says what does uncle Harry know? He couldn't even keep his own church together. Hmm. Well, I guess therefore if you have a large Building and you have many people a la Joel Osteen.

That's the criteria that somebody's teaching the truth Pink the sovereignty of God. To say that God the Father has purposed the salvation of all mankind that God the Son died with the express intention of saving the entire human race and That God the Holy Spirit is now seeking to win the world to Christ when as a matter of common observation It is apparent that the great majority of our fellow men are dying in sin and passing into a hopeless eternity Is to say that God the Father is Disappointed that God the Son is Dissatisfied and that God the Holy Spirit is Defeated.

Well, wait a second. You say you might think What does it have to do with this morning's message that we are not to be like Jonah. This sounds like we are to be like Jonah if God has already Selected a specific group and he's dying only for the sheep.

What does it do to our evangelistic efforts? I'll tell you what it does to them. It fuels the fire it ought to it did for the Apostle Paul. Did it not in Romans 9 when Paul talked about the doctrine of election and here we're talking about this doctrine Paul said that it is by the God Sovereign grace.

Neither you nor I. Whatever choose God on our own. But before he says all that like bookends. He says at the beginning of chapter 9 of Romans, I wish that I was a curse damn to hell for the sake of my brethren and At the end of that section He says in chapter 10 verse 1 of Romans my heart's desire and prayer for them for Israel is that they would be saved.

It adds fuel to the fire. So when Christ is here in our text, this is substitutionary language. I died for the sheep in their place instead of them and I died for the sheep. We usually refer to it as limited atonement.

It might not be such the best explanation, but How about definite atonement. The atonement of Christ on the cross had a definite? Intent it wasn't plausible. He died for the sheep and because of his substitutionary death the father loves the son.

The Father's Love for the Son in His Sovereign Death

Third. Not only because of his sacrifice not only because he was a substitute but third keyword sovereignty. Look at the language of sovereignty here. The father loves the son because in his death we see his sovereignty.

The son's sovereignty verse 18. No one takes it from me no one but I Lay it down of my own accord. Of my own accord in the Greek is I myself do this. He's saying it twice. It's almost bad English if we were literally write it as it is I Lay it down.

I myself I Have authority continues in verse 18 to lay it down and I have authority to take it up. Sovereignty after all is authority. In here is authority is specifically related to his death and because of that the father loves him.

I Think of the Conversation that Jesus had with Pilate in John 19. Pilate said to him You will not speak to me. Do you not know that? I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you. Jesus answered him you would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.

No one takes it from me. Not Pilate. Not the Jews. Not anyone. And because Christ was sovereign in laying down his life by his own will the father loves him. And Finally Number one his sacrifice number two is substitute number three because of his sovereignty and number four because of Christ's submission.

The Father's Love for the Son in His Submission to the Father

Because of the son's submission the father loves the son. The second half of verse 18 this charge I have received from My father this charge literally this command in the Greek and only. The same word form that Christ used in the verb sense in Mark 830 when Peter proclaimed Peter's great confession.

Who do people say that I am. Who do you say that I am? Passers we heard pastor elder Pradeep preached a few weeks ago. You're the Christ the Son of the Living God. And Mark 830 Jesus says to him and he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

He commanded them. Same word used here. Question Arises as to when did he receive this command, but I want to highlight his submission first throughout the gospel of John. John highlights this submission of the Son to the Father in obedience to the command that he received to go and Accomplish his work of atonement.

John 434. Jesus said to them My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. John 530. I can do nothing on my own as I hear I judge and my judgment is just Because I seek not my own will.

But the will of him who sent me. John 638 for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will Of him who sent me. John 1431. I do as the father has Commanded me. Why. So that the world may know that I love the father in John 17 for in his great high priestly prayer I glorified you on earth.

How having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. Submission to the charge the command of the father. The father loves the son because of his Submission. The writer of Hebrews highlights the submission of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember pastor my preaching on this back in 2010 a two-part series. What did Jesus say before he was born? Do you remember that don't make me test you. Hebrews 10. Consequently when Christ came into the world, he said Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired but a body have you prepared for me in burnt offerings and sin offerings.

You have taken no pleasure. Then. I said the son talking to the father behold I have come to do your will. Oh God. It's the language before his incarnation. This Charge that Christ talks about in our text happened from eternity past.