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So That You Have Life

the thief comes but to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that having life and having it more so (John 10:10)

The next few verses give us context of the realm of life and death that Jesus speaks of. The wolf comes, no doubt referring to Satan, he attacks the flock to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have life, he lays his life down for the sheep. The life he gives is eternal, but he said it is living water, like a fountain that gushes up unto eternal life, thus we experience life in this mortal body, unto its fullness. Jesus became flesh and blood like his brethren to save them, this is how God demonstrates his love. "I know my own and they know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14). Jesus came so that we may have life.

but you do not believe because existing not of my flock. My sheep listen to my voice and I know them and they follow, just as I give them eternal life and no not perishing... (John 10:26-27) 

We see in the previous chapter that Jesus is speaking with the Pharisees. The thief doesn't enter through the door but enters another way. But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep and the watchman allows him to enter and the sheep listen to his voice, they will never follow a stranger (John 10:1-6). Though one might call himself a shepherd, a true shepherd is distinguished by his love for the sheep, he would lay down his life for them, but a hireling will run when the wolf comes. 

no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them is more powerful than all and no one can snatch them from my Father's hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:28-29) 

Jesus said he came to do the will of the Father, that he would lose none of those the Father had given him but will raise them up, and "all those the Father gives to me will come to me and the one coming I will never eject out the door" (John 6:37-39). The word eject and "out of doors" certainly has reference to being a part of the fold, in the Father's hand. It was the decisive work of the Father to give the "sheep" to Jesus, "just as he chose us in him before creating the world... he predestined us for adoption as his own through Jesus Christ..." (Ephesians 1:3-7). And it is God's decisive will to allow no one to snatch them from His hand, or that they are ejected from the fold, as they have entered through the Door, and the promise is eternal life. "My Father has given them is more powerful than all." I take that to include He is more powerful than I, thus I can't eject myself or jump from his hands. 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

At one time we were blinded by the god of this world, we were doomed to perish, but God rich in mercy through his great love, when we were dead, made us alive in Christ. God brought us into the fold through the door, Jesus. We are of the fold, but we are to be watchful. This is what it means to be an overseer; a pastor, a shepherd is watchful over the flock, as the wolf wants to destroy the sheep. Our adversary, the devil, he tempts through the weakness of the flesh, to entice us away through fleshly desires, but remember the real goal of his luring is like a lion prowling around seeking to devour. The devil is a liar and murderer and his ultimate goal is to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus came that we might have life and have it more so.

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