The Shepherd

Q: What does the Bible say about Jesus as our shepherd?

The Bible teaches that Jesus is both our Good Shepherd and our Great Shepherd, guiding and protecting His sheep. In 1 Peter 2:25, we see that Christ is described as the shepherd and bishop of our souls. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, prophets and apostles emphasize that Jesus is our shepherd who seeks, saves, and cares for His flock. Isaiah 40:11 depicts Him as one who feeds His flock and carries lambs in His arms, while in John 10:11, He explicitly states, 'I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.' This illustrates His role in providing redemption and care for His people.

Q: How do we know Jesus' substitutionary atonement is true?

Jesus' substitutionary atonement is a core tenet of the gospel, affirmed by His suffering and death for our sins. The doctrine of substitutionary atonement is essential to Christian theology, resting on scriptures like 1 Peter 2:24, which says, 'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' This means Christ took our sins upon Himself, offering Himself as a substitute to satisfy God's justice. The resurrection and ascension of Christ further validate His role as the Great Shepherd, proving that His sacrifice was effective in securing redemption for His sheep (Hebrews 13:20). The distinctiveness of this atonement is that Christ specifically died for the elect — those whom the Father gave Him. Thus, His death was not in vain, but effectual for God's chosen people.

Q: Why is Jesus' sinlessness important for salvation?

Jesus' sinlessness is crucial as it qualified Him to be the perfect substitute for our sins. The sinlessness of Christ is vital for our salvation because only a perfect and holy Savior can atone for sin. 1 Peter 2:22 states, 'Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.' If Jesus had any sin, He would not be a suitable sacrifice. His purity allows Him to bear the wrath of God on our behalf, establishing righteousness for us. This necessity underscores the Christian doctrine that a sinful substitute is of no avail for salvation. Thus, Jesus’ sinless life validates His position as both the Good Shepherd and the perfect Sacrifice, enabling Him to save those who come to God through Him.

Q: How is Jesus the Chief Shepherd in His return?

Jesus is the Chief Shepherd who will return in glory to gather and reward His sheep. The concept of Jesus as the Chief Shepherd is crucial in understanding the culmination of His redemptive work. 1 Peter 5:4 states, 'And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.' This not only assures believers of Jesus' triumph in His second coming but also emphasizes the reward for those who have followed Him faithfully. His return signifies the final gathering of all His elect, fully conformed to His image and presented as blameless before the Father. This eschatological hope encourages the faithful to persevere and trust in Christ as their ultimate Shepherd, who is coming to complete the work of salvation.

I want you to turn with me please to 1 Peter, 1 Peter chapter 2. My subject this morning, and again tonight, is the shepherd and the sheep. This morning I will God will enable me to set before you what the word of God teaches concerning Christ, our shepherd. And then tonight, I'll show you some of the things called in the scriptures about the sheep.

Here in 1 Peter 2 and verse 25, we read, for ye were as sheep going astray. but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. How blessed, how delightful, how comforting. The Lord Jesus Christ is our shepherd and all God's elect are his sheep.

Now let's look at what the scripture tells us about this shepherd. I want to show you some of the characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ as the shepherd as they're set forth in the Word of God.

Throughout the Old Testament scriptures, throughout the Old Testament scriptures, it was prophesied that Messiah, the Son of God, our Redeemer, would come into this world as a man. And we were told that one characteristic of his work of redemption would be that of a shepherd buying seeking and gathering his sheep.

The prophet Isaiah, if you want to jot these references down and look at them later, you can. The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 40 in verse 11 said, he shall feed his flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom. Later on in chapter 49 in verse 10, the prophet said, when Christ comes into this world to be our shepherd, They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them. For he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

And the prophet Ezekiel speaks much the same way. In Ezekiel 34, beginning at verse 11, the scripture says, behold, I, even I will both search my sheep and seek them out. Therefore will I save my flock, and I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David, that is, my servant the Lord Jesus Christ, he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And then in Ezekiel 37, the Lord declares, my servant shall be king over them. and they shall all have one shepherd, and they also shall walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

" Now, when the psalmist David meditated upon the fact that Jesus Christ would come into this world, that the Son of God would assume our nature, and that he would assume all responsibilities, and exercise all care over his sheep as the shepherd, David said, the Lord is my shepherd. With the Lord God Jehovah himself as my shepherd, I shall not want. I shall not want for any good thing. I shall not want for anything that God requires of his sheep, for God himself is my shepherd.

And then in the New Testament, there are three adjectives that are used to set forth the characteristics of Christ as our shepherd. In John chapter 10 in verse 11, our Lord Jesus Christ calls himself the Good Shepherd. He says, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Now in that 10th chapter of John, our Lord is talking about his work of redemption and salvation. He is telling us that he is the Good Shepherd in the matter of redemption.

In Hebrews 13 and verse 20, the Holy Spirit describes our Savior as the Great Shepherd. In that place, the context is talking about our Lord's resurrection, His glory, and the security and preservation of God's elect by His almighty hands. He tells us that in His resurrection, He is the Great Shepherd. And then in 1 Peter 5 and verse 4, the Apostle says, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Peter is describing our Lord's glorious second advent and our ultimate, complete glorification by His grace.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, then, is the Good Shepherd in His redemption, the Great Shepherd in His resurrection, and the Chief Shepherd in His return. These three adjectives are used by the Spirit of God with purpose. They are never, in the Word of God, mixed together, mingled, or interchanged. They're always distinctive, for they teach distinctive truths and distinctive characteristics regarding our shepherd.

First then, I want you to turn to John chapter 10. John the 10th chapter. Let's look at these three adjectives which describe our Lord Jesus Christ as our shepherd. Hold your fingers here in 1 Peter 2, we'll be right back there. But in John chapter 10 and verse 11, the Lord Jesus Christ declares, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. In verse 14, I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.

In redemption, in the salvation of our souls, The Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. Now the Apostle Peter takes this theme up in 1 Peter chapter 2. Look with me if you will at verse 21. Peter describes for us in these verses the work of Christ as our Good Shepherd. He tells us what Jesus Christ is in the redemption of his people as the Shepherd. Look in verse 21. For even here unto word ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow in his steps.

The good shepherd, then, is first of all the suffering shepherd. Now here Peter speaks of our calling. He says, for even here unto word ye called. We have been effectually, irresistibly called by the grace of God to eternal life and faith in Jesus Christ. We have been called to salvation. And in a word, we are called by our God not only to live with Christ, but also to suffer with Christ. In this passage, Peter is talking about suffering. He's talking about the suffering of Jesus Christ himself. And as our Lord Jesus suffered for us, we are called upon to suffer in this world as his disciples.

Turn over to Philippians chapter 1. Or you can just hold your place there in 1 Peter. I'll read it to you. Philippians chapter 1 in verse 29. There are many in this world who suppose that when a believer is when a man or woman is given faith in Christ, when we're made believers in Christ, when we're born again by God's Spirit, then everything in the world becomes rosy, and everything becomes good, and everything becomes peaceful. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many are of the opinion that if you have faith enough, you'll have all the money you want, you'll always be in good health, you'll always have prosperity, you'll always have peace. Nothing could be further from the truth. in this world as surely as we are called to life, we are called to suffer. Now that's what the scripture teaches. Look here in Philippians 1 and verse 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ. Look at that. In the behalf of Christ. That is, it's given to you for Christ's sake, for his honor, for his namesake, in his cause, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Here then is our calling. We are called of God to life in Christ, but so long as we live in this world, this life in Christ shall be a life of sorrow and a life of suffering.

Now that's not to suggest that the believer's life is morbid. That's not to suggest that the believer's life is a life of gloominess and despair. We live in the light of God's truth. And we rejoice in Jesus Christ our Savior.

But in this physical world God's saints suffer. All of them suffer. Suffer for Christ's sake. Suffer for the glory of Christ. Suffer under the hand of God's providence. Suffer as righteous men in an evil world. Suffer as believing men in an unbelieving world. Suffer as the righteous believers and followers of Christ in a world that despises the truth of Jesus Christ.

We are called upon to suffer many things by the hand of our God and the providence of our God that all others in the world escape. For we suffer as believers under the hand of our Heavenly Father who rules the universe.

The children of God in this world are called upon to suffer. The scripture tells us plainly that if we suffer, we shall also reign with Christ. It is not possible to follow Christ without suffering. It's not possible in this world for a man to be his disciple, but he take up his cross and follow the Lord Jesus Christ daily.

The Apostle Peter over in chapter four and verse 16 says, if any man suffer as a Christian, That is, suffer not because he's contemptuous. Suffer not because he's done people wrong. Suffer not because he's hard-hearted. But if any man suffer as a Christian, as a follower of Christ, let him not be ashamed.

Don't be ashamed, Job, because you set upon the ashes. Don't be ashamed because you go to the graveyard. Don't be ashamed because you suffer under the hand of God's providence. Don't be ashamed because you suffer from the hands of wicked men. Let him not be ashamed, but rather let him glorify God, look at it, on this day. Glorify God because of the suffering.

Your suffering gives you an opportunity, peculiarly, in a peculiar circumstance, to glorify God. It's easy enough to glorify Him when everything goes well, or to pretend to. It's easy enough to glorify Him when when all the children are sitting at the table and their home is happy and unbroken and delightful. Or pretend to. It's easy enough to glorify Him when the bank and the economy is secured and you have a good job and you've got everything coming your way and everything's going the way you want. It's easy enough at least to pretend to glorify Him.

But when you're called upon in God's good, wise, adorable providence to suffer some particular thing Then you have a peculiar opportunity to glorify God. Then glorify Him on this behalf.

You see, that which we suffer as Christians, we suffer in this world from Jesus Christ. He's the one who sends it. He's the one who's in control of it. So whatever it is you or I suffer, we suffer from His hand. according to His purpose, according to His wisdom, according to His goodness. He's the one who rules the universe, not the devil, not luck, not fate, not blind chance. We're in a world ruled by our Savior.

So whatever we suffer, our Savior sends us. We suffer from Him. Whatever we suffer in this world, we suffer with Christ. He's touched with the feeling of our eternity. He's touched Listen to me now. God, in the essence of his being, God, in the essence of his being as God, could never be touched with what you feel. He could never be. For he's God. He's not a man like we are. But God, in human flesh, even as he sits upon the throne of glory, is touched with that which we suffer. We suffer with Christ. And that which we suffer in this world as believers, we suffer for Christ. We suffer for his honor, for his namesake, for his glory, for the accomplishment of his will, for the accomplishment of his purpose. This is a great honor indeed. So let us glorify God in all that we may be called upon to suffer in this world as the children of God.

Here is also our rule of life in verse 21 again. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also hath suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow in his steps."

Now, the believer is not a person who lives by the rule of religious custom. He is not a person who lives by the rule of his own conscience. He's not even a person who lives by the rule of the Mosaic Law. Believers are men and women who live by the rule of Jesus Christ. They are followers of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ left us an example. so that in this world he lived as a man showing us how men and women who follow him are to live in this world. You want to know how to live? Look up Jesus Christ. You want to know how to live as a son, as a father, how to live in this world as a believer in business and worldly association? Look up Jesus Christ and follow him and forget, God help you to forget, the religious customs and the religious laws of the day and follow Christ. Don't follow Christ or don't pretend to follow Christ while following men. Don't pretend to follow Christ while following after a legalistic, self-righteous, mean spirit. But follow Christ. Follow Christ in faith. Follow Christ in love. Follow Christ in righteousness. Follow Christ in seeking the glory of God. Follow Christ. That's the believer's rule of life. We follow his word, we follow his example, and we follow his spirit.

But the primary thing to be seen in this verse is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, is the Suffering Shepherd. Look at what he says, Christ also hath suffered for us. Were he not the Suffering Shepherd, he would never be the Shepherd at all. Were he not the Suffering Shepherd, we would never be his sheep. apart from the sufferings of Christ, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, having fully suffered the wrath of God, so that he suffered in his own soul, he suffered in his own body, he suffered in his own mind and in his own heart, the full horrible wrath of God Almighty to the full satisfaction of divine justice. He suffered all our hell. He suffered all our terror. He suffered all our judgment. Had He not done so, there could be no salvation. There'd be no possible way for God in His holiness, for God in His justice, for God in His truth to be merciful to sinners.

You remember what we had in our Sunday school lesson this morning. David said, Lord, you forgive me. You restore to me the joy of your salvation. You purge me. You cleanse me. You blot out my transgressions, and I will declare unto men thy righteousness. Well, what's he talking about? Looks like he can declare his grace. Looks like He can declare His love. Looks like He can declare His goodness. All of those things are seen. But the chief principle primary thing to be seen in the death of Jesus Christ is the righteousness and the justice of God Almighty. Jesus Christ died at Calvary so that God in His justice might blot out our sins. So that God in His righteousness might be merciful to us. God in heaven God cannot forgive sin like I forgive faith for doing wrong. He can't do it. It's not possible. God can't pull up the corner of the rug, sweep it under the carpet and say, well, you know, that's not too bad, we'll forget about that. He can't do it. Because God's just. God's righteous. God's true. God said, the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Well, how on earth can God be true to his law and still forgive his people? Only in Jesus Christ Jesus Christ took our sins upon himself and God Almighty making his son to be sin for us poured out his wrath upon his son and And having satisfied his wrath and his justice in the punishment of sin in the person of Jesus Christ, his Son, God now looks upon us with favor, and looks upon us with delight, and looks upon us with satisfaction, for he imputes to us the very righteousness of Christ.

If Christ had not died, we could never have been made alive. Had Christ not suffered the curse of the law for us, we could never have been freed from that curse. Had the Son of God not shed his blood unto death, he could never have obtained eternal redemption for us. Had the Good Shepherd not suffered for us, he could never have saved us.

But, listen to me, listen to me, since Jesus Christ has suffered the wrath of God in our stead, Since He has died in our place, all for whom He suffered must be saved. That's right. Jesus Christ, the God-man, suffers in the place of sinners. Now, you find me the sinners for whom Christ suffered, and I tell you that God in justice can't charge them with sin. He can't do it. He can't do it. God charged our sins to His Son. God punished our sins in His Son. God satisfied His justice against us in His Son. And now God in justice cannot punish our sins again. He can't do it.

Next, the good shepherd is also the sinless shepherd. Look in verse 22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. He knew no sin. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Had Jesus Christ not been the sinless shepherd, he could not be the good shepherd. Had he not been altogether without sin, he could not have atoned for our sins. He could not have been our substitute. But since he is without sin, since he is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, he is a suitable substitute for sinners. He is able to save all them that come to God by him.

Now, this is so very important. There are lots of times people don't understand the subtleties of various forms of heresy. Of course, sometimes the heresy is just blatant. But when men and women begin to put questions upon the sinless nature of Jesus Christ, and the sinless life of Jesus Christ. What they do is they declare that he cannot be a savior. They declare he cannot be a substitute. You see, a sinful man might be a good reformer. A sinful man might be a good preacher. A sinful man might be a good leader. A sinful man might be a noble figure in history. But a sinful man can never be a redeeming man. A sinful man can never be a saving man.

Men talk about the Lord Jesus Christ as though indeed he were not virgin born, but rather that he was born like all others with their earthly father and that he's made to be the son of God only by divine declaration and by divine decree. Then what they're saying is that he's born a sinner and a sinner is useless to us. A sinner is useless in the matter of salvation. They tell us that Jesus Christ lived in this world and He experienced lust like other men experience. Oh, no, He didn't commit anything evil, but He experienced it and He dreamed it and He imagined it in His mind. They're telling us He's a sinner. And a sinful Savior is a useless Savior. A sinful Savior can do nothing for men. Pay no attention to the blasphemies of men.

You see, our Lord Jesus, true, He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. Yet, he did no sin. He experienced temptation in all points of life as we are, but he never knew sin. Never. Sin never crossed his mind as an activity. Sin never was in his heart. Sin never was in his lips. Sin never was in his nature. Our Lord Jesus had no original sin. He had no personal sin. He had no actual sin. And yet this holy sinless one was made to be sin for us by divine imputation. That's all the sin he ever had, Merle. Yours. That's all. He never had any of it. He never. But he experienced our sin. He experienced our sin so much so that his soul, his very soul was made to be sin. God imputed our sin to him. God imputed all the sin of all his elect to the sinless substitute. And when he was legally constituted sin, God killed him. And he did that so that he might impute his righteousness to all his people. We're made righteous just like Christ was made sin.

I wish I could get this across. If I could get this one thing across, men who hear me preach and understand the gospel. How on earth can sinners be made righteous? Well, you got to do something. No, forget that. You can't do anything righteous. What are you going to do good? You're a polluted source, and a polluted source can't bring forth anything good. What are you going to do good? Say, well, I'll read. Your reading's corrupt. Well, I'll pray. Your praying's corrupt. Well, I'll repent. Your repenting's corrupt. What are you going to do that's good? You're made righteous exactly like Jesus Christ was made sin. He never did a thing. He didn't do anything evil. He never experienced sin. He never tasted sin. He never did sin. But he was made sin by divine imputation without any works of his own. And we're made righteous by divine imputation without any works of our own. That's the only way he could be made sin. And that's the only way sinners can be made righteous. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

And then thirdly, Peter tells us that the good shepherd is the submissive shepherd. Look in verse 23. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not. But, look at it, committed himself. to him that judgeth righteously.

The Lord Jesus Christ submitted himself to God his father in all things as the shepherd. He submitted himself in all things. There's no subordination within the eternal Godhead, you know that. The three persons of the Holy Trinity are eternally, immutably equal in all things. But in order to redeem and save his sheep, the Son of God agreed to become one of us. He willingly, voluntarily assumed all responsibility for his sheep. And in his office capacity as our mediator, Jesus Christ submitted himself to the will of God as our Good Shepherd

Hold your hand here in first Peter and turn back to John 10. I want you to see this John chapter 10 Now we're talking about this voluntary subordination this voluntary submission of Christ to the Father in verse 17 he says therefore Doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again?

Well, now wait just a minute. Did the Father not eternally love the Son? Well, certainly He did. He says in John 17, Thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. Did the Father not always delight in the Son? Certainly He did. He said when He was baptized, this is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased. He said on the Mount of Transfiguration, this is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased. You pay attention to Him. Hear Him. Hear Him. I'm pleased with Him.

But now the Savior says, therefore, that is for this cause, does my Father love me? Why? because I lay down my life that I might take it again. That is, as the shepherd, as the mediator, as the substitute, as the surety, as the savior of my people, as the God-man savior, the Father delights in me, the Father loves me because of my willing, voluntary submission and obedience to Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is the submissive shepherd. He submitted himself to the will of God before the foundation of the world in the covenant of grace, and he became the servant of Jehovah.

Let me give you some scripture references. You read Isaiah 50, verses 5 through 7. And then in Psalm 40, the Lord said, Sacrifice an offering thou wouldest not. The body hast thou prepared me, and sacrifices, and burnt offering, and offering for sin. God had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come, and the volume of the book is written to me. I delight to do thy will, O my God. Now that was spoken before the world began. That was spoken by Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world when in the covenant of grace he agreed to become our shepherd. He said, Father, I'm coming. I'm coming to do thy will. My purpose in my incarnation is to do thy will in the redemption of my people.

And then when our Lord Jesus was actually coming into the world, Hebrews chapter 10, verses 5 through 10, when he was actually coming into the world. The apostle says, when he cometh into the world. That is, at the very precise moment when the Lord God our Savior was conceived in the womb of the virgin by the Spirit of God as he was coming from the lofty throne of heaven into the virgin's womb, he said, lo, I come to do thy will, O my God. He says, now I'm coming to do what I promised to do. He submitted to the Father's will.

Do you know what our Lord's first words were? The first recorded words of the Son of God. Any idea what they were? Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter First thing he said, he said, I've come to do my father's bidding. I've come to do my father's, I've come to do what my father told me to do. I've come to be a voluntary, submissive servant to accomplish my father's will. And our Savior submitted himself to the will of God. When he set his face like a flint to go up to Jerusalem, there to suffer and die as a substitute under the wrath of God for our sins.

You remember how he prayed, now is my soul troubled. But what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? Oh no, no. For this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. When he was in Gethsemane, he cried three times, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, thy will be done. That's voluntary submission.

The Lord Jesus Christ willingly, voluntarily gave himself as a victim, a willing victim, a voluntary substitute, an unconstrained, unforced sacrifice to die in the place of sinners. He did it because he loved us. That's all. The Son of God from old eternity said, Father, I'll go do your will. I'll do your will set forth in the covenant. I'll do your will, the purpose of your eternal counsels. I'll do your will. And then he came down to the very last of it and he says by the Apostle Paul, now by this will we're sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. By his obedience from the throne back to the throne, we're sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And then Peter tells us that the good shepherd is the substitutionary shepherd, look at verse 24, who his own self, his own self, bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, dead to its penalty, dead to its consequence, dead to its power, Being dead to sin should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes we are healed. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. He did not say, I am the good shepherd, I lay down my life. He said, I am the good shepherd, I lay down my life for the sheep.

Now hear me well. Hear me well. Pay attention. Write it down. If you haven't before, write it down and remember it. Substitution. Substitution is the gospel. Now that's the gospel. That's the gospel. If you do not know anything about substitution, you do not know anything about God, You do not know anything about Christ. You do not know anything about salvation. You do not know anything about the gospel. That's right. That's right.

Isaiah 53 tells us about a substitute. A substitute who is our God. A substitute who is our Savior. A substitute by whose stripes we are healed. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. The Lord God made his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our substitute. The Lord made his soul an offering for sin. And he, being made to be sin for us, shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. And by his knowledge shall God's righteous servant justify every sinner for whom he suffered and died.

The Lord Jesus Christ is an able substitute, a willing substitute, a legal substitute, a satisfactory substitute, and an effectual substitute. What does that mean? That means that he's the substitute God appointed. That means he's a substitute sufficient to satisfy and who has effectually satisfied the justice of God for sinners, and he's a substitute for whom and by whom all those for whom he died are effectually redeemed.

Jesus Christ is a substitute. Well, sounds to me like you're going to get on that doctrine of particular redemption again. You can bet your boots. Yes, we do most assuredly believe the doctrine of limited atonement. I stress limited atonement because our many and free willers like that the least. We do most particularly believe the doctrine of limited atonement. Jesus Christ did not die for nothing. The Son of God did not shed his blood in vain. The scope, the object, the purpose, the goal, the benefits of Christ's atonement are limited to God's elect. His precious blood made a definite satisfaction and a complete atonement for the sins of His people. Christ died for those who were actually saved by His blood. The Good Shepherd did not lay down His life for goats. He did not lay down His life for any but His sheep.

He says that so plainly in John chapter 10, our Lord Our Lord's talking about this as I lay down my life for the sheep. I know the sheep. I love the sheep. I give myself for the sheep. I call the sheep. The sheep follow me. And a bunch of self-righteous Pharisees, we don't like that. That's not Pharisee. I wasn't talking to you. You're not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them. They follow me. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.

The Word of God nowhere suggests The crazy, absurd notion that Jesus Christ died to save men who die in hell, who perish and suffer the wrath of God in hell. The good shepherd laid down his life for the sheep. That's the language of the Bible. I defy anyone to find other language.

So, well, Pastor, why be so tenacious? Why be so insistent upon this point of effectual substitution? There can be no compromise here. because this is the place where the glory of God and the souls of men are at stake in our day. To preach universal atonement, now follow me, to preach universal atonement, to say that Jesus Christ died for men who suffer the wrath of God in hell is to preach a false gospel. That's right. I lay that charge at every Arminian's foot. I've laid that charge at every free willer's foot. I've laid that charge at the door of every Arminian free will church in this world. I'm saying that to preach that Jesus Christ died for men who go to hell is to preach a false gospel. For it makes the will of man, not the blood of Christ, the effectual cause of salvation and redemption. And our Lord tells us it's not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

To preach universal atonement is to preach a false Christ. For it makes the Son of God, our Redeemer, a failure. One whose blood was shed in vain for many. And the prophet says He shall not fail. To preach universal redemption is to preach a false God. A false God. I don't care what you call Him. He's a false God. For it declares that the love of God is mutable. The justice of God is perverted. And the purpose of God is frustrated.

They tell us that God loves everybody. They think it sounds so sweet, God loves everybody. What are you going to do when he sends them to hell? Huh? What are you going to do when God sends folks to hell? You're going to stand up and tell me God loves the sinner but hates his sin, so he sends them to hell. Strange way of showing it. Strange way of showing it. Is God changeable? Is God changeable? Can he love today and love tomorrow and love the next day and then suddenly in judgment become hatred? Is that possible? Why to preach such things? Preach a false God, a mutable God, a man God, a man-like God, a weak, frustrated God.

What about God's justice? Say, well, God's just. He wouldn't let his son die for one and not die for another. His justice declares that he did. His justice declares that he did. If God's just and Jesus Christ died for the whole world, then the whole world's in heaven. The whole world's saved. The whole world's forgiven. The whole world has their sins washed away. And God cannot in justice punish one sin, not one. I'm telling you that God Almighty, because He's just, will never punish sin but once, only once. He'll punish it in you or He'll punish it in the substitute, but not in two places.

What about God's purpose, His intention, His will to declare that Jesus Christ died To save and to redeem and to justify men and women who are not saved, redeemed, and justified is to declare that God's will is defeated, His purpose is frustrated, and He cannot do all His pleasure. I'm saying to preach universal atonement is to preach a false God. And to preach universal atonement is to preach a false spirit. For it declares that the Spirit of God convinces men of a lie. For when the Spirit of God comes, when He the Spirit of truth comes, He shall convince the world of sin removed. He shall convince the world of righteousness established. And He shall convince the world of judgment accomplished. But if He convinces men of that and they perish anyway, He's lied to them. He's not Spirit of truth, He's the Spirit of falsehood. We cannot tolerate such blasphemous perversions. We dare not hold our tongues while wolves in sheep's clothing seek to destroy the souls of men and rob Christ of his glory as the shepherd.

"I said, well, you're not being very nice. I don't know how to be any nicer to you or to the world than tell you the truth. I don't know how to be any nicer. I said, well, that's bigoted. That's schismatic. That's divisive. That's isolationism. That's this. Just say what you want to. God helpin' me, Oscar Bale, I'm gonna tell you the truth till I die. I'm gonna tell you the truth. I tell you the truth because your souls are at stake. I tell you the truth because the glory of God's at stake. I tell you the truth because I'm honor-bound under God to do it. Honor-bound under God to do it.

Either Jesus Christ is an effectual substitute for sinners, or you are yet in your sins, and we're of all men most miserable. No, I will not tolerate Arminianism in any form. I will not tolerate freewillism in any form. Well, you think, well, to persecute those fellows, you know better than that. No, no. But I'm not about to give them any peace. I'm not about to give them any comfort. I'm not about to take up arms with them. I'm not about to join up with God's enemies. No, sir, not going to do it.

Look once more at Peter's description of the good shepherd. He's the suffering shepherd, the sinless shepherd, the submissive shepherd, the substitutionary shepherd. But look at this next line in verse 25. Our good shepherd is also the seeking shepherd. I was saying that a little bit ago, looking at my notes, and I thought, well, maybe there's a better word for that. He's the successful seeking shepherd. Look at verse 25. Ye were as sheep going astray. That's our nature. That's our nature, always has been. You know sheep can't find their way home? Dogs can. No matter how mixed breed the dog is. Get Heinz 57 varieties, get him just absolutely mistreated, that dog will always find his way home. I'm ashamed to tell it, but one occasion I had a dog. Man, I loved that dog and hated to get rid of him. But I knew where he'd be taken care of. I knew where he'd be taken care of. And rather than killing him or paying somebody else to kill him, I took him, took him, set him off in a fellow's house and left him there. I drove around a little bit. It was a good 10 miles from the house. Good 10 miles away. I don't know how on earth he did it, but before I got home, that dog was sitting there in my yard. Sitting there in my yard.

Dog find his way home, not sheep. My daughter's got two cats. If you had any idea how much I'd like to see cats lose their way, you'd understand. I don't have any use for cats, but faith loves them. Those crazy cats find their way home. No matter where they go, they always find their way home. Goats can find their way home. I didn't realize this. I've been down in the islands in Jamaica. Man, goats run everywhere. They run all over the island. They run around like dogs do here in packs. They run everywhere. But they always find their way home. Always find their way home. Sheep, never. Never find their way home.

We went astray. That's all we know how to do, astray. But look at the next line. But are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. Notice the text does not say you have returned as though the returning was an act of your free will or a decision that you made. You know better than that. Dumb as sheep are. Dumb sheep got better sense than that. No, it does not say you have returned. Look at what it says. But now, but are now returned. It puts you passive and makes that word return something that is done to you, not something that's done by you. but are now returned. The good shepherd sought us out. The good shepherd looked us up. The good shepherd reached down his mighty hand and the good shepherd returned us unto himself. Effectually, almighty, he forced us to return. And when he causes us to return, we willingly return. When he calls, the sheep follow.

Now are you returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. Now I've got to put it in high gear and give you just two statements. Look in Hebrews 13 in verse 20. Christ is the good shepherd in redemption. But here in Hebrews 13 in verse 20, the Holy Spirit shows us that Christ is the great shepherd in his resurrection glory.

Now the God of peace the God of peace, the reconciled, satisfied, propitiated God of peace, the God who is the author of peace, the promoter of peace, the giver of peace, the God of peace that brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep. Through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect. in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever."

Now, in this passage, the apostle is telling us that the resurrected, ascended, exalted Christ is now the great shepherd. He was the good shepherd in his humiliation and redemption, but his humiliation is over. Now he's the great shepherd. He's the great shepherd in his person. He's the God-man. Great in his position. He's at the right hand of the majesty on high. Great in his power. He has total sovereignty. Great in his possessions. He has all fullness. Great in his provisions. He gives all things. But notice this. Our Lord Jesus obtained this greatness as our shepherd in his resurrection glory through the blood of the everlasting covenant. What do you reckon that means? You know what the covenant is and you know what the blood is. But why is the resurrection of Christ connected with the blood of that everlasting covenant? The answer is just this, the whole purpose of God. Now listen, the whole purpose of God in the everlasting covenant depends on one thing. Everything God promised, everything God said, everything God declared, everything God purposed, everything God gave, everything depends on one condition, one condition, the blood of Jesus Christ by whom the covenant is ratified.

And when Jesus Christ was made to be sin, he was punished as the sinner and he died. Now then, is his blood an effectual atonement for sin? Does his blood satisfy the justice of the Holy God? Let's see. Three days we walked to that tomb, and he's gone. Yes, sir, the covenant is fulfilled. Justice is satisfied. Sin has been put away. He was made to be sin. He took our sin upon himself. It became his sin. He died. He went into the tomb. Sin's gone. It's gone. It's gone. He came out of the tomb without sin. And now that he is freed from sin, he's freed from death. And we're freed from death too. Now that he's without sin, he's freed from sin, and we're freed from sin. Now that he's without sin, he's freed from the law, and we're freed from the law.

Jesus Christ, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, ascended to the throne of greatness, there to make all things perfect for his people and all things perfect in his people. So that that which is done by his people, That is what Paul speaks of here as being perfect in every good work. The completion of our lives, the maturity of our lives is the work of Jesus Christ, the great shepherd. It is the great shepherd who causes his sheep to do his will. It is the great shepherd which works in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. It is the great shepherd who shall have all the glory of his work and all the glory of his grace in us and for us. The great shepherd shall be praised for eternity because of his greatness and because of his grace.

Now one more text in 1 Peter 5. 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 4. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Here the Apostle Peter tells us that the good shepherd, the great shepherd, is the chief shepherd in his glorious second advent. I'm a little shepherd. Christ is the chief shepherd. In the kingdom of God there's only one chief. And he's Jesus Christ the Lord. All the rest of us are little peons. We're little shepherds, under-shepherds. All the apostles, prophets, all the high priests of Israel, all the messengers of God, all the teachers, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, we're little shepherds. We're under-shepherds. Christ is the chief shepherd. The shepherds are not lords, they're servants. They're not tyrants, they're examples. Christ is the chief shepherd. Soon he will appear. And when he comes, he will raise up our dead bodies, and the chief shepherd shall give to all his sheep a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

That is, we shall be perfectly, eternally, immutably conformed exactly to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ the shepherd. The Lord Jesus in old eternity agreed to become my shepherd, and he did. And the Father gave to him all his sheep. And the good shepherd said, I'll die for them. And he said, I'll become the great shepherd, and I'll save them. And I'll become the chief shepherd, and I'll gather them. And I'll present them all before your presence, holy and without blame. And in that last day, he will come and bring before the Father Not ninety and nine, but one hundred sheep. All the fold shall be presented holy and without blame before the glory of his majesty. And all the fold shall be one with the shepherd. One in heart. One in purpose. One in desire.

There you have three pictures of Christ the shepherd. Our salvation is altogether, altogether his work. He agreed to it, he accomplished it, and he applies it. He planned it, he purchased it, he performs it, he preserves it, and he will perfect it. And he will have all the praise for it. Now I bid you, one and all, trust the shepherd. God help you to trust the shepherd. Follow Him. Follow Him in faith. Follow Him in obedience. Follow Him through this world and follow Him on to glory for Christ's sake. Amen.

The Shepherd

What does the Bible say about Jesus as our shepherd?

How do we know Jesus' substitutionary atonement is true?

Why is Jesus' sinlessness important for salvation?

How is Jesus the Chief Shepherd in His return?

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The Shepherd

What does the Bible say about Jesus as our shepherd?

How do we know Jesus' substitutionary atonement is true?

Why is Jesus' sinlessness important for salvation?

How is Jesus the Chief Shepherd in His return?

Sermon Transcript

About Don Fortner

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