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The Gate To New Life



"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  They will come in and go out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
— John 10:9-10 (NIV)

Jesus is the gate, but to where?  Jesus is the gate to eternal life with God!  Many times throughout Jesus' ministry, he told his followers that there is only one way to be saved, and that is through him.  Later, Jesus tells his listeners that, "I AM the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).  

Today's verse is another reminder of who Jesus is and what he came to do.  He isn't like the thief who only comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  Jesus came so that we may have life and have it to the full!  So what does this mean for us? If we have entered through the gate that is Jesus Christ, if we have placed our faith in him and believe that not only is he the Son of God, but that he died and rose again, then we have the promise of eternal life with him.  

There are some preachers out there that only preach the message of having life and having it to the full (this is called the Prosperity Gospel).  We are not promised to have a life without problems just for being followers of Jesus. We may get to experience life to the full at times during this life, but having that perfectly fulfilling life without the problems that come with sin is the hope that we have when Jesus returns and we join him in the resurrection.

Be encouraged and have hope this week!  We serve a RISEN savior and we have been promised LIFE with him forever!
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