The following sermon is by John MacArthur, pastor, author, and Bible teacher with Grace to You.

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truth one verse at a time.

Here is Grace to you Bible teacher John MacArthur.

Over the last number of Sunday nights, we have been having a series here on why Jesus came.

There are a number of ways that the answer to that question

is stated in the New Testament, and one of the more direct ones is found in John's Gospel

chapter 10 and verse 10, where Jesus said, I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you're probably very familiar with that

wonderful statement. Let me read it again. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

There's a context for this that's especially wonderful as we think about Christmas.

That is the context of John chapter 10.

Because this is our Lord's statement in a discourse that's known as the good shepherd discourse.

Let me give you the full picture by reading to you John 10.

You can open your Bible to John 10. We'll read the opening 11 verses.

Truly, truly I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep

that climbs up some other way, he's a thief and a robber.

He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

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