What Is The Sheepfold?
Christ likened the church to many things in order to emphasize the importance and the nature of it. The parable of the sheepfold is one of these lessons. "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture." (Jno. 10:7-9) Whatever the sheepfold is, there is no promise of salvation to any man who does not enter into it.
Therefore, it behooves all men to learn from a study of the New Testament exactly what the sheepfold is. The Holy Spirit has not left us in darkness along this line, but has made it very plain in other passages just what is meant by the "sheepfold". Verse sixteen of the chapter above says, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd."
While Jesus was on earth, he confined his work to the Jews. When he sent out the twelve on the limited commission he said, "Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans." (Matt. 10:6) Obviously "this fold" meant the Jews; the "other sheep" meant the Gentiles. The "them also I must bring" refers to the intention of making one fold of both Jews and Gentiles. In due time all would be gathered into one body.
Jesus is not the door to two hundred and sixty folds, or man-made churches; he is the door to one fold, one church. If any man teaches there are "many churches", the same man should teach that there are "many sheepfolds"; for the fold is the church. Such a man should be made to supply chapter and verse of the Book for any such teaching. If the Bible teaches that a man can join the church of his choice, it in like manner teaches that he can be in the sheepfold of his choice. If not, why not?
That the one sheepfold is none other than the one church is perfectly plain from the words of Paul, "But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition." (Eph. 2:13, 14) Where did he "make both one"? Here is the answer from the same passage, "and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." They are reconciled "in one body". That one body is the church. (Eph. 1:22, 23; Col 1:18) Jesus says there should be "one fold"; Paul says there is "one body", which is the one church.
Sinner friend, if you should be saved, you must enter the one sheepfold. Christ said, "if any man enter in, he shall be saved." If you are out of the church that Christ built, you are a lost sheep, without a shepherd, and on your way to eternal doom. Turn ye, 0, turn ye; for why will ye die? Believe the Gospel of Christ, "repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, unto the remission of your sins." (Acts 2:38)
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The best way to stand up before the world is to kneel down before God.