Door, 4of7

~ Door Basics ~

The Key Passage  ~  Jesus said, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’  Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.  Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly’” (John 10:1-10).  Jesus makes it clear here and elsewhere that He is the only door to salvation (John 14:6). 

The Only Entry Point  ~  “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door” (John 10:7b-9a).  Notice from the passage that you can’t get over, under, or around the only entry point.  You must come through the door. 

The Door Is The Only Way Through A Big Wall  ~  It is a wall that Adam started building.  A wall of separation from God.  A wall which man unsuccessfully tries to get over in his own effort.  When we try good works we scale part of the all only to fall again—in doing so we are adding stones to the wall making it even more formidable.  We keep looking for another way around—but there is none!  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6). 

The Door To True Joy  ~  “I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly’” (John 10:9-10). 

A Door Made Of Love  ~  It is God’s love that is the door through which man can pass from spiritual death unto life—from sin to salvation.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.  You are My friends” (John 15:12-15a).

Two Hinges  ~  First, the hinge of God’s grace.  “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:5-9). 

Second, the hinge of our free-will.  In Revelation we see Jesus Christ speaking to the Laodicean church—the lukewarm church at the end of the church period.  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:20-21). 

A Latch Of Faith  ~  Faith is the latch that opens the door.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

A One Way Door  ~  Eternal life is for eternity by definition!  Once truly saved you cannot lose your salvation! 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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