I Am, Part 3
Notes
Transcript
What is a door? It is a secureable part of the home that allows entrance or exit. It has hinges which cannot move on their own, and it has a knob and a lock mechanism. It requires someone, or some thing to turn the knob to allow the latch mechanism to retract, clearing the striker plate, and then the hinges become the pivot point to open the door.
There can be dummy knobs, entry knobs, hallway knobs, bathroom knobs, mortise knobs, dead bolts, and the list goes on and on. But these knobs allow us to open, pull, or secure the breached area of our houses. There can be solid core, hollow core, pocket doors, sliding doors, bi-fold doors, panel doors, wood doors, steel door, fiberglass doors, the list goes on and on.
Now, I know that this is a rather detailed description of something that most of us could care less about. But what is the importance and significance of a door? Doors can be used to either let people in, or keep people out. Note this significance, it can be used to let people in…or keep people out.
Now, in Chapter 10 of John, Jesus speaks of being the Good Shepherd. Starting with these words: John 10:1
1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and like any good shepherd He secures the sheep in the sheepfold, in their pen. If we think of being in the secure hold of the Good Shepherd, then those sheep are the true believers who have been placed in the safety and security found in God.
Now, as a shepherd, we place the sheep in a pen to protect them from what seeks to destroy them. The shepherd has to think of what potential hazards are present. Coyotes? Bear?
Bad Weather? Whatever the hazards are, the shepherd has to be able to prepare for them and provide a way to protect the sheep.
What happens when the shepherd isn’t paying attention? The gate is not shut, the door left wide open. It is the sheep that will suffer if there is not a good shepherd watching after them. Then what happens when something wants to go after the sheep? There is wide open access, where the sheep are confined and unable to escape. It can be devastating.
Jesus then reminds us He is paying attention. He is minding the door, and nothing that should not be in will get in, and all that are within are under His care and protection.
Jesus is the Door
Jesus is the Door
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jesus wants to stress the importance “Truly, truly” of him being the only door to the sheep. He reminds us that He is the ONLY way to enter the fold.
Jesus is the way:
into the presence of God
to be accepted by God
into salvatiaon
into the true church
into heaven
into the Kingdom of God
into eternal life.
IF any person wants to enter heaven, and be in the presence of Father God, there is only one way, and only one person who holds the key to the door. That, my friends, is Jesus.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
No man, no woman, no prophet, no priest, no king can give you access to heaven unless you believe in the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the one who gave His life for us.
Jesus claimed His deity - I Am the only door to God. All others who claim they can provide access to heaven are liars. Yes, that even means Oprah is a liar. There are not many ways to heaven, there are not alternative ways to heaven, there is no working your way into heaven, there is no judgment of how “good” or “bad” you were to determine if you are worthy. There are some who claim to be the door and to have the way to God. They claim to know the right way and to have the newest ideas and the latest truth and knowledge. They claim to have the right teaching, religion, works, maturity, philosophy, psychology, ideas, and novel concepts. They claim to be the door that opens into God’s presence. But Jesus says that they are thieves and robbers. It is only by believing in Jesus Christ that salvation is offered.
One Way to Salvation
One Way to Salvation
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Again, Jesus re-emphasizes He is the ONLY door that leads to salvation.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
As He is the door, he allows the sheep to go in and out. The Pastors Outline and Sermon Bible states “This was a common Jewish phrase. If a person could “go in and out” without difficulty or danger, it meant they were safe and secure.” So, Jesus provides a believer with safety and security.
What brings us the feeling of safety? If we think back to our door, we have safety in knowing it secures the house from being left open, we feel safe when we can lock the handle and secure the deadbolt. We feel safe when we fee like we have the opportunity to decide who we can or cannot allow access into our home. When we are secure, we feel peace. But, can we be 100% for sure no one else will or can enter into our homes uninvited? Of course not, there are thieves that will break into our homes. So, even the best we can do to secure our homes it is not a guarantee.
When we place that thought into our salvation, Jesus offers us 100% protection. He guards the door, opening and closing, allowing us to “go in and out”, and giving us the peace that we are in safety and security. Not only will He give us safety and security, but He provides our every need. He leads us into pasture. He nourishes and cares for those under His watch care. He provides not only living water, but living food. He is our source of salvation, peace, security, living water, and everlasting food. He is the good shepherd.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
Jesus knows those who has truly followed Him, by name. But, one question that we must ask ourselves is this… would we recognize Jesus if He knocks? And more importantly would we ask Jesus to enter in?
He Knocks, Will We Answer?
He Knocks, Will We Answer?
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
We must recognize we NEED protecting. Let me ask a question. Have any of you ever had the phone ring, and you see who it is on caller ID, and you ignore it? Have you ever seen someone pull up, and you hear them knock, and you ignore them? Why do we do things like that?
Do we know what they want? How can we know there isn’t something wrong? Is there any way we know what they are offering if we never go to the door? Here in Revelation 3, Jesus is writing letters to the churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and in this particular verse Laodicea. They are described as being “neither cold nor hot” but instead are lukewarm. Now, I don’t know about you all, but I want iced tea cold, and I want coffee hot. Neither one are really good at room temperature. Jesus speaks of this lukewarm behavior as He describes the spiritual condition of the church.
In my way of thinking, they haven’t come into the sheep pen yet, and they don’t recognize the shepherd. They thought they were okay, but didn’t realize just how depraved they were. They’re described as wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Why would they be called out like this? Because He will discipline those in whom He loves. And, this is the way He chooses to point out their need of repentance. They must know they are doing wrong in order to correct their behavior.
IF you want peace. IF you want security. IF you want protection. IF you do not want to face judgment. Then, we must be committed to following Him with all our being. This matter is so critical, Jesus URGES them to be zealous, or enthusiastic, in repenting.
Jesus then gives instruction to open their heart to Him, and let Him in. This gives such an awesome picture of Christ in Scripture. We see a picture of Jesus standing - He takes the initiative to initiate salvation for mankind. He comes to us, we do not have to go to Him.
He knocks - He makes the effort to continue knocking on the door. He seeks those in need of Him, and actively knocks - looking for a way to enter into the heart of mankind. He knocks and knocks at the door of our heart, and refuses to give up. One commentary mentions “Christ knocks so much that a person has to either open up or become deaf to the knocking.”
He calls out - announcing who is outside the door standing and knocking. It shows His compassion towards us. Not only does He stand, waiting, not only does he knock trying to get our attention, He pleads and begs us to open our heart to Him. It shows the compassion and mercy of Jesus. He knows what life CAN be like, because He created life. He knows, then, that life must be lived in full commitment to Him or else their worship is wasted and the person doomed. He realizes the sinful condition, the need for salvation, and He knows the cure therefore He knocks, and knocks, and knocks, pleading and begging us to hear Him and open the door.
How often people hear the voice of Christ yet they refuse to let Him in! They hear His voice when they hear the Word of God preached and taught or witnessed to by a dynamic minister or some believer or from some tract or Bible literature. But they hardened their ears and pay no attention to the pleading of the Lord’s voice.
Oh, but to those who hear the knocking, hear the pleading, and open the door, He will enter. This is the most awesome promise we are given. It doesn’t say if we open the door, He might come in. It doesn’t say if we open the door, he would just step in the doorway. It doesn’t say if we open the door, He will stay for a few minutes. Not, when He enters the doorway of our heart, He then stays with us forever.
24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
The life changing presence of the Holy Spirit abiding in us is a result of the life changing action of opening the door to Him. We are born again. We become a new creature. We are transformed into a new person. We are changed from corruptible to incorruptible. We are given a divine nature. AND we have an eternal companion present in our life forever.
We are taken into the fold, become one of the flock, cared for and protected in the sheep pen, and can then truly feel the peace and security of God.
Closing
Closing
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one enters the kingdom but by me. We are expected to enter on our own accord.
Notice, nowhere in scripture does it say Jesus will coerce, bribe, force, or even drag us into the sheep pen. He simply opens the door, and it is up to us to enter in.
We see the picture of how important all His sheep are though, when He leaves the 99 safe in their pens to go searching for the one lost. When He finds the lost sheep, He does whatever is needed to bring it back into the flock. Some sheep will submit to their shepherd. Others, will wildly run away and try to escape the shepherds hands. It is these that normally meet an unpleasant fate.
He is the door, opening it for His flock to enter, closing it so that we are safe and secure.
He is the only source of salvation. While other religions may tell of various ways we can work our way to heaven, Jesus tells us He is the only way in and if anyone enters the door He has opened, they will be saved. Jesus anticipates us coming to Him, and the door is always unlocked waiting for us to enter in. Isn’t this such a great promise - IF we enter in, then salvation is ours.
But even for those who don’t readily walk through the door, He will go search for them. You see, He does not want anyone to not know the grace and mercy of salvation. He will go to them. He stands outside the door of our heart, knocking, calling out, pleading for us to let Him in. And oh, what an unimaginable feast we will receive if only we let Him in.
He provides us with living water. He provides us with eternal nourishment. And He prepares the table for us even today.
Have you opened the door to Him? Have you let Him into your life? Are you safely kept and protected by Him? Do you have the greatest gift offered by Jesus? Have you received salvation? If not, today I invite you to enter into the flock. He is standing at the door knocking, will you let Him in?