Christ is the Door

Dear Brethren,

What does it mean when we say, "Christ is the door?"  As the time gets shorter to the return of Jesus Christ, we are seeing waves of trials running through the Church of God.  When our lives seem out of control, the one thing that we can hold on to is that our God has everything under control.  God has purposed to develop us spiritually as we go through this life so that we will become more like Him.  Our trials help to accomplish that purpose by overcoming and building Godly character.  Trials do not have the power to take us out of the Family of God, nor do false ministers, Satan or anything else.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:35-39)

Christ is the Great Shepherd whose ultimate purpose it is to take us, through the spiritual growth process, from being carnal, unconverted persons into the Kingdom of God.  In ancient Israel, the corral where sheep were kept at night had no gate.  Once the sheep were inside for the night, the shepherd would lie down at the entrance to sleep.  If predators would try to come in, or if a sheep would begin to wander out, they would be prevented by the shepherd.  John 10 uses this analogy to show how Christ is the door through which we must enter to ultimately get into the Kingdom. 

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep... I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:7,9)

God is holding and protecting us firmly in His hand and will do whatever He has to do to keep us there, even move mountains if that is necessary.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)

Jesus Christ alone is the means by which we gain entrance to the Kingdom of God.  This analogy of Christ being the door is emphasized in Revelation 3 in the description of the Philadelphian era of the Church.

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that opens, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man opens;  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." (Revelation 3:7-8)

Christ alone has been given the key of David.  This term has, by many in the Church, been too narrowly defined as only the ability to open doors to enable the Church to do a Work in broadcasting or publishing.  That is certainly a part of the meaning (2Corinthians 2:12).  But the most important function of this key is to enable Christ to open the door of the Kingdom to us, His brothers and sisters.

In the true spirit of "Brotherly Love," we need to emulate Christ in loving one another in the same way that He has loved us.  Each of us alone has little strength but when we share it with others by serving and encouraging one another, we become a strong force to help others progress toward the Kingdom.  An open door to God’s Kingdom has been set before all of us, and our responsibility is to do the good work of laying down our lives in service to one another to reach that goal.  The right spirit involves brethren reaching out in real care, supporting each other during trials and keeping in close contact.

Let’s encourage one another in these dark times and do all that we can to comfort those who need comforting.  Each time we communicate with one another, we strengthen the ties that make us one body - the Body of Christ.  These contacts enable us to grow in our ability to help each other.  As we practice these principles, we work hand in hand with our elder Brother and our Father as they bring many sons and daughters to perfection.

"For it became Him [the Father], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation [Jesus] perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10)

There are many people with needs in God’s Church.  This is the time for us to reach out to them and let them know that we are with them and will do what we can to lighten their load in their journey towards the Kingdom.  Since our lives are so very short, we should make each and every day of our lives count towards our ultimate goal of entering, through that door, into the kingdom of God.

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Sermon:

"Savior of the World"