My notes from a sermon on 8 May 2011
John 10 verses 1 – 11
We find a great statement again in verse 9. Jesus is speaking and he says “I am the door”. What does this statement conjure up in our minds? Jesus is using the door as a symbol or picture. He is not saying that he is some physical door. He is giving the picture of the kingdom of God. If any man would enter into heaven he and he alone is the door. What does this mean to us?
The source of entry. A door is a means of access whereby we might gain access into any building. Can you picture what heaven is like? How might you enter into heaven? How would you come about getting in? Jesus says “I am the door”. This was a common thought to the people that were listening to Jesus. It was just before the feast of Passover. Many shepherds were coming from the hillsides and into the city with their sheep. People would stand and watch. They were being inquisitive, they wanted to see what was happening. Jesus uses this picture to show how the shepherd brings them to the door to the sheep pen. Jesus was bringing a spiritual application. He was speaking of eternity. There is one way into heaven. The moment you close your eyes in death it will be too late to make that decision. You will be ushered out into God’s eternity and to the door of heaven. Have you that certainty? This is a door that is open. It was opened for us at Calvary when Jesus died there, gave his blood that you and I might be saved, gave his life as a substitute to take us into heaven one day. It is a door that has never been closed again. You and I are born in sin, our faces are towards a lost eternity and our backs towards God. He opened up a way at Calvary. It is still open for you. Think of the woman who lost her key coming from the shops one day. She looked in her pockets but is was not there. She started to go through everything in her bags but still no joy. She then looked around to see if there were any windows open but there were none. A neighbour man asked her to try his key but to no avail. Another man came along and asked what the problem was. She explained she couldn’t find her key. He reached for the door, pushed the handle down and opened the door. All she had to do was open the door and walk in. Another young man left home at 16 years of age. His father and mother broke their hearts. Twelve years later he walked through the door again. They were delighted to see him again. Then the young man said “dad that door was not locked, I was able to walk in off the street”. The father said “son that door hasn’t been locked since the day you walked out into the street.” There was an open door for him to come back through. There is an open door to you. Many will try the key of good works or doing the best they can to get into heaven. All you have to do is walk through that door tonight.
The simplicity of it all. The easiest means is through the door. In reality it is the only means. Jesus didn’t want anyone to miss it. A day of opportunity. Jesus still doesn’t want anyone to miss it. God takes us to the very door of heaven. Jesus has a very distinctive door because he is the one with the nail pierced hands, with the brow scared with thorns, the back torn open – all for your sin and mine. He can open the door of heaven to you. There was a little old woman lying in a hospital bed breathing out her last breath. A minister came in to see her and said “I have come to give you absolution”. The woman didn’t understand what he was saying. The minister said “that means that I have come to forgive your sins.” The woman smiled and said “the one who forgives my sins has got nail pierced hands and has a brow torn with the lash of evil men”. Remember Noah’s ark. When God looked down on the hearts of men and women and saw that their thoughts were only evil continually. There was grace in his heart when he brought out Noah to build that ark. Everyone who came into the ark would be saved. He put a door in the side of the ark so that there would be no confusion and no-one would boast that there were other ways to get in. “For by grace are ye saved through faith … not of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2 verses 8 and 9) If we were able to make heaven ourselves we would never be there. There is only one door into heaven.
The security that it provides. There is something about a door being locked that gives a degree of safety and soundness. Remember the days of Lot when the 2 angels came in to his house. The men of the city came to his door knocking for these 2 men. Lot tried to persuade them against their actions. The 2 angels pulled Lot back inside and locked the door. Lot was inside and the danger was outside. When we come to the Lord and enter in through the Lord Jesus then we are safe. Jude said “he is able to keep you from falling” (verse 24). When you come to the Lord and give him your sins and receive eternal life that is when he is able to keep you from falling. All you have to do is come and put your trust in him alone. As we walk with the Lord day by day he will keep us by his power. Not one of us can keep God’s salvation. He alone keeps us. As we keep our eyes on him we are safe and secure. Are you ready to take that step and come to that door of God’s salvation? Are you ready to come to God tonight? It will take a real decision.
The door also speaks of a satisfaction that is realised. Once inside this door you will be satisfied. “and shall go in and out and find pasture”. Once inside Christ we are saved but we will also be satisfied. Once inside the ark they were safe. The Lord closed the door. Outside were the dangers. When you trust Christ outside is the fear of judgment, everything that God’s wrath brings against us. Safe, secure and satisfied. This going in and out speaks of liberty and freedom. Many think of God’s salvation as something that will be spoiled and ruined, get nothing out of it but it is just the opposite – when the Lord saves he satisfies. Remember the man possessed with demons in the gospel. He had his freedom but the devil took him out into the tombs. He cut himself with stones and cried out at all hours of the day and night so much that people were afraid of him. One day he met the Lord and he did something for him no-one else could. He gave him a peace of mind and sense of morality. Jesus told him to go home and tell of the great things the Lord had done for him. That is liberty and freedom. Paul in Galatians said “stand fast in the liberty which Christ has made you free.” (Galatians 5 verse 1) The Lord wants to do that for you. He breaks the power of sin in every life and he will set you free. Your part is to simply come to the Lord and he will save you.
The source of entry. A door is a means of access whereby we might gain access into any building. Can you picture what heaven is like? How might you enter into heaven? How would you come about getting in? Jesus says “I am the door”. This was a common thought to the people that were listening to Jesus. It was just before the feast of Passover. Many shepherds were coming from the hillsides and into the city with their sheep. People would stand and watch. They were being inquisitive, they wanted to see what was happening. Jesus uses this picture to show how the shepherd brings them to the door to the sheep pen. Jesus was bringing a spiritual application. He was speaking of eternity. There is one way into heaven. The moment you close your eyes in death it will be too late to make that decision. You will be ushered out into God’s eternity and to the door of heaven. Have you that certainty? This is a door that is open. It was opened for us at Calvary when Jesus died there, gave his blood that you and I might be saved, gave his life as a substitute to take us into heaven one day. It is a door that has never been closed again. You and I are born in sin, our faces are towards a lost eternity and our backs towards God. He opened up a way at Calvary. It is still open for you. Think of the woman who lost her key coming from the shops one day. She looked in her pockets but is was not there. She started to go through everything in her bags but still no joy. She then looked around to see if there were any windows open but there were none. A neighbour man asked her to try his key but to no avail. Another man came along and asked what the problem was. She explained she couldn’t find her key. He reached for the door, pushed the handle down and opened the door. All she had to do was open the door and walk in. Another young man left home at 16 years of age. His father and mother broke their hearts. Twelve years later he walked through the door again. They were delighted to see him again. Then the young man said “dad that door was not locked, I was able to walk in off the street”. The father said “son that door hasn’t been locked since the day you walked out into the street.” There was an open door for him to come back through. There is an open door to you. Many will try the key of good works or doing the best they can to get into heaven. All you have to do is walk through that door tonight.
The simplicity of it all. The easiest means is through the door. In reality it is the only means. Jesus didn’t want anyone to miss it. A day of opportunity. Jesus still doesn’t want anyone to miss it. God takes us to the very door of heaven. Jesus has a very distinctive door because he is the one with the nail pierced hands, with the brow scared with thorns, the back torn open – all for your sin and mine. He can open the door of heaven to you. There was a little old woman lying in a hospital bed breathing out her last breath. A minister came in to see her and said “I have come to give you absolution”. The woman didn’t understand what he was saying. The minister said “that means that I have come to forgive your sins.” The woman smiled and said “the one who forgives my sins has got nail pierced hands and has a brow torn with the lash of evil men”. Remember Noah’s ark. When God looked down on the hearts of men and women and saw that their thoughts were only evil continually. There was grace in his heart when he brought out Noah to build that ark. Everyone who came into the ark would be saved. He put a door in the side of the ark so that there would be no confusion and no-one would boast that there were other ways to get in. “For by grace are ye saved through faith … not of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2 verses 8 and 9) If we were able to make heaven ourselves we would never be there. There is only one door into heaven.
The security that it provides. There is something about a door being locked that gives a degree of safety and soundness. Remember the days of Lot when the 2 angels came in to his house. The men of the city came to his door knocking for these 2 men. Lot tried to persuade them against their actions. The 2 angels pulled Lot back inside and locked the door. Lot was inside and the danger was outside. When we come to the Lord and enter in through the Lord Jesus then we are safe. Jude said “he is able to keep you from falling” (verse 24). When you come to the Lord and give him your sins and receive eternal life that is when he is able to keep you from falling. All you have to do is come and put your trust in him alone. As we walk with the Lord day by day he will keep us by his power. Not one of us can keep God’s salvation. He alone keeps us. As we keep our eyes on him we are safe and secure. Are you ready to take that step and come to that door of God’s salvation? Are you ready to come to God tonight? It will take a real decision.
The door also speaks of a satisfaction that is realised. Once inside this door you will be satisfied. “and shall go in and out and find pasture”. Once inside Christ we are saved but we will also be satisfied. Once inside the ark they were safe. The Lord closed the door. Outside were the dangers. When you trust Christ outside is the fear of judgment, everything that God’s wrath brings against us. Safe, secure and satisfied. This going in and out speaks of liberty and freedom. Many think of God’s salvation as something that will be spoiled and ruined, get nothing out of it but it is just the opposite – when the Lord saves he satisfies. Remember the man possessed with demons in the gospel. He had his freedom but the devil took him out into the tombs. He cut himself with stones and cried out at all hours of the day and night so much that people were afraid of him. One day he met the Lord and he did something for him no-one else could. He gave him a peace of mind and sense of morality. Jesus told him to go home and tell of the great things the Lord had done for him. That is liberty and freedom. Paul in Galatians said “stand fast in the liberty which Christ has made you free.” (Galatians 5 verse 1) The Lord wants to do that for you. He breaks the power of sin in every life and he will set you free. Your part is to simply come to the Lord and he will save you.
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