In His Own Words – I Am the Door

Joke:   A women is standing before the judge when he asked asked he asked her what she had stolen.  She replied, “I stole a can of peaches.”

The judge then asked, “how many peaches were in the can?”

“Six,” replied the woman.

After consideration, the judge decided to sentence her one night of prison for every peach she stole. Six nights total.

At this moment, the woman felt helpless, bawling her eyes out, she didn’t know what to do.

And before the judge smacked the mallet down to make it final, her husband entered into the courtroom and yelled, “your honor, wait!”

The judge froze and listened to what the husband wanted to say.

“She also stole a can of peas!”

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In His Words – Week 3: I Am The Door

The Bible teaches that there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus. Buddha doesn’t get you there, Muhammad doesn’t get you there, Krishna doesn’t.   There is only one door and that is Jesus.   You can’t get to God by hanging on your parents or grandparents coat tail.   It takes a relationship with Jesus.  Jesus is the way we access the grace of God that gives us the eternal life with Him that is available to us.   And like any entrance we must receive the invitation to come in and on our spiritual journey walk through the door in faith.  And the good news is He invites us in.

We are in week 3 of our series, In His Words. This is a series about the I AM statements He made as recorded in the book of John. In week one we hear Jesus say, “I AM the bread of life,” and last week He said, “I AM the light of the world.” These statements not only reveal Christ’s nature but also how His life can and should impact us as we follow Him.

Today we are looking at, in case you haven’t picked it up yet, Jesus saying, I AM the door.

John 10:9 (KJV): 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Some translations use gate instead of door and both have the same implications.

In response to this the powerful Scripture English preacher Charles Spurgeon says, “Christ tells us that the only way to enter the church is through Himself. He is the door, the only door. There is no other mode of admission into His church but through Himself.”

This truth stands in sharp contrast to a world and culture that wants us to believe there are infinite roads to eternal salvation. We like to think that we just need to be good enough, we just need to give enough or show up to enough.   But that’s not it. In fact, look at this. . .

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV): For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

We are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus not by our own efforts or works.   Truth is you and I can never be good enough,  but because of Jesus we have been made a new creation and the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.   It’s by grace not your performance.

And for some this news is a breath of fresh air, because you have been told to follow a bunch of religious rules and perform well.   And for others, it just may be a truth that is hard to swallow because some people think they are a good person.  And maybe you are, but that’s not the door.

I’m not saying live like everyone else, on the contrary we ought to be different.   We are called to come out and be separate.   And if your life is no different then the worlds value system you haven’t been living the life you were called to.

The invitation of Jesus, as presented in John 10:9, is a powerful message that speaks volumes about the nature of our relationship with Christ.  It is an open invitation, not restricted by race, social status, or your past sins. It is a call to all who are willing to listen, to believe, and to step through the door that leads to salvation.

The metaphor of Jesus as the door or gate is deeply symbolic.

Doors serve as entry points, gateways that lead us from one place to another. In this context, Jesus is the door that leads us from a life of sin and separation from God, to a life of grace, forgiveness, and eternal communion with our Heavenly Father. This is the promise that comes with accepting His invitation.

However, the invitation of Jesus is not just about the promise of salvation. It is also an invitation to a new way of life, a life that is marked by faith, love, and service.

Jesus invites us to partake in His mission, to co-labor with the Holy Spirit, and to spread the good news of His love and mercy to all the corners of the earth.

Acts 1:8 (NIV): But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

He invites us to be His hands and feet in the world, to serve the least of our brothers and sisters, and to be a beacon of His light in the darkness.

And even better yet, it’s an invitation to a personal and intimate relationship with Him. It is an invitation to know Him, to love Him, worship Him, stand in awe of Him and ultimately to follow Him.

It is an invitation to experience His presence in our lives, to hear His voice in the silence of our hearts, and to feel His love in the depths of our souls. It is an invitation to grow in faith, to deepen our understanding of who He is, and to draw closer to Him each day. It is a doorway, as Jesus says, to safe pasture.

These pastures don’t always come easy,  it can be challenging to leave behind the old ways of life and the old way of thinking.

But in order to follow Jesus we must let go of our old ways, turn away from sin, and embrace a life of holiness. It is a challenge to rely on His grace, and surrender our lives to His will. It is a challenge to persevere in faith, to remain steadfast in hope, and to endure in love, even in the face of trials and tribulations.

The invitation of Jesus is a call to transformation. It is a call to be born again, not of flesh, but of spirit. It is a call to die to self, and to live for Christ. It is a call to become a new creation, a child of God, a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and to leave behind the old life of sin.

Share a bit of your personal testimony

Faith is a cornerstone of Christian belief. It is not just a mere acceptance of the existence of God, but a complete trust and confidence in His promises. Faith is the assurance that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He has promised to do.

This is the kind of faith that Jesus invites us to have in the passage from John 10:9.

And church, understand, faith isn’t just about believing in God, it’s about believing that He will fulfill His promises to us, no matter what.

Faith is necessary for salvation. In the passage, Jesus says, “If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.”

That statement implies that salvation is not possible without faith in Jesus Christ. It is through faith that we accept Jesus as our Savior and enter into a relationship with Him.

Remember Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Faith is necessary for spiritual growth and transformation. When we have faith in Jesus, we open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit guides us, teaches us, and empowers us to live according to God’s will. As we grow in faith, we become more like Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Faith is necessary.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV): And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Life is full of ups and downs, of difficult seasons, but with faith in Jesus, we can face these challenges with courage and hope. Faith gives us the assurance that God is with us in every situation, that He will never leave us or forsake sake us, and that He will help us overcome those difficult circumstances that come our way.

In the words of Christian theologian, Augustine of Hippo, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”

That quote is the essence of faith. Faith is believing in the unseen, in the promises of God, even when our circumstances suggest otherwise. And the reward of such faith is to see the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives.

The necessity of faith in the life of a Christian cannot be overstated. It is the bedrock of our relationship with God, the key to our salvation, the means by which we grow spiritually and overcome life’s challenges. By faith we believe that Jesus IS the Way, the truth, and the Life. He is the pathway through which our salvation is possible.

When Jesus declares, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture,” He is essentially offering a promise of salvation to all who believe in and follow after Him.

And believing is more than just acknowledging.  To believe in Jesus is to turn from our old ways of sin, receive Him as Savior and obey His word.   Believing must act, there must be a transformation in your life taking place.  If your life isn’t becoming less of you and more of Him you truly don’t believe.

Scripture tells us. . .

James 2:19 (NIV): You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

And this promise is not just about eternal life in heaven, but also about a fulfilled and abundant life here on earth.

The phrase “will go in and out and find pasture” is a metaphor that illustrates the freedom and provision that comes with accepting Jesus.

In the context of the time, sheep were completely dependent on their shepherd for protection and provision. The shepherd would lead them to green pastures where they could feed and rest.

And Jesus, our Good Shepherd, leads us to spiritual nourishment and rest. He provides for our needs, guides us in our decisions, and protects us in every situation.

The promise of salvation is not just for a select few, but for anyone who chooses to enter through Jesus, the door. It’s an open invitation to everyone, regardless of their past, their failures, or their shortcomings. It’s a testament to God’s infinite grace and mercy that He would offer such a gift freely to all who believe in His Son.

But hear this church, this promise requires action on our part. We must make the conscious decision to enter through the door.   And who is that door?  Jesus. This means accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, repenting of our sins, and living a life that is different from the worlds.  God said be ye holy for I am holy

The offer of salvation is a beacon of hope in a world filled with uncertainty and despair. It reassures us that no matter what challenges we face in this life, we have a Savior who has overcome the world and who offers us the chance to share in His victory.

Thats a promise that gives us the strength to persevere through trials, the courage to face our fears, and the peace to rest in His love. It’s a promise that transcends our earthly understanding and offers us a glimpse of the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven.

The Apostle Paul put it this way. . .

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NLT): That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

We must stay fixed on Jesus. Through every distraction and season of life, we’ve got to keep our minds and hearts focused on Him.

He is the door to salvation. He’s not just one of many doors, He’s THE door. . .The only way to eternal life and He’s invited us to step through, by faith, and into green pastures.

We are invited to. . .

Psalm 34:8 (NIV): Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

To know Jesus is to know the goodness, sweetness, and peace of God. It’s being able to say, just as David did in Psalm 23,

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.”

Maybe it’s been a long time since you’ve trusted Jesus with your life, or maybe you’ve never placed your life into His hands. . .Today is as good a day as any to take that step or renew your commitment and be led into those green pastures and still waters.

In His own words Jesus says. . .

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV): 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”