LEARNING DAILY

John 10:9, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and go in and out and find pasture.”  Jesus

In the second of the “I AM” statements made by Jesus, Pastor Ed Newton, Lead Pastor of Community Bible Church, spoke about Jesus being “the door”, the only door by which one may enter into the kingdom of God. Pastor made an interesting connection between John 9 and John 10:9. In John 9, Jesus had healed a blind man. The religious leaders did not like this and eventually the man was excommunicated or “put out the door” (Pastor Newton). In John 10:9, Jesus states, “He is the door”; there is no claim, no question, and no doubt!

If you have time, read Ezekiel 34:11-16. Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord God gave a prophetic word that “a day would come when He will search for, seek out, and gather the people of Israel from all the places He has scattered them and bring them back to the Promised Land where He will care for them, make them prosper. He will do for them what their failed shepherds refused to do (read Ez. 34:1-10). This prophecy began with Jesus Christ, as the Good Sheperd” (David Jeremiah). Continue reading in this chapter of Ezekiel and you will read more about the provisions the Good Shepherd does for His sheep.

I once read a book by Josh McDowell where he wrote Jesus was either a “Lunatic, a Liar or Lord”. That is the choice each person must make. Pastor Newton said, “Jesus Christ is ‘the door’, the only door; there is no other choice.” I must mention that he used the Matthew 7:13-14 when emphasizing this point. “For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” There are many people who preach there are many doors into heaven; they are false teachers. Too many refuse to take the one true door to heaven.

Notice this! When anyone accepts the invitation offered by Jesus Christ, they are saved. There is nothing one needs to do to qualify to go through this door; one does not have to be good enough to accept the invitation. Come as you are. “But to all who did receive Him, who believe in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12). “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). “It is through the authority of Jesus, not works, not through baptism, not by anything; it is exclusively through the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12) that one is saved (Pastor Newton).

Pastor Newton stated, “The door is the Promise!” John 10:9c reads, “he will be saved’” There is “no if”, “not maybe”, nor “not eventually” in this statement. The statement is, “he will be saved”! (Listener Guide). “Saved” means rescued, the war has been won, the price has been paid. When one is saved, he is saved for today (2 Corinthians 5;17). He is saved for tomorrow (Philippians 1:6). And he is saved forever (Matthew 24:35). The verses are from the Listener Guide – take time to look them up and read them.

The last point Pastor Newton made is “The door is protection.” (John 10:9d). In Jesus, Believers have access to Him, “I give them eternal life, and they never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28), Believers have assurance, “All that the Father gives me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me will never be cast out.” (John 6:37), and believers have abundance, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”  (Ephesians 3:20. “Once the sheep are in the sheep pen, safe and secure, the shepherd lays down where the sheep entered in order to protect them. Do you see the picture of the Good Shepherd always with each Believer to keep them safe and guide them as he/she walks the narrow way into His kingdom?