The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-06

l8# "a A#Al morning StarSs
but we do know
considerable about doors. Christ in
this text represents himself as the
open door. The words with which he
paints this into the picture are. IF any
man enter in," "go In" and "go out"
Now there must be some very plain
and fundamental lessons Christ would
teach us by this homely and common
place portrayal Of himself. One Of
these is the simple one that the Lord
Jesus Christ is the open door into SAL
walton. "How elemental" you say;
yes, but how essential 1t Is that we
know this, for many mistake other
doors for the door. They think saliva
ton is either through the church, or
baptism. or good works. or something
else, when the truth is salvation is
through Christ. How plain and direct
are the Scriptures concerning this, as
for example, Romans 6:23, 'the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord" or Acts Alp, "Nei-
Their Is there salvation In any other:
for there Is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved" And then the words
of Christ in our text, II am the door;
by (through) me IL any man enter in
he shall be saved"
Next to knowing that Jesus Christ
Is the only open door into salvation is
the need Of knowing that he is the
open door for all. He himself makes
this clear when he says ''by me If any
man enter In he shall be saved" ANY
man" includes every man. and ex-
cludes no man. Jesus Christ, the open
door into salvation, swings wide open
| for every one to enter in This also is
clearly taught In the Scriptures. Our
Lord himself bids all men to come to
| him and the all-lnclusive word of tha
Gospel Is whatsoever In this c0nnec-
ton 1t is usually coupled with another
| important word that we do well to pom
der, and that Is the word will" who
soever WILL" we read, "may Gomez" and
again "whosoever will, let him take of
the water of life freely" So we see
that while Jesus Christ is the open
door for oil, the question Of entering
that door depends upon the wills OF
| those for whom the door swings wide
open. Jesus never coerces anyone into
entering through him, the open door,
into salvation; he invites, entreats and
I constrains all to enter. but never COM
pels anyone to enter. This puts the
| question of entering the open door
sCuarely before each person. Christ
Is the open door for all into salvation
but whether one enters or not Is q
matter of his own will. This Is why
Jesus said to men In his day to whom
he appealed: Eye will not come unto
me that We might have life." What
solemnizing truth 1t Is, that our saliva
ton depends upon our willingness te
accept the offer Of salvation fully pur
chased by Christ and freely offered e
the world In him. In other plain
words, that we may be saved, or not
as we choose. II we enter through
Christ. the open door, we shall bf
saved: IL we choose not to enter, WI
shall be lost. It is not enough, yo'
see. to know that Christ Is the onl,
omen door into salvation and the oper
door for all. If he Is to be our SAVER
he must, as the open door, be made
use of, otherwise how can ne avail us
We should also note that Christ Il
the omen door into service for th0s'
who have entered. OF such he say
| they "shall go In and out and find pas
tire" Sustenance for the Christian
Is found not only in the study OF TIN
Bible. and other means of grace, bu
rs well, we see from our text, in Chris
tlan service.
Christ does not intend that thos
who are saved shall rest in ease; rath
or he means that they shall serve ant
IN service find strength. OF himsel
he said "my meat Is to do the will o
him that sent me-" This word was II
response to his disciples who returning
from Sychar whittier they had gone =
buy meat, prayed him, saying, "maste
eat.n To this he had replied, Il nav
meat to eat that ye know not Of" The.
thought someone must have brough
him something to eat. But 1t was no
of material food he spoke; 1t was 9
tho+ sniritual sustenance which come
10 those who in service do the will 0
God. He had been ministering to tn
woman of Samaria, and had met ne
spiritual need; this service was to hin
the meat they knew not OF.
And SO those who have entered Int
salvation through Christ, the opel
door. win find spiritual sustenanc
(pasturage), as they go out throug
Christ, the open door In service 7
their fellow men,