Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-04-12

81 "a morning stars
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," Ego in," and Ego 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 it 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 4 10, "Nei-
Their is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under
| AAOCSCA gwen OAAAOAG AAOAs "AOASOy We
must be saved" And then the words
of Christ in our text, II am the door;
by (through) me if any man enter n
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 o1oor Union no nv
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-inclusive word of the
Gospel is whatsoever" In this connec-
ton it is usually coupled with another
der, and that is the word twill :" "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 all, 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
constrains all to enter, but never COM
pels anyone to enter. This puts the
.. question of entering the open door
sQuarely before each person. Christ
is the open door for all into salvation
> but whether one enters or not is 6
matter of his own will. This is why
Jesus said to men in his day to whom
=. he appealed: aye will not come untt
me that We might have life." What ,
solemnizing truth it is, that our saliva
ton depends upon our willingness t.
accept the offer of salvation fully pur
> chased by Christ and freely offered t
= the world in him. In other plail
words, that we may be saved, or not
as we choose. If we enter through
= Christ, the open door, we shall b
e saved; if we choose not to enter, W
u shall be lost. 1t is not enough, yo
II see, to know that Christ is the onl
s. open door into salvation and the ope
e door for all. If he is to be our Savio
IL he must as the open door, be mad
use of, otherwise how can he avail us
r. We should also note that Christ
at the open door into service for thos
e. who have entered. OF such he say
IN they shall 60 in and out and find pa
u ture" Sustenance for the Christia
IN is found not only in the study of tn
m Bible, and other means of grace, b,
y, as we'll, we see from our text, in Chri
ry tan service.
Christ does not intend that tho!
TO who are saved shall rest in ease; rat
We er he means that they shall serve ar
nd in service find strength. Of himse
ey he said my meat is to do the will
Mt. him that sent me-" This word was
ey response to his disciples who returni1
We from Sychar whittier they had gone
OF buy meat, prayed him, saying, 'mast
ny eat" To this he had REPLIED II ha
ey meat to eat that We know not Of" TIL
thought someone must have brOug
he him something to eat. But it YVES n
i've of material food he spoke; it was
It's that spiritual sustenance which com
ely to those who in service do the will
we God. He had been ministering to t
old ! woman of Samaria, and had met h
IRE spiritual need this service was to h
YER the meat they knew not of.
And so those who have entered in
cry salvation through Christ, the Op
tell door, will find spiritual sustenan
she (pasturage), as they go out throu
ink Christ the open door in service
ply their fellow men.