LECTURE XVI CHRIST THE DOOR - Robert Murray Mcchene

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:6-10).

Christ is a kind teacher. He was speaking to stupid, prejudiced, and ignorant Pharisees; and, as we have seen from the context, “they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.”—Verse 6. They did not understand his first parable, and here he explains it over to them. He showed them the difference between the true and false shepherd—that the true shepherd enters by the door, but the other climbs up some other way. The two points they did not understand were, 1st, What is the door? and, 2d, Who is the true shepherd? These he now proceeds to explain: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”

Christ is a kind teacher still. He can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way. How long he bears with those of you who are stupid and prejudiced by your lusts! He gives “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little.”—Isa. xxviii. 10. He will readily explain his word to those of you who are seeking after him. He will open your understanding to understand the Scriptures.

I. Christ is the door into the sheepfold: “I am the door of the sheep.” All that ever came another way were thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door.” There is no way of entering into the Church of God, but by conversion and faith in Christ. 1. There is no other way for shepherds. Many, in all ages of the

Church, have entered into the ministry by another way than by conversion and saving faith in Christ. .Jesus here says, they are thieves and robbers. Many have entered in by their learning —masters of sciences and of many languages—many who have written learned volumes in defense of Christianity. Now, learning is good, and not to be despised; but it is not the door. Christ is the door of the sheep; and unless a minister enter by this door, he is but a thief and a robber. Many have entered in by their gifts— men of human eloquence—mighty in word, either for good or evil—men of rich imagination, strong judgment, and fluent tongue. The world runs after them. Still these gifts are not the door, and the men are but thieves and robbers. Many have entered in by the favor of the great—by the patronage of the rich and powerful. They have great influence, and are held in esteem. Still this is not the door: “I am the door of the sheep.” All who are faithful shepherds enter in by this door. As poor, lost sinners, they come in through the blood and righteousness of Christ. Ah! none can speak of sin, but those who have been taught by the Spirit to feel the load. None can speak of Christ’s beauty, but those who know and love him. None can speak of forgiveness, but those who have tasted it. Hold such in reputation: “Esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” Flee from others. The sheep do not hear them. Whatever be their gifts— their learning—their eloquence—flee from them. They are strangers—thieves and robbers. They come not “but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

2. There is no other way for the sheep. Many enter into the Church in other ways; many come into the fold of the Lord’s table by another door; many enter by their knowledge. They have learned the plan of salvation through Christ. They can answer questions upon it. They have a form of sound words; but nothing more. Ah! this is not the door. Conversion to Christ is the only true door. Many enter by their blameless character. Many are members of the visible Church because of their blameless character in the sight of man, though unconverted in the sight of God. You do not live in any way of open sin, and, therefore, you think you have a good right to sit down at Christ’s table. Alas! you are but wolves in sheep’s clothing. Christ is the door. Unless you have entered in by him by his obedience and blood—you are but a thief and a robber. “Friend, how camest thou in hither?” may be addressed to multitudes. How did you come to the Lord’s table among the sheep of Christ? Was it by a true conversion and faith in Christ? or was it in some other way? If you came in by your knowledge—by your serious air—by your blameless character—and not by Christ, you are but a thief and a robber. You have stolen into the fold. You will soon be cast out among the liars.

3. Christ is the door at present: “I am the door.” There is plainly an emphasis on the words, I am. All to whom the Gospel comes have a short time in their existence when the door is open to them—when the rent veil is open—when the way into the holiest, the way into the Father’s love, is made manifest to them. That time is short. Compared with the long eternity that is to follow, it is but a moment—it is but a breathing-time. The few short years that each sinner has the open door before him will soon pass away; and then the door will be shut to all eternity. Each of you, in eternity, will look back upon this sweet time when the door stood open before you: “I am the door.” Oh! my brethren, if I could promise you that the Gospel door would stand open for you a hundred years, still it would be the part of true wisdom to enter it now; or, if 1 could say, for fifty, or twenty, or ten years, it would still more be the part of true wisdom to enter in. But I cannot say for one year, nor for one month, nor for one day. All I can say is, that Christ is now the door. Today there is a way of pardon and eternal life open before you. To-morrow it may be closed forever.

II. The invitation. 1. The persons to whom. 2. The invitation, what?

1. To whom. “Any man.” Some of the sweet invitations of Christ are addressed to the thirsty: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters”— “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” Some are addressed to the burdened soul: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Some are addressed to: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” Some to those who feel themselves prisoners: “Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope.” But here is the freest invitation possible. It is addressed to any man: “If any man enter in, he shall be saved.” It is not like the door of some of the great people of this world—open only to the great and the rich, and the beautiful and the gay. This door is open to all people, and any man may enter in. The beggar Lazarus was laid at the rich man’s gate. He was not allowed to enter in. But Christ was an open door to him. It is not like the door of some churches, where none but the rich and the gay must enter— none but those who wear fine clothes—that have a gold ring on their hand, and a fine robe. No; Christ says: “If any man enter in, he shall be saved”— “To the poor the Gospel is preached” “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Some may say: I have committed open sins—sins of which it is-a shame even to speak; so that if men knew they would stone me. Still Christ says: “If any man enter in he shall be saved.” Some may say: I have despised Christ all my days—sinned against godly parents godly teachers—against my Bible—against my conscience—against the Holy Ghost striving with me. Stilt this is His word who cannot lie: “If any man enter in, he shall be saved.” Of whatever rank, or age, or sex you be—of however deep a dye your sins may be—you are invited to enter in.

2. What? Enter in. Many content themselves with hearing about the open door. They like to hear the Gospel preached. They know about the way of salvation. They can talk about it. Still, they do not enter in. They do not experimentally go through the door into the sheepfold. They do not forsake all their sins—all their worldly companions, for Christ. They do not appropriate Christ. They do not wash in his blood. They do not put on Christ as their righteousness. They are never at rest—never taste forgiveness. Oh! mark the word: “If any man enter in.”

Many come up to the door. Like Agrippa, they say: “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” They see the folly and vanity of the world. They feel deeply their lost and ruined condition. They desire to be saved through Christ. But, when they come to the door, they do not enter in. When they come to the point when they must forsake all—when they must cut the cord that binds them to the world—when they must leave Pharaoh’s palace and bear afflictions with the people of God—they pause and draw back—they do not enter in. They do not choose Christ for better for worse—for life and for death.

Many see others enter in. Many not only hear about the door, and come near it, but see others enter. Still they do not enter in. They see a brother, or sister, or friend, giving up all tor Christ; and yet they do not enter in. Ah! my brethren, do not rest in mere convictions. Conviction is not conversion. Concern about your soul is not faith in Christ. Many look in at the door, who go away sorrowful.

III. The promise: “He shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

1. Salvation. All who are without are unsaved. “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without.”—Col. iv. 5. “Without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Eph. ii. 12. “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”—Rev. xxii. 15. All who come short of Christ, come short of salvation. All who do not come to God through the blood and righteousness of Christ, must come naked, guilty, exposed to everlasting wrath, and shall be frowned away into outer darkness. But he that entereth in shall be saved. Jesus here gives his word for it. Enter in by me, and you shall be saved. Immediate pardon— immediate entrance into the love and smile of God—is the portion of all that enter in. You will be pardoned all the sins that you have done the moment you receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Free, full, immediate salvation, is what Jesus gives.

2. Liberty: “He shall go in and out.” This alludes to the sheep. When sheep are gathered into the fold, then they are at perfect liberty under the care of their shepherd. They go in and out. They are cared for and treated as dear sheep. Ah, brethren! “if the Son make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”— John viii. 30. There is no freedom like that of Christ’s flock. As long as you are of the world, you think that to be a Christian is to live a dull, strict life—to give up all pleasure. But the reverse is the truth. The pleasures of the world are not to be compared with those of the Christian. “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” It is true slavery, to serve sin. Sin is the hardest of all slave-masters: “The wages of sin is death.” But Christ’s sheep go in and out. They have true, genuine liberty —the same freedom that God and Christ have—freedom from the power of sin.

3. The pasture: “Shall find pasture”—more than life. The soul that enters in by the door is not only saved, but sanctified set free, filled, enriched for eternity. Jesus will never suffer you to want, here or hereafter. The saved soul shall verily be fed. Even though under- hepherds be removed—though Scotland be made desolate, the witnesses slain, and God’s people scattered-still verily they shall find pasture.