The Door To Abundant Life

THE DOOR TO ABUNDANT LIFE

John 10:9-11

There three classes of people here today, 1) People who have existence, but no eternal life, 2) People who have life, having been saved by Jesus, 3) People who have been saved by Jesus and have abundantly life.

Some are saved, they have life, they have hell’s fire insurance, and that’s all. But some had not only that, but they have heaven already in them, for they have abundant life in Jesus.

I heard the story of a rich Texan who was buried by his wife in BMW automobile. A by-stander said man that’s real living. But the fact was that he wasn’t living, he was dead. Sometime we see people who seem to have everything, and we say they got it made, but the Bible says if they are lost the are dead in their sins.

Somehow we believe the Bible is true, but yet don’t believe we can have abundant life like Paul and Peter and others in the Bible.

Sometime people try to make the Bible fits their lifestyle rather that their lifestyle fits the Bible. They are like the lady who went to a Bookstore looking for a Bible. She wanted a purple Bible to match her purple dress.

I-NOTICE JESUS IS THE DOOR TO ABUNDANT SALVATION: V-9A

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,

Someone asked me one time, what is the secret to abundant life, abundant salvation? I replied, that not the question you should ask. For it no secret. What you should ask is what is the source of abundant life.

There are two types of sheepfolds in the New Testament. One in the towns with a real door, and the others in the field where the shepherd is the door. This is the message to us; Jesus is the door and the only door to salvation.

A-JESUS IS THE ORDAINED DOOR:

God has ordained Jesus as the door. Before God ever put a star in the heavens, before He ever flung this world from His fingers, God ordained that Jesus Christ, His Son, would be the ordained door.

I Peter 1:18-20- Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

The leading citizens had gathered at a luncheon to pay tribute to one of the city’s first businesses, which was celebrating its one hundredth anniversary. Its top executives were the guests of honor. The toastmaster extolled the history and contributions of that firm to the community. He finally pointed out that the many years had proved the soundness of this particular business and the fine worth of its products. Then, looking around the tables, the master of ceremonies asked, "Is there any other member present who represents a firm which has been in existence that long?" A minister quietly arose and said, "I have that honor, Sir." There was a moment of silence, followed by a burst of applause, as the men realized that the church on the corner was the oldest institution in the city and a part of the Christian fellowship organized over nineteen hundred years ago.

Although the Church is over 1900 years old, Jesus is the one slain from the foundations of the world.

We need to remember salvation is only possible, Heaven is only possible because Jesus ordained of God came form Heaven and laid down His life on the cross for you and I.

B-JESUS IS THE ONLY DOOR:

John 14:6-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Not just a door, but “the” door. There was only one door in the Ark, there was only one door in the tabernacle, and Jesus is the only door to Heaven.

I read the following story about a preacher who went to Gettysburg College who said when I studied at Gettysburg College;I had a decided dislike for mathematics. I dropped the subject in my sophomore year. However, it was a requirement that I must satisfactorily complete that course to graduate. Nothing was said about it until two months before I was to graduate. I was advised that unless I completed that subject, I would not be awarded my diploma. I took it up with the faculty, petitioning them that they allow me to take another subject in its stead. But it was no use. They were adamantine in this requirement.

There is a narrow requirement to go to heaven and that is through Jesus our Lord. I had a man tell me once, he thought he was going to heaven because he kept his mother’s grave clean. I told him that was his thought, but the Bible plainly says Jesus is the only way.