Christ at the Door

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). 

While some Bible teachers say the words of our Lord in Revelation 3:20 were only to the church as a whole and not to individuals, Charles Spurgeon had another opinion. He was quite convinced that it was a personal invitation to anyone. That's Christ at the door.

Spurgeon pleaded, "Dear reader, hearken to His invitation, and let His good words sink into your soul. As you do so, your life will begin anew and you will be on your way to Heaven." 

Spurgeon exhorted his readers with Revelation 3:20, writing, "Therefore, I urge you not to refuse the Lord Jesus who is knocking at the door of your heart. Remember that He knocks with a hand that was nailed to the cross for you. Your good is His object, so incline your ear to Him and let Him come in."

This personal invitation is issued to you by the Lord Jesus Christ and to anyone who will hear His voice. The Lord's voice comes to us through these very words of the Bible. His promise is sure to you and all who open the door. Jesus Christ says, "I will come in to him." 

Those Who Fear God

Godly fear is the highest reverence for God. To the contrary, tormenting fear is not from God. It is never good, and always evil. It doesn't come from God (2 Timothy 1:7). Yet, godly fear motivates us through faith in God. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark" (Hebrews 11:7).

"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good, but I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart from Me" (Jeremiah 32:40).

Those who fear God are saved according to the everlasting covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jeremiah prophesied the everlasting covenant. It is confirmation to us as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21). It means God is working in us what pleases Him. He puts His fear in our hearts.

Those who fear God have evidence of their salvation in Christ. Fearing God is designed for our good and gives us assurance that we will not depart from Him. Godly fear is evidence that God is at work in us. God says, "I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart from Me" (Jeremiah 32:40).

Do you fear God? Those who don't fear God are lost without a saving relationship with God. "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18). However, those who fear God should thank Him for putting it in their hearts.

Providence in Your Life

Life is not ruled by random chance. Providence is at work in all things, because providence is the work of God. "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever" (Romans 11:36). Providence includes all things, bringing all glory to God.

The providence of God works daily in your life. Providence works in your life according to a divine plan. Providence sees what is ahead and prepares the way. Providence works in the least details of your life, as well as the greatest things. Providence works in all things.

Providence proves that chance and luck are myths. Providence works according to God's eternal purpose, "the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11). That's providence, not chance.

Providence brings purpose in your life (Romans 8:28). Providence is always working for good in the lives of all who love God. When providence encounters evil, it works to bring good out of it (Genesis 50:20). 

Providence took certain circumstances in your life to bring you to faith in Jesus Christ. Providence is for you in Christ. Providence opens doors of opportunity for you to do God's will. Providence works for you when you understand, and when you don't.

Your Sins Are Gone

Charles Spurgeon preached, "Now, he who believes in Jesus, who puts his hands upon the head of Jesus of Nazareth, the Scapegoat of His people, has lost his sins. His faith is sure evidence that his iniquities were of old laid upon the head of the great Substitute. The Lord Jesus Christ was punished in our place."

The scapegoat in the Old Testament symbolically took away the sins of the nation of Israel (Leviticus 16). The High Priest laid his hands upon the scapegoat. That symbolized the transfer of the peoples sins to another. Then, the scapegoat was led into the wilderness, symbolizing sins taken away. That Old Testament figure points to our Lord Jesus Christ. As a believer in Christ, your sins are gone. 

The scapegoat in the Old Testament foreshadowed Jesus taking our sins away. The Lord Jesus Christ was punished in our place as sinners at the cross. That's the Gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He who was sinless, was punished for our sins. Through faith in Christ, your sins are gone.

Spurgeon taught the truth of the Gospel, when he declared faith is the evidence. By grace through faith in Christ, your sins are gone. The Bible teaches, "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). God's Son has taken all our sins away. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is evidence that your sins are gone.

Unbelief Rejects Christ

Unbelief is a sin which rejects God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Unbelief cannot receive God's blessings in Christ. Unbelief spurns the goodness of God. Unbelief is the choice of a heart that is hard against the goodness of God. It never considers that it could be wrong, even eternally wrong. Unbelief defiantly says, no, to all that God graciously offers in Christ. Unbelief is a sin that rejects the love, goodness, and grace of Christ. Unbelief sees the promises of Christ as foolishness.

Unbelief rejects the blessings of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "You believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1). All the blessings of God come to us in Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Believing is receiving Christ.

The Holy Spirit comes to expose the sin of unbelief. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit convicts of unbelief, "of sin, because they believe not in Me" (John 16:9). Don't let unbelief rob you of God's blessings in Christ. The sin of unbelief rejects Christ.

Faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit; unbelief rejects the gift of God in Christ. Faith is testifying that Christ is trustworthy; unbelief will not trust in Christ. Faith is walking the light of Christ; unbelief stands in darkness without Christ. Faith in Christ is from a heart transformed by the grace of God; unbelief is from a hardened heart rejecting Christ.

God's Covenant Oath

God promised with a covenant oath. God's promises to believers are based upon a covenant oath that cannot be broken. In ancient times, covenant vows were sealed in the death of a sacrificial animal. God's everlasting covenant is sealed in the blood of His Son (Hebrews 13:20). It's God's covenant word to you as a believer in Christ.

God promised with a covenant oath forever. Our faith in God, the forgiveness of our sins, our eternal destiny, and God's work in our lives are all guaranteed through God's covenant word. "Forever O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89). God's covenant promises are made with an oath forever.

God promised with a guarantee in Christ (Hebrews 7:22). His oath of covenant promises are for every believer in Christ. Jesus is your surety or guarantee to the covenant promises that cannot be broken (Hebrews 7:22). The Bible declares God's word is forever settled in heaven. That's God's covenant word to every believer. 

God promised in an everlasting covenant for all who believe in Christ. Read the promises of God in the Bible, which are forever the same. God has sworn with a covenant oath, and will not repent. He will not change His mind. "God, who cannot lie, promised before time began" (Titus 1:2). God's covenant promises in Christ are Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).

How to Be Justified

Be justified based upon the righteousness of Christ. His sinless life and substitutionary death on the cross for sinners is the basis for your justification. Your sin debt is paid in full, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

Be justified by faith in Christ. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Faith is trust and confidence, relying upon Christ alone. By faith in Christ, you are justified with God.

Be justified through grace in Christ. Faith receives the grace of God in Christ. Faith is the evidence that you are justified before God. It is your assurance of faith. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed (Romans 4:16).

Be justified in Christ unto righteousness. The only way you can become righteous before God is by faith in Christ alone. Righteousness is the gift of God to believers. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (Romans 4:5).