I have repeatedly heard the wrong interpretation of Jesus
'knocking on the door of sinner's hearts'.
'knocking on the door of sinner's hearts'.
This wrong interpretation leads to a wrong understanding of the Gospel.
I found this piece from
'founder and perfecter' helpful...
I found this piece from
'founder and perfecter' helpful...
Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
The Wrong Application:
If you have never accepted Jesus into your heart to be your personal Lord and Savior,
know this: Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart,
asking you, begging you to let him in.
If you have never done that before in your life,
I want you to pray this prayer with me.
Just repeat after me. “Lord Jesus…”
The Problem:
In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation,
Jesus is dictating letters that are to be sent to the churches of Asia.
This particular portion is written to the church in Laodicea,
a church with a reputation for well-being.
By all appearances Laodicea would be a church where
Jesus had been invited in a long time ago.
Jesus is not knocking on the door of anyone’s heart,
but knocking on the door of the church.
In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation,
Jesus is dictating letters that are to be sent to the churches of Asia.
This particular portion is written to the church in Laodicea,
a church with a reputation for well-being.
By all appearances Laodicea would be a church where
Jesus had been invited in a long time ago.
Jesus is not knocking on the door of anyone’s heart,
but knocking on the door of the church.
The Right Application:
The reason that Jesus is at the door knocking
is because the church has effectively removed Jesus.
He is no longer present at the church and they are only keeping up appearances.
Jesus is highlighting the irony that a church with a reputation
of spirituality is a church where he needs to
knock on the door and wait for it to be answered.
Therefore, today we must recognize that outward
growth and spiritual reputation
can be present when Jesus is not.
We need to bring Jesus back into our church by preaching the gospel
and performing works that are worthy of the gospel of God.
The reason that Jesus is at the door knocking
is because the church has effectively removed Jesus.
He is no longer present at the church and they are only keeping up appearances.
Jesus is highlighting the irony that a church with a reputation
of spirituality is a church where he needs to
knock on the door and wait for it to be answered.
Therefore, today we must recognize that outward
growth and spiritual reputation
can be present when Jesus is not.
We need to bring Jesus back into our church by preaching the gospel
and performing works that are worthy of the gospel of God.
