Who Knocks and Who Hears, Who comes In

[ollie]

Revelation 3:20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus Christ knocks at the door. If any man hears and opens the door, Christ comes in.

Christ does the knocking, man does the hearing and opening. Christ does the coming in.

Does this tell us anything about Jesus Christ's active part and man's active part in coming to Christ? Does man choose to open the door after hearing for Christ to enter in.?

ollie

[nChrist]

Hello Brother Ollie,

This portion of Scripture is a lot to think about, and how we are drawn to Christ is a beautiful topic. First, we should all know that JESUS CHRIST finished the work of Salvation on the CROSS. The first thought that I had was that many people still think that they, as sinners, have something that they must add to the perfect Sacrifice of JESUS.

Brother, I think that you've already said the rest very well. This part is also very beautiful and should humble us greatly. In all reality, the KING OF KINGS and CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE sends us a personal invitation to accept the most precious gift we will ever receive in our entire life. We simply accept or reject the GIFT of JESUS CHRIST as our LORD and SAVIOUR.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Colossians 1:9-12 NASB  For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

[glennd]

Hello;

   Just a thought...

     While I agree that the above verse can have applications to the ungodly, the context is Jesus standing outside the door of the church.  His own people had become so "lukewarm" and compromised that He wonders if they are able to hear His voice anymore.  He is rebuking His own people and challenging them to return to commitment and relationship.  Those who hear His voice can have renewed relationship, those who don't will continue on in ultimately useless [as far the as the Kingdom of God is concerned] lives.

[nChrist]

Hello Glennd,

Brother, I know there are various interpretations of this portion of Scripture, and I've heard the one you mentioned. There are actually many applications, but Salvation is an individual matter, not a corporate or organizational matter. As the times grow worse, I think we sill see more and more so-called churches that will NOT be a place worthy to worship in. It seems that churches like this are in the Christian news more and more.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 3:27-28 NASB  Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.