I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP

Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the Lord who is the Door of the Sheep

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The prophet, Joel, was speaking of Messiah when he proclaimed, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” (Joel 3:5 MT; v. 2:32 others)

Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ came as LORD proclaiming that He was the way to eternal salvation, the gateway—or door—of heaven.

Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.  (John 10:7-10 JNT)

RELEVANCE

This word was truly fulfilled at the moment His fleshly life expired, as the veil to the Holy Place in the Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51)  The very entrance to the place representing the throne room of God, where access had been restricted, became open.

Paul expanded on what this truly meant for those placing their faith in the LORD by explaining, “through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand.”  (Romans 5:2 JNT)

This grace is the fullness of the LORD’s salvation—eternal life with eternal access to God’s presence in heaven—and open access to God, “in earth as it is in heaven” while still on earth, through the presence of the Holy Spirit!  Paul further explained how believers in the LORD follow after Him as true children of God bound for eternal life, in proclaiming that, “the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died.”  (1 Corinthians 15:20 JNT)

The LORD came as a man to be the first fruit to ascend unto eternal life after substituting His sacrificial blood for the remission of sins. No longer would animal sacrifices be acceptable to God. His LOVE made a new way! He opened the door to eternal life!  He lives eternally in heaven, as do those who have put their faith in Him, and follow Him.

In the LORD, we truly see El Hashamayim—The God of the Heavens.  (Psalm 136:26) He is Jehovah-rapha—the Lord who heals! (Exodus 15:26)

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

How do you access the grace of God daily?

With so many influences seeking your mind and heart, and so many events stirring your emotions, how do you discern which doors of opportunity to go through and the activities in which you should participate?  

© 2006-10 Arise in Glory Ministries.   All rights reserved worldwide.


Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.