4. I AM THE DOOR.

(Continued from page 274.)

The door suggests the thought of the dwelling-place to which it is the means of entrance. In it we find the possession or portion of those who can by right enter in by the door. Thus it is a place set apart for its possessors from all that which is outside. In this way we may say it is a sanctuary. These things are rightly connected with the door, it being the only right way of entrance. Thus the order in which this title comes is fully justified, -the third place.

There is undoubted connection between the discourse in which this title is given and the narrative of the blind man preceding it. He is cast out of the fold of Judaism by its false shepherds, only to find the Door, wide open, which gave entrance elsewhere, under the care of the true Shepherd.

We see from the allegory Jesus uses in reference to the sheepfold, that the door and he who enters thereby are closely linked together. The door opens only to the true shepherd of the sheep. Those who are not this never come through the door but seek to climb up some other way. Such are thieves and robbers. The Shepherd coming in by the right way calls his sheep by name and leads them out. Judaism was the fold, in which the true sheep were mingled with others from whom they needed to be separated when the Shepherd came. A practical example of this is afforded us in the blind man called forth to follow the true Shepherd. We may note two points as to the door. It was the way by which the true Shepherd must come in; then it is the way of exit for the sheep as they follow Him out.

The door, opening only to the true Shepherd, speaks of those characteristics which must mark the true one, or it cannot be opened to admit the applicant. By the fulfilment of this could entrance alone be made. Hence it is only by such fulfilment, and opening the door for the sheep that they can pass out, following the Shepherd. Christ declares, " I am the door of the sheep." He was the One who fulfilled all the requirements in answer to which the fold-door must open. But its opening accomplished nothing for the sheep; that which counted for them was the call of His voice, to which they could answer, and then go forth with Him. Thus He does not say, I am the door of the fold, but of the sheep, -they find their way out through Him. The fold-door has been but the means of admitting Him; for them, the way out could not be save through and with Him. This is of special importance when we consider what the fold represents. Plainly it is Judaism in which the sheep were shut up under law until the faith came that should be revealed (Gal. 3:23). This revelation awaited the coming of the true Shepherd announced by the prophets. For Him, the way into the fold must be by the accomplishment of the prophetic announcements which marked Him as the true One. This fulfilled, the door open, the Shepherd within the fold, His voice now sounds" calling His own to Himself. As they answer, they are put forth without to follow His leading. No other way could be found for them to pass out of that wherein they were held. All waited for His coming by whom the sheep would be called to liberty. In this way He is the " door of the sheep." Thus we see the flock gathered without the fold. In the language of the apostle Paul they are no longer under a tutor, but in the full sonship place through Christ (Gal. 3:25, 26).

Thus far it has been a question of exit from bondage to liberty, such as the Jews who followed Christ were to experience, and which we know the Church in its early stage had to pass through.

But we now come to the question of others entering into (no longer exit) this same blessed liberty. This therefore deals no longer with the Jew but with the Gentile. In accord with this, Christ declares, "I am the door; by Me if any one enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture." Note that here He does not say "door of the sheep." It is a question now of those who are Gentiles entering by Him into the same blessing that He has brought the sheep, by leading them out from the fold in which they were kept. They become thus part of the flock He has called out. Thinking of those who would so enter, the Lord says, " other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also must I bring; and they shall hear My voice, and become one flock, one Shepherd." For them He is the door of entrance into all blessing; for the others He is the door of exit from bondage into liberty and blessing. This calls to mind that wondrous unfolding by Paul of the mystery of Christ-the one body; Jew and Gentile united in one under one Head. This, which gives us the revelation of the heavenly blessings, appropriately connects itself with the third place, in which this title comes.

In connection with this second declaration of Christ as the door, we have salvation mentioned- not with the first. In the first case, where the sheep in the fold are in question, salvation does not come in because they already are in relation to God – life is theirs. In their condition, shut up in the fold, they were children under a tutor, as Paul says, not knowing the full infinite blessing of the life and relationship which they nevertheless possessed. But by Christ coming they were delivered from this bondage, and introduced into full sonship outside of the law. Thus He says, "I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly:" for, as the Greek word suggests, it is life in excess, or beyond that which they had before. In contrast with this, the first step with the Gentile must be salvation, and that is obtained by entering through Christ, the door, into the flock. Thus those who were once aliens and without Christ, being saved through faith in Him, are those of whom it is said, "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who once were afar off are become nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:13). He, being the peace on which all rests, "hath made both one, and hath broken down the dividing wall of enclosure." He has brought out those who were within it, through His death, and has brought those who were banished by that enclosure into union with the others, through that same death, forming the two in Himself into one new man (Eph. 2:14,15). Now all have given to them the abundance of life.

Christ as the door is the way of introduction into the fulness of Christian blessing. One of the first lessons suggested in connection with this, and in full accord with the numerical place of this title, is that of sanctification. For the Jewish "sheep" it must come by being set apart from the fold. Then their portion and possession is found without in the separated place. For the "other sheep," who must needs be brought and added to these, sanctification is in being entirely set apart from their old position of alienation, and brought into the blessing of relationship. And this sanctification must be the rule of life in which the blessing is to be enjoyed.

Through Christ we enter the Sanctuary. Through Him we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Through Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Through Him God has poured upon us the riches of His grace. Through Him we have the adoption of sons. Through Him we enter into the full knowledge of God, having His purposes and counsels revealed to us. Through Him we enter into new creation relationship, in which old things are passed away, and all things become new. Through Him we shall abide in the presence of God for eternity in full enjoyment of His favor and blessing. Through Him we have obtained this glorious inheritance and are co-heirs with Him of His glory. Truly, then, "Christ is all things, and in all "(Col. 3:ii, J. N. D.).He is the door into it all. He is, in divine fulness, as we shall see, "'The Way, the Truth, and the Life."

What an object God has set before us ! What an infinite wealth of blessing and glory is opened up to us ! May our hearts enter into it all. In a very real sense God has set before us "an open door, and no one can shut it." Let us avail ourselves of this infinite grace, and lay hold of our portion and pos
session to all of which Christ is the door. Let us remember that we cannot enter into these things and seek admittance into the things of this world. We must be sanctified from the latter to possess the other. May it be so with us to His praise and glory. J. B. Jr.