One of the best ways to learn what a scripture means is to let scripture interpret scripture. In John 10:1-9, Jesus clearly defines what/or in this case who the door is that leads to the Kingdom of God:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Again, Jesus declares in John 14:6- “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. I am not sure why nearly 60% of Christians believe that there is more than one way to heaven. When, Jesus clearly taught that access to God was through Him alone.
Perhaps, only few find it, because they fail to recognize that Christ alone is our only hope of salvation. Jesus calls those who try access the Kingdom of God, some other way, thieves and robbers. The door is narrow (not in size) but in scope. Jesus is the only door. There is only one way to enter and that is through Christ.
We pride ourselves in this country as being inclusive, that is why the exclusiveness of salvation through Christ is so hard for us to embrace sometimes. We can’t fathom the idea of people we know and love spending eternity in hell, so we try and convince ourselves that perhaps God is more inclusive than He says He is. Or perhaps, He makes exceptions for good people or people who are truly genuine about their faith, although they reject Jesus as their savior. We do this because we cannot reconcile in our hearts and minds people’s choosing to reject Christ, knowing that the alternative is hell.
The reason the door is narrow is because only one man laid down his life, took the penalty of our sin upon himself, taking our place on the cross. There is no accommodations for those who reject Jesus in the Kingdom of God. We do our friends and family an injustice when we even allude that there is possibly another way to heaven, apart from Jesus.
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”-Acts 4:12
Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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