And whosoever will may come to Him, in the full confidence of the Father's perfect love, and the Son's finished work for them. The everlasting gates that were thrown wide open for the King of glory, still stand open for the chief of sinners, and the blood by which He entered is their title to approach and the ground of their acceptance.
There need be no doubts, no fears, no trembling. To enter the open door in the faith of Christ,-simply trusting to the work which He has accomplished for us, is to enter heaven,-how? In what condition, think you? Oh, wondrous truth! It is to enter heaven in the full credit of Christ Himself. It is to cross the threshold, pass through the pearly gates, walk up the golden street, right to the throne of God; and stand in the pure light of that throne, in all the perfectness and acceptableness of Christ Himself. To find fault with the believing sinner there, would be to find fault with Him who sits upon the throne. He stands there, not in His own right or title, but in the rights and titles of Christ. " To-day," said the dying Jesus to the believing thief, "shalt thou be with me in paradise." Not only, observe, in paradise, but " with me." Oh, that precious, " with me!" I defines, so sweetly, where the departed spirit is, where heaven is, and what heaven is. It is just to be with Christ. Now, we are by faith "in Christ Jesus;" by-and-by we shall be personally " with him." In our bodies of glory we shall be forever with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:17.
But as to the immediate results, the present condition of all who believe in Jesus, the following passage is clear and decided: " For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18.) This is the full gospel of the grace of God. There is no missing link in this gospel. The believer, in virtue of the sufferings and death of Christ, is brought to God in Him. Not only to the cross, but to the throne. Not merely into a place, but, unto a person. He can never get better-he can never get higher than this. Oh, wondrous truth! Brought to God, in the condition of Christ!-In the condition of His life, righteousness, peace, preciousness, perfectness, and glory! ".Because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17.) This passage clearly expresses the believer's vital union-real oneness, with Christ, and that he stands, even now, at this present time, in all His completeness, in the presence of God. And is it, my reader may ask, to all this blessedness, that the open door leads? Yes, dear reader, to all this wondrous, present blessedness! And while Christ is seated at God's right hand, the door stands wide open night and day. Entering in by the strait gate, simply means, coming in faith to Jesus—conversion, reconciliation to God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh then, enter now! To-morrow may be too late-the Master may be risen up, and the door shut against you forever.
Alas! that any should prefer present things to coming to Jesus!-that any should need to be entreated to come to Him. What can be more encouraging, more inviting than a seated Christ, an open door? The present position of Christ assures the sinner that the work is finished. There is no ground for perplexity. The work required by God, and needed by the sinner, is done-perfectly done, and accepted by God for the sinner. The divine proof of this, is, a seated Christ-an open door. There, the blessed Jesus waits in patient love to receive to Himself all who come by faith. And this glorious word, " Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out," He has sent forth into all the ends of the earth, that every doubt may be dispelled. Oh, then, tell me, ye trembling, troubled, doubting, unhappy ones, where is there the smallest ground for all your fears, as to your acceptance? Certainly, it is not in the love of God, the work of Christ, the witness of the Holy Ghost, the open door, or, in the patient, waiting One. It can only be in the unbelief of your own hearts. For, surely, the work of Christ is finished-God is satisfied, and well pleased in Him, sin has been put away, the power of Satan destroyed, death vanquished, the grave spoiled, and Christ, the mighty Victor, seated in triumph on the right hand of heaven's Majesty, waiting for sinners to be gathered to Him, that they may adorn His crown, and reflect His glory, throughout the countless ages of eternity. " Now, the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." Rom. 15:13.
We will now glance, very briefly, at the second part of our subject, namely, a risen Christ-a shut door.