9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Safe, delivered, made whole, preserved from danger, loss or destruction are all who rest in the arms of our Surety. Christ is the only Door, the only Access, the only Way. Contrary to what many may think, Jesus is man’s solitary means of salvation. There remains no other way. Peter states this clearly in Acts as well:
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Even the angel Gabriel clearly announced this Truth to fearful Joseph prior to the birth of our Lord. Prophesying the following regarding Jesus’ mission on earth to come, Gabriel states:
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." Matt 1:20-23 (NIV)
Our Lord states similarly later in John:
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV)
God's mercy is vast and beyond our comprehension. He will never reject anyone who turns to Him for mercy. Nor will He force Himself on anyone who chooses to live without Him.
Michael Youssef
“He will save His people from their sins” – Jesus gives us eternal life, saving us from eternal death, punishment and misery. Not only that, He frees us through His power to live without bondage to sin, death and destruction –in Him, we are set free. Sin no longer has dominion – He has disarmed its power and authority by the cross. We are given the power to overcome sin if we choose – it is a weakness or a cop-out or simply a lack of faith for believers to state we have no power to rid ourselves of habitual domineering sin. Scripture tells us we do. We are given this achieving ability through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul gives us the following Truths:
16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor 3:16-17 (NIV)
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1 (NIV)
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:12-13 (NIV)
“Therefore the gospel . . . should be seen as not only a message of good news for lost people to be saved from sin’s penalty, but also as a message of good news for Christian people to be saved from sin’s domineering power. The goal of the gospel is not merely to forgive us, but to change us into true worshippers of God and authentic lovers of people.” Dr. Steve Childers, True Spirituality
Our Savior also states that we can “come in and go out, and find pasture” – beautifully expressing the habitual communion with Jesus which every true believer enjoys and of which the world knows not of. The grass is always greener in the pasture with Christ! It is there that we may experience His perfect peace and for that matter, all other fruit of the Spirit as well – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law”:
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:23-27 (NIV)
We discover in our verses for today as well that Jesus is our privilege, our protection, our provision, and our peace. In a wide, broad and grand statement Jesus proclaims He is our Access – our Way to God – the Door through which we must enter to be saved and freed. “Whoever” includes any and all – learned and unlearned, righteous or however wicked in times past, great or small, noble or peasant, rich or poor – all is open to all who enters.
“‘I am the Way of access to God. All who come to the Father by Me, whether pastors or hearers, shall find through Me safety and liberty, and possess continual food for their souls.’ It is a grand wide promise to all who enter in.” J. C. Ryle