The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 64

followers enjoy fellowship with ench other anrl with him during their pilgrimage here. He is the Door of this visible fold, llS well as that of the invisible and vaster realm of all spiritual blessings. lie is the Door, not e.rbitrarily but ne.turally, in virtue of what he is in himself, the Son of God; and in virtue of what he is to the sheep, their Purchaser, Provider, and sole Proprietor. 2. He is the only Medium of admission to spiritual blessings. (1) 'l'hore is but one medium of admission. This is Christ, and he is one. '!'here is but "one Lord, one faith," etc. There is but one Door, "one Media.tor between God and man, Christ Jesus." (2) Others may assume the position. And, as II fact, this was the ce.se, and our Lord refers to it. Some had come before him, professing to be Messiahs, assuming his titles, prerogatives, and position as the doors and shepherds of the sheep. As before Christ, so after him, many assume his position as the mediums of admission to God and the blessings of his love and mercy. (3) Their assumption of his position at once fixed their character in the spiritual world. 'fhey are thieves and robbers, lacking the right to and arlaptation for the position they assume. In our world there is evil e.s well as good, th11 false as well as the true, the counterfeit as well as the genuine coin. There is spiritual wickedness in high places, and one of its most cunning and villa.nous forms is to assume the position of Christ as the door of spiritual privileges, as they stand between sinners e.nd the Saviour, between the world and the light, and is pronounced by our Lord as the most daring usurpation, and the vilest spiritual theft and robbery. (4) Their daims to this position were resisted by the true and faithful. "But the sheep <lid not hear their voice." Christ has he.d sheep in every age, and they instinctively distinguish between the true and the false. The instincts of truth are against falsehood, and those of right are against wrong. Those who he.ve truth will be on its side. Spiritual thieves and robbers are betrayed by their voice, their principles, doctrines, and practices, and the ear of truth and faith will not listen to them; their voice is repelling, and not attractive. So that the position of Christ as the Door is defended not only by his absolute right and fitness, but by the sheep. II. THE CONDITION ON WHICH THESE BLESSINGS ARE TO BE ENJOYED. "By me if any me.n enter in." This involves: 1. Full recognition of Christ's authority as the medium of admission. He is the Door, and must be acknowledged as such. 2. Genuine faith in Ms fitness and resources as the spiritual Provider of the soul. 3. Implicit submission and obedience to his will and commands. Entrance must be made, and that by him. 4. There is but one condition for all. "By me if e.ny me.n enter," let him be rich or poor, Jew or Gentile. 'fhere is but one door. There is not one door for the rich and another for the poor, etc.; but only one. And e.s there is only one door, there is but one condition of enjoyment, viz. entrance by it. III. THE PRECIOUS BLESSINGS ENJOYED ON THIS CONDITION. Some of them a.re pointed out here. "By me if any man enter," etc. 1. Perfect safety. (1) Safety from inward dangers. We n.re in gree.t danger from our inwe.rd foes, the corruption of our nature, our evil passions, our inordinate appetites, our secret and besetting sins, the treachery and deceptiveness of our hearts. And often we a.re in greater danger from treachery within than from open hostility without (Gordon at Khartoum). But in the fold of Christ we are safe from a.II this. (2) Safety from outward dangers. Believers have e. host of outward and open foes, headed by the arch-enemy of the soul, the devil, who is as e." roe.ring lion," etc. But in the custody of Christ they shall be safe from these. 2. Perfect freedom. The Christian while in this world ce.nnot be always in the holy of holied of devotion; he must go out into his daily occupation. H is a Divine and general law that "man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening." (1) This freedom is pe1fect. It is the freedom of the highest law, the proper law of the soul, the law of filial obedience, reverence, and love. The safety of tho soul in Christ is not that of bondage,. but of perfect freedom-freedom which is compatible with and productive of the most perfect order, harmony, and happiness. "He shall go in and out." He goes out, but comes in o.~ain. (2) There is freedom of movement. "Shall go in and out," at home or abroad. The believer is free to go to any part of this world; it is his Father's house 11nd his own inheritance. (3) 'l'here is freedom of action. Within the law of his new life, the Christian may do what- ever he likes, and be engaged in any trade or business which is legitimate, from wielding a shovel to wielding II sceptre. Ho is the very man for this ; he sanctifies every labour JOHN-II, F 66 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING ro S'l'. JOHN. [on. x, 1-42,