The Door God Has Opened

Good News – July-August 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The Door God Has Opened

Many people seem interested in biblical prophecy, which consists of God’s dealings with mankind. In the Old Testament, God chose one nation, Israel, and had a special relationship with them. But, as the New Testament book of Acts shows, the Jews, as a nation, closed the door of faith and of grace that God had previously opened to them. God, however, opened this door to the Gentiles (14:27) and to individual Jewish people who would repent and believe, indicating the new era of grace had started. This period, which includes the day in which we live, will end at what Christians call “the rapture,” when the Lord will take all believers into heaven (1 Th. 4:14-17).

Although God opened the door of grace, He maintains human responsibility: each person must believe in order to enter through this door:

• “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (Jn. 1:12 NKJV).
• “I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (5:24).
• “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (10:9).
• “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (20:31).

God used to be distant, separated. But now because of the accomplished work of Christ on the cross for you and me, God ? satisfied and glorified ? opened this door (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3), seeking to share the riches of His grace with anyone who believes. This door of God’s grace will not remain opened indefinitely, despite His great patience (2 Pet. 3:9). It will be closed, even though His desire is that all may be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; Rom. 2:4).

Throughout these days, the period of grace, the glorified Lord is revealing the things of God. He is the true David with the keys to the door of the treasure house – wanting to share His treasures with all believers who are interested in them because of love for Him (Rev. 3:7-8). The door of grace is also linked with direct access to heaven, because of the believer’s association with Christ there (see Heb. 2:9, 4:14-16, 10:19-22, 13:15). This “access” “with confidence” (Eph. 2:18, 3:12) is characteristic of the apostle Paul’s ministry, and it is mentioned by John (1 Jn. 3:21, 5:14) and Peter (1 Pet. 3:18-22). Soon the Lord Jesus will come again, and the rapture will take place (Jn. 14:3; 1 Th. 4:16). The privileges linked to this open door are for all the believers to enjoy (Rom. 5:1-2).

However, to those who are indifferent or disobedient to His appeal to believe, God closes this door. After He, as Savior (Phil. 3:20), has taken the believers of this day to Himself, He will act as “Judge” (Jas. 5:9) with respect to all those who were given the opportunity to believe Him but did not. For them – including you if you do not believe – this door of grace will remain forever closed, as God’s judgments will be executed in several phases. Those who say they are Christians but are not truly born again will be left behind at the rapture and be under the enemy’s control (2 Th. 2:3-12). Many unbelievers will perish during the seven years of judgments known as the tribulation (Rev. 6–16), while others will die after those years, at the start of Christ’s reign. God’s plans will succeed, despite much opposition.

During the rule of the Antichrist, before Christ begins His reign, God will work again in grace and many people outside of Israel will come to believe (Rev. 7:9-17) – in contrast to the unbelievers who will reject His grace then, as many do now. These believing Gentiles, or the “sheep” nations, will enter Christ’s millennial reign on earth together with the 144,000 sealed ones of Israel and restored Israel, which by then will be a nation of believers (Mt. 25:46; Rom. 11:26; see Isa. 65–66).

Those who will come to faith during the great tribulation – the last half of the tribulation – and be killed because of their faith will be resurrected to enjoy the Lord’s blessed rule in heaven and over the earth (Rev. 20:4). Later, all the unbelievers, including you if you do not enter the door of faith and grace God has opened to you now, will be judged before the great white throne. There you will be proven guilty, be condemned, and then be cast into the lake of fire (20:11-15). How solemn!

Won’t you enter through the door of faith and grace today by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? We can tell you how.

By Alfred Bouter