The Door to Paradise

There is a door to paradise, a way to enter eternal life. This door is found in Jesus Christ, through the Wound of His Side we enter Heaven's Gate and the New Jerusalem. Jesus said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9). Christ Jesus is the I AM, the Son of God and Jehovah, the One who made all that is and will be (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16). He is One with Father (John 10:30), and the Holy Spirit testifies of Him and leads people to Him (). Upon the cross God as Man bore the sins of world, and out of His hands and feet dripped the Blood of the Sacrifice for all sins and for those who believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God (John 3:16, John 6:40). Through His side (spiritually), we enter into the Heavenly place, and Holiest Place, for We are in Him and He is in us who believe, "All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God," (1 John 4:15), "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. " (John 17:23), and "All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us." (1 John 3:24). The Mercy of the Trinity (Godhead) is manifest in the Son, Jesus Christ. God could have left us in former state, damned to be separated form God in this life and in next (Lake of Fire). But the LORD was not content to leave us doomed, but bore wounds to make a Way for us into eternal life through His blood, flesh, and death. He then rose from dead (John 20, full chapter) breaking the power of death, and Second Death over us.

This is salvation, and redemption, that Jesus Christ came and died for us, "For God so loved the world He sent His only Son and whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life," (John 3:16), "For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day," (John 6:40), "A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed," (John 8:36) and "All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God." 1 John 4:15). The whole picture however is that those who do not believe and receive this gift (grace) of Christ are doomed, ""There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son," (John 3:18), " He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth (Jesus, John 14:6)," (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12), "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels," (Matthew 25:41), "And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire," (Revelation 20:15), and "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars--their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8). The magnitude of God's love, forgiveness, and mercy cannot be understood without seeing the justice, and what He is sparing you from and saving you from. We all deserve hell. Satan and his angels rebelled (Revelation 12:1-18, Ezekiel 28:11-18, and Isaiah 14:10-18) and they have prepared for them hellfire (Matthew 24:51), and so it is for all sinners (Revelation 20:15). But God in His love and desire to show mercy took the Wrath of God on Himself (on a cross), and offers us instead Heaven and eternal life through confessing and believing in the Son of God Jesus Christ. It is a great exchange for us! And yet there are still people who will choose hell and damnation despite this tender mercy of God, who has made a door through His body into Paradise of gold, light, and beauty (Revelation 21:1-53). Unlike other gods, who aren't gods but demons and fallen angels, the LORD Jesus has made a sure way of salvation by simply believing in Him (1 John 4:15) and knowing Him (John 17:3). There is no maze, asceticism, rule keeping, law keeping, or letting your good deeds have to be enough; Jesus offers a free ticket and open door through Himself into heaven, "Then he said, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth." (John 1:51). Jesus is the Son of Man, "The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again," (Luke 24:7, more verses that prove Jesus is the Son of Man, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 8:20, Matthew 9:4-6, Matthew 16:13-21, Matthew 24:27, Mark 8:38, Luke 18:8, John 6:53, Acts 7:56, Revelation 1:13-28). 

The truth is that Jesus desires none to perish or go to hell, "The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent," (2 Peter 3:9), and "This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth [Jesus John 14:6]." (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Jesus desires everyone to be saved and believe in Him, but He knows not everyone will believe, in fact the argument people who skeptics give, "Why doesn't He just show Himself and then we will believe," is actually what He will do and still hardened people will not believe, "Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. ¹² His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. ¹³ He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. ¹⁶ On his robe at his thigh^[e] was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. ¹⁹ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. ²⁰ And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. ²¹ Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies." (Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21). Notice that when Jesus who is Word of God (John 1:1-18) appears on a white horse with his armies, that still kings and people with their armies fight against Him, unmoved by Christ appearing on clouds in glory! In addition, Christ actually sends Tribulation to help those on earth to turn to Him, but instead they become angry with Him and do abominations, "They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him," (Revelation 16:9), and "they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God." (Revelation 16:11). Then there is the fact that in Gospels, Jesus revealed who He was to Pharisees and People of Israel and they wanted to kill Him and had Him Crucified! In fact, Jesus got tired of people asking for signs and still never believing, "38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You. But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights." (Matthew 12:38-40). Do not wait for signs O skeptics! For when Jesus comes on clouds it will be too late, and judgement of those who refused His free gift of eternal life through Himself. The Door of Paradise lies open now, now is day of salvation! (). Do not waste any time, Jesus has paid for your sins and you get the eternal insurance coverage if you believe in Him and live for Him! God so loved you, He made a door through His own self into paradise, but you must turn the key of the open door, and walk through Him (Jesus) who is only way to Father and Heaven (John 14:6, John 6:40). 

Enter in through door of paradise, the door is Jesus Christ. He is God (Colossians 2:9), and He is Son of God (1 John 4:15). He is only way to heaven, eternal life, and salvation. Amen.