Let me call your attention this morning to the Word of God as it's recorded in Revelation chapter 3. Revelation chapter 3. We'll begin our reading in verse 7. Revelation 3, verse 7 through 13. Hear the Word of God. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, these things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have little strength. have kept my word and have not denied my name. Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie. Indeed, I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you because you have kept My command to persevere are the word of my patience. I also will keep you from the hour of trial, which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." This morning we returned to our studies entitled, Christ's Message to His Church. We find in chapter two and chapter three of the Revelation seven letters from the great head of the church to the seven churches which were in Asia Minor. The aged and exiled Apostle John was commissioned to write in a book what he saw and send it to these seven churches. Thus far we have seen the glorified Christ speak And he spoke in many things as we've considered the previous letters. We have seen the glorified Christ speak of lost love and pending persecution, of praise for faithfulness and rebuke for the tolerance of evil. He called out hypocrisy and called for watchfulness. and spoke of rewards to overcomers who repented of their wrong and pursued what was right. Today, we come again to the sixth letter to the Valley Church in Philadelphia. In our previous two studies, we considered something of its history and the identity of Christ to this church. Those two messages were given back in August. This morning, I want to call our attention to another portion of this passage. Consider with me the words of the first part of verse eight. I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it. Our Lord begins with those familiar words. I know your works. It is sad that in our day there are church members, much like those in the first century, who needed to be reminded that the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church, is omniscient. He knows all things. No thing can be hidden from him. The psalmist David makes this abundantly clear in the 139th number of the Psalms when he contemplates God. He says, such knowledge is too wonderful for me to meditate upon the true and living God, the God who knows all things, the God who is not only omniscient but omnipotent and omnipresent. Yet with such intimate knowledge of this church, Christ had no censure. There are only two churches amongst the seven that did not receive a censure from our Lord, and Philadelphia is one of those churches. Were they sinless? No, they were not sinless. But as Ramsey writes, what he, speaking of Christ, saw and approved was that their sins were laid on him. They were daily taking refuge in his blood and turning away from their own best works. They were looking for acceptance only in his righteousness, being thus in habitual communion with him in his death and merits. They were also in his life and were hence earnestly engaged in the daily struggle of the spiritual warfare. and grieving over the sins that grieved him. This church was not perfect, but they trusted daily in the finished work of Christ. The gospel was not something that they just heard at the beginning, but the gospel was something that they preached themselves every single day, and they were reminded that their best works were no more than filthy rags in his sight, and they were trusting only in the finished work of Christ. And they engaged themselves in this struggle, in this spiritual battle. Brethren, it is a battle. And if you're not fighting, something's wrong. And they were grieving over their sins, not their neighbor's sins. They were grieving over their own sins, those things which grieve God. were brought to their attention, and those were the things they took before the throne of grace, that they might receive mercy and grace to help in the time of need. That brings us to the balance of this letter, which I have divided under two heads, the approval, and secondly, the admonition. First, let us consider Christ's approval of this church in Philadelphia. After our Lord asserts that he is the all-knowing one, in verse eight, we find these words. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength. You've kept my word and not denied my name. As he expresses his approval of this Philadelphian church, he calls them to see, to look, to behold, Behold the blessing he has given, or graciously gifted them. This parenthetical interjection is translated to see, as we find in the New King James. Most often translated in other translations of God's word as behold. Sometimes it's translated, this word look or lo, as in the Wycliffe Bible. And it has the idea of calling attention to what may be seen or heard or mentally apprehended in any way. So we find this interjection used in other portions of scripture. If we look at Matthew chapter 25, we'll find these words. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents. And here's our word, look. I have gained five more talents beside them." Those who had been given gifts wanted the Lord to know that they were industrious. Look, we have gained five more. A very familiar passage of scripture where we find this word used. John the Baptist says, in that day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He wanted the people to consider and to pay attention to what he was addressing and pointing to, the great Savior of sinners. So what is it that our Lord wants this church to observe or consider? What is he pointing out? What is he calling attention to? He wants them to be very clear concerning the blessing he has bestowed upon them. And what is that, you might ask? Verse 8 says, I have set before you an open door, an open door. Or as Linsky renders it, lo, I have given thee a door that has been opened. Now, what is this open door? Colin Hemer rightly says in his commentary on the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia that this allusion to the open door is problematical. The commentator Robert Mounts agrees with verse eight, presents a problem, and commentators are divided as to the exact identity of the open door of verse eight. There are a few interpretations as to the meaning of this phrase, and I shall just mention the two most widely held views. First, that this is a reference to evangelism. And secondly, some believe that this is a reference to salvation itself. Mounce writes, the more common interpretation is that it denotes a great opportunity for missionary activity. Paul uses the metaphor in this way. He writes to the Corinthians of his plans to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door, for effective work has been opened to me. So we read these passages such as these, we read passages such as these, like 1 Corinthians 16, for a great and effective door has been opened to me, and there are many adversaries. Second Corinthians 2.12. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord. Again, in Colossians chapter four, we read these words. Meanwhile, praying also for us that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains. Do you remember the historical account in church history that is recorded in Acts chapter 14? Paul and Barnabas, having shaken off the dust from their feet against the unbelieving in Antioch, proceed to Iconium. Now remember, this is exactly what our Lord instructs the 12 to do when he sent them out with authority to preach and cast out demons and heal the sick. And we read in Mark 6, and the place that does not receive you or listen to you as you go out from here, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them. So when they spoke boldly, speaking of Paul and Barnabas in the Lord, a great multitude, both Jews and Greeks, believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds. They embittered them against the brethren, as we read in chapter 14 in verse 2 of the Acts of the Apostles, the Acts of the Holy Spirit. However, they stayed there a long time, the Bible tells us, and a violent attempt was made to abuse and stone them, so they fled to Lystra. In Lystra, Paul healed a crippled man, and they thought he was a god. They thought he was Hermes or Mercury, and they began to worship him. Well, they began to worship both of them, because they thought Barnabas was Zeus. And Paul heard this, and Barnabas heard this, and they tore their clothes, and they said, we are mere men. And they tried to explain that they were witnesses of the true and living God. The people wouldn't listen to these preachers. But they did listen to that bunch that came from Antioch and Iconium. And they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. They wouldn't listen to the preachers. But they did listen to that rabble bunch that came from Antioch and Iconium. It's interesting, brethren. We need to be careful. God has given you those who minister to your souls and proclaim the mysteries of Christ and the blessings of the new covenant, instruct you how to live and what to believe. Be careful about those who come to the other ear, all kinds of foolishness, things that will lead you astray. The saints gathered around Paul as He was there as they thought he was dead, and he rose up, the Bible tells us. No doubt they gathered around Paul, and they had a little bennie prayer meeting, and they pleaded with God to preserve his servant. He got up, and he went back into the city. What devotion to Christ. The next day they went to Derby preaching the gospel, then back to Lystra and Iconium to strengthen the converse. They were determined to make sure that this gospel message stuck, that the people actually really understood the gospel. So it wasn't just a one-time thing, like, you know, we have our four spiritual laws and we get through all the steps and we come to the last, where we have people to pray the sinner's prayer, and now you're in the kingdom, don't ever doubt it. not commend them to a local church where they may be nurtured and fed and grow in the Lord. But Paul and Barnabas went back, they circled back around and they strengthened the believers in their faith. The converts needed to hear the word again and again. When they had appointed elders for them in every city, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." We've just been hearing the messages of Courtney about fasting from Pastor Devon, humbling ourselves before God for those concerns that are waiting that we need much attention from God and God's help, and so they fasted and prayed. Before they laid hands on men to stand and minister the word, and those who would shepherd the flock of God, they fasted and prayed over these things. They commended them to the Lord. Now, this is what some believe the Lord was granting to this little church in Philadelphia. The reason being, after returning to the sending church in Antioch, this is the same language that Paul used to describe the completion of his first missionary journey. Now, when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that he opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Acts 14, verse 27. Without doubt, this is a great blessing to have the ability and the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is a great blessing. No doubt God was with these men as they proclaim the truth. They came back and reported all that God does. Oh, that we might come to our prayer meetings on the second Sunday and report all that God has done in our lives as we have shared and as we have proclaimed and as we have taught the gospel to our neighbors and to our loved ones. Let's bring some reports of how God is working in our lives and has blessed our efforts and our labors to witness to our coworkers and our classmates. That's what they did, and it is a great blessing. Without doubt, I say this was a blessing. And considering the Lord's words of commendation to this church, they did just that. This church was commended. There is no rebuke to this church in Philadelphia. And Christ speaks great words to them. But is that the meaning of the open door in our text? That the ones in Philadelphia were given a wide door of opportunity to preach the gospel. Remember, brethren, the purpose of the Book of Revelation. Hendrickson writes, in the main, the purpose of the Book of Revelation is to comfort the militant church in its struggle against the forces of evil. It is full of help and comfort for persecuted and suffering Christians. Remember, the Book of Revelation was given to comfort the saints and all of their struggles. Which brings me to the second view of this phrase. This is a reference, some believe, to salvation itself. The commentator G.K. Beal is describing Christ as the true witness and sovereign over life and death, who exercises power and authority on behalf of these believers, said this. He has granted its members power to enter into the sphere of salvific life, or salvation life. Behold, I have given before you an open door which no one is able to shut. This entrance into the covenantal life is also referred to as entry into the house of David, verse seven, and into the city and temple of God, verse 12 of our text. all of which can likewise be understood as images for the kingdom of God. So those who hold this second view assert that verse eight is connected to the surrounding verses. We're often reminded of that hermeneutical principle. Context is king. Therefore, we seek to understand human language and familiarize ourselves with the historical and physical and cultural setting of the original hearer's and do our word studies, and we try to analyze the structure of thought, we must pay attention to sentences and context. Sentences are linked together, demanding consideration of the immediate and the larger context. And Jeffrey Wilson says, stated that many believers, that is, open door, door of missionary opportunity, he said this, but in light of the previous verse, it is more likely to be the door of the Messianic kingdom. Although the Jews boasted that the kingdom belonged to ethnic Israel, Christ assures the loyal Philadelphians that he has placed before them an open door to glory which no one can shut. So Christ says in verse seven that he is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. This later description is quoted from the account of Eliakim who replaces unfaithful Shebna and is given control over who enters the king's house. So we read these words in Isaiah chapter 22. These words came to Shebna who was unfaithful. Then it shall be in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and strengthen him with your belt. I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Verse 22. The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder, so he shall open and no one shall shut, and he shall shut and no one shall open. I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, and he will become a glorious throne to his father's house. In the Bible times, a simple latch-type lock was a wooden boat that slipped into a slot in the doorpost. A key was the tool that released the bolt or lock. The custom of carrying large keys on the shoulders seems to be an ancient one. Treasurers and other city officials carried these huge keys as a symbol of high office. They often had a bunch of keys on the shoulder, half hung down from the front and half hung down the back. The chief steward of a rich home carried the keys of the household on his shoulders. The handle of the key was made either of brass, silver, or wood, and was often very elaborately carved. They were usually large keys. Ordinary wooden keys were from six inches to two feet in length. It was much easier to carry a number of these keys with such size on the shoulder. The key in Isaiah is a symbol of authority and power. Also, it represents true knowledge and trustworthiness. One preacher has said that there may not be a connection here with Christ and the crucifixion, but one can't help but to think of Christ carrying that large beam on his shoulders. that too is a type of key that he would, on Calvary, open the gates, fling open the doors that the people who believe the good news may enter into God's kingdom. I remember when past days we were in churches that had a statement when after the preaching, the pastor would open the doors of the church. I remember thinking that no preacher has the power to open the doors of the church. Only this Christ, the Risen One, has the power and the authority to open the doors of the church. And so when Peter preached on Pentecost, and multitudes were saved. He was proclaiming, based upon the work of the finished work of Christ, that the doors of the church, the entrance into God's kingdom, the entrance, the door is open because of what Christ has done. And you must believe on him. When Paul and Barnabas preached, as we've read in the book of Acts, and how they ministered God's word, God was declaring by the converts who came and believed that gospel that the doors of the church were open, and they were opened by our great Savior. So Christ comes to this assembly of believers who were persecuted. Perhaps they were those, like we read of in Acts, and fearful of being put out of the synagogue, the place of worship for the people of God, Perhaps they were like the parents of that man who was born blind that we read of in John chapter nine, subject to the abuse of unbelieving Jews who would excommunicate those who trusted in the true Messiah. The Jews were exempt in this day as they were exempt from Roman rule as far as how they are to conduct worship and their religion. And so they did not have to go to the pagan festivals. They didn't have to participate in the pagan gatherings of the trade guilds and engage in that demonic activity. And perhaps the believing Jews were there in the synagogue with them, but when they discovered that these had believed on Christ, they were excommunicated. These believing Jews were outed and exposed by the unbelievers in the synagogue of Satan as not being of their number. They were Jews outwardly, these of the synagogue of Satan, but we know from Romans chapter two that real Jews are not those who are just Jews outwardly, who engage in physical circumcision, but circumcision is of the heart and by the spirit. And a true Jew is one who is circumcised inwardly. Christ comes to these with words of encouragement. You may not be accepted into the synagogue. You may be put out of the synagogue. And you may think that something's wrong because you know that the covenant, the promises have been given to national Israel. But you have come to believe on the true Messiah, the holy and the true one. And so he comes with words of encouragement. You may be rejected by those who say they are Jews and are not, but lie. But you're mine. I want you to know, Christ, you are mine. And you have been born of God. And you bear the fruit of the true Israel of God. You may be small and have little power, yet you have kept my word and not denied my name. The Messiah, the head of the church, says, I have opened to you a door and no one can shut it. Don't feel bad that they won't let you in the church. I remember a preacher saying once about somebody who was expelled from a church and said, don't worry that you've been put out of that church. Christ hadn't been here in a long time either. Ichabod is over this place. And so was this synagogue of unbelieving Jews, the synagogue of Satan. Furthermore, I will make those who expel you from the assembly come and acknowledge that you are the true worshipers of the holy and true God. And I will cause them to know that I have loved you. I asked a question this morning. Answer this in the deep recesses of your mind and your heart. Can you say that you are loved of God? Can you say that you know that Christ loves you? Do you know for a fact, because of the witness of the Spirit and the evidence of a changed life, that God has called you before the foundations of the world, that he has set his distinguishing love upon you? Christ says, I will make them know. They think they are in right relationship with me and they expel you from the synagogue. No, I will let them know that I am the one who opens the door to the kingdom. You are mine and you bear witness and you bear testimony of the fact that you are mine by the way you live. And I will let them know that you are mine and that I have loved you. you bear fruit that testifies to the fact that you're mine. And if you are mine, you will bear fruit. Christians, if you belong to Christ, you'll bear fruit. Beware of a profession without practice. There are many people today who can quote the Puritans. There are many people today who can be victorious in a sword drill. There are many people who talk about heaven, but they're not going there because they did not bear the fruit. Beware of a profession without practice. In Matthew chapter 7, we find those sobering words about those who came before the Lord on the day of judgment. And they said, Lord, Lord, have we not cast out demons? Have we not done many mighty works in your name? Christ didn't say, no, you didn't. Be aware of trusting and giftedness and privilege. He said, depart from me. I never knew you. I never bestowed my distinguishing love upon you. And he describes him as workers of iniquity. It's possible to be a member in good standing in a good biblical church and not bear the fruits of righteousness. Brethren, beware. Examine your lives and make sure that you are holding and clinging to the righteousness of Christ alone for your salvation. He is the one who opened the door. He is the one who grants entrance into his kingdom and into his family. Those who are adopted into God's family bring forth fruit. Take yourselves the passages that talk about, like Galatians 5, 22 and following, those verses that bear home to our heart what Christians who have been saved by God look like. And see if those things are true of you. Do you live a transformed life? Do you live a gospel-centered life? Or are we filled with aspirations for worldly things and the love of the world, and we sprinkle a little religiosity on our lives on the Lord's Day? Or is this gospel having some real inroads and effects in how we live from day to day? I spoke of the joy of the saints that came here in this sanctuary this morning, and we're delighted to see one another. Perhaps some of you have been speaking about God's mercy to you this past week, and how He has blessed your life, how He has helped you to deal with your remaining sin, and given you victory over your sin, and you rejoiced in that. Perhaps you agreed and you need some help and you've asked your brothers to come alongside me to exhort me that I might continue on and not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Brethren. Trust in Christ, not in your baptism. not in your church membership, not in church attendance. There's some of you who are applying for membership in this church. Don't think when you enter this tank back here that the water works some kind of a change. It's only an outward expression of what has inwardly taken place in your life. You've been buried with Christ and raised to newness of life, and you want the world to know that you belong to this Messiah. Your life must be changed, brethren. Christ will hold you fast. It's a struggle, it's a battle, but Christ has promised to keep his people. He has promised to hold them fast, so fast you'll be able to say with the Apostle Paul, for this reason I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I'm not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day. God's people persevere. because God preserves them. He holds his people. Do they stumble? Yes. Grievously? Yes, even like King David. But don't take comfort in the fact that you're a Christian because you've fallen like King David. Can you also say that you repented like King David? Can you also say that you've been humbled by your sin? and you find yourself on your face before your God, pleading the merits of Christ, and seeking power from the Holy Spirit to rise up and live godly lives. Oh yes, we stumble, we fall, but we rise up, because God is preserving us. He is causing us to persevere. Christ not only says he opens, and no one shuts, but he also says he shuts and no one opens. This speaks of judgment. If Christ closes the door, there is no entrance into the kingdom. Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." John 14, verse 6. These unbelieving Jews of the synagogue of Satan rejected this Messiah. And we read those words in John chapter 1. He said, I came unto my own, and my own did not receive me. But to as many as received him, this Christ, to them he gave the right of the power to become the sons of God. He has opened the door to these who believe on him. As he told Nicodemus. I will not that I say unto thee, you must be born again. You must be born from above. You must have come to faith in Christ and find him as the only entrance to this wide open door that he has provided for needy sinners. Jesus has strived to enter through the narrow gate. Work hard. Work hard. Make sure you're in the kingdom. Make your calling and election sure. Look at the evidences of the fruit that is born by those who have entered into the kingdom of God. Is that true of your life? You must fight. This word agonizomai is a word of struggle. It's a word of contending for. And some of you in this place are not converted. You're not Christians. Are you striving? Are you working hard to understand the gospel and to believe on Christ? Christ says, agonize, make it a great effort in your life because he shuts doors that cannot be opened. Mommy and Daddy can't open the door. Grandma and Grandpa can't open the door. Your brothers and sisters, your wife, your husband can't open this door. Only Christ opens this door to the kingdom and to the family of God. And you must come to Him. There are many, I say, like these in the synagogue of Satan, who think they're in, but they're not in. And you must strive to enter in at the narrow gate. Why? Listen to God's word. When once the master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord, open for us. He will answer and say to you, I do not know you, where you are from. Then you will begin to say, we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I do not know you from where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. This wide open door into God's kingdom is open. But if you reject the overtures of mercy, it will be closed. And in that day, there will be no entrance. because the day of grace is past and gone. Beloved, this church, this faithful little church, who perhaps, and we'll speak of this more in the days to come, Lord willing, had little resources, yet they kept God's word and they did not deny His name. They persevered. because they kept his command to persevere. And God stamps his approval. Our Lord stamps his approval on these and these alone who trust him. Brethren, this should sober us to think that we can be members of a church of a local church and yet be lost and slaves to sin. It's true, it happens. Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there are that go that way. Narrow is the road that leads to life. Beloved, make sure you're on that narrow road that leads to life. And in that day, he will welcome us into his eternal kingdom. And we'll hear those words, well done, good and faithful servant. Don't you wanna hear those words? I wanna hear those words. May we persevere. Though we be small in number, God grants great power to those who trust him. Let's pray. Our God, we thank you and we bless your holy name. We bless you because you're worthy to be praised. We thank you, Father, for sending your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world, sinners to save. And such are we. We thank you for your Spirit who has opened our eyes. giving us new life in Christ. We thank you, Father, for the fruit that is born in our lives, and we take no credit for it. Though we seek to obey you and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we know that you are working in us, both to will and to do of your good pleasure. Oh, Lord, take not your hand off of us. We thank you that no one can pluck us out of your hand. And so we ask, Lord, that you would help us to live lives that bear forth fruit, that we belong to you, and that we have truly been loved by you. And we shall be careful to give your name all the praise and all the glory. For we ask in the name of our great Savior, the one who is our peace. even Jesus, your darling Son. In His name we pray. Amen.