"If you believe Jesus stands knocking at the door of the human heart, then you make sovereign the one who answers the door. I prayerfully long for the day when pastors, evangelists, and Christians in general will stop proclaiming a man-centered gospel by misusing Revelation 3:20 and drawing an emotional and often-times false response from the hearer. Jesus is not standing at the locked door of any sin-corroded human heart, longing to be let in. Jesus doesn't need the acceptance of anyone. Everyone needs His. The context of the before-mentioned verse finds Jesus not speaking to the unsaved, but to a disobedient church. It is not an evangelistic verse, nor should it be used as such. Jesus never asked anyone to let Him come into their heart. He commanded people to repent and believe the gospel. And those who repent and believe the gospel--by the grace of God alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone--will be saved." (Tony Miano)
James wrote - "Jesus never asked anyone to let Him come into their heart."
Maybe not, but He lives there...
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, -Ephesians 3:17
James wrote - "Jesus is not standing at the locked door of any sin-corroded human heart, longing to be let in."
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. -Hebrews 4:7
Why the admonition to not harden your heart when you hear His voice if Jesus is not calling the sinful human heart?
James wrote - "If you believe Jesus stands knocking at the door of the human heart, then you make sovereign the one who answers the door. I prayerfully long for the day when pastors, evangelists, and Christians in general will stop proclaiming a man-centered gospel by misusing Revelation 3:20 and drawing an emotional and often-times false response from the hearer."
Whatever...
James wrote - "The context of the before-mentioned verse finds Jesus not speaking to the unsaved, but to a disobedient church."
Soooo... this disobedient Church is blind and naked [vs 17], which are the same terms used of an unsaved people, and have no white raiment which is something given to believers who are covered [clothed] in the Blood of Jesus, ie, saved? No white raiment = not covered in the Blood of Jesus = unsaved. Not a disobedient Church or believer as your theology states.
woah dont know what happend there, I didnt even click submit, sorry
Gods sovergnty that means he can do it however he wants to! and if he wants us to love him WILLINGLY then does that make him less sovergin?
UUHHHHH I dont think so!
He loves us and he has put within our hearts the desire to serve a god some choose to serve satan (unkowingly) they are serving satan by rejecting the true God .
Its not as complicated as everyone makes it, Jesus loved us he died for us all mankind but some reject him simple as that!
I agree that we must called by the spirit but He is so wonderful he will "draw all man unto himself" OHHHH how BIG HE IS!!! ALLLLLLL MEN! but if they are selfish and bad and so proud they dont think they need Him then thats not Gods fault its theres and thats the problem the biggest one I have with that doctrine, it puts absolutly no responsibilty on man iots all on God and He is perfect so if man isnt saved its not god fault he did everything He paid it all so we could live, and if any man is dumb enough to reject God and jesus gift to us then they are just dumb and proud and thats their own fault not His
Usually taken as a picture of Christ's knocking on the door of the indivdual Unbeliever's Heart. In context, however, the self-deluded members of the congregation are being addressed. In this passage, the Lord of the church is pictured as knocking on the door of the church. The Laodiceans were in danger of closing Christ out of their church, just as Unbelievers can close Him out of their lives.
Let us use the 'FIRST' means of Biblical interpretation,which is 'READ AND STUDY ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT'
Rev 3:14 And to the angel of the assembly of Laodicea, write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God:
English-angel
Greek-aggelos
aggelos: an angel, messenger
Original Word: ἄγγελος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: aggelos
Phonetic Spelling: (ang'-el-os)
Short Definition: an angel, messenger
Definition: a messenger, generally a (supernatural) messenger from God, an angel, conveying news or behests from God to men.
Notice in verse 31 the word ;ASSEMBLY'
Assembly is the correct understanding of the Greek word 'ekklesia
1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating
1b) the assembly of the Israelites
1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously
1d) in a Christian sense
1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting
1d2) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order�s sake
1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body
1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth
1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564
32 �ggelos � properly, a messenger or delegate � either human (Mt 11:10; Lk 7:24, 9:52; Gal 4:14; Js 2:25) or heavenly (a celestial angel); someone sent (by God) to proclaim His message.
32 (�ggelos) is used 176 times in the NT (usually of heavenly angels), but only the context determines whether a human or celestial messenger is intended. For example, 32 (�ggelos) in Rev 1:20 can refer to heavenly angels or key leaders (perhaps pastors) of the seven churches.
[32 (�ggelos) can refer to "a human messenger" (cf. John the Baptist, Mt 11:10, quoting Mal 3:1; see also Lk 7:24, 9:52). 32 /�ggelos (plural, angeloi) refers to heavenly angels over 150 times in the NT, i.e. spiritual beings created by God to serve His plan.
In Rev 2, 3, "angels" seems to refer to heavenly angels that serve God in conjunction with these seven local churches.
(Rev 2:1) � "Probably 'the angels of the churches' (Rev 1:20, 2:1, etc.) � i.e. really angels, and not pastors" (DNTT, Vol 1, 103).]
Yeshua tells the Laodecian Assembly who He is,and He gives them His position concerning creation.
Rev. 3:14 These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God:
Yeshua proclaims Himself to being the Omnipresent,
Omnipresent,Omniscient.
Rev 3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold, or hot.
Yeshua revals that He is Omniscient,in that He is able to rightly judge the condition of the Laodecian assembly.
Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit you out of My mouth.
The Laodecians profess that they do not have to be depending upon Yehsua for much,if not ANYTHING at all.
Yet Yeshua proclaims the true condition of the Laodecian assembly.
Rev 3:17 Because you say, I am rich, and I am made rich, and I have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
Yeshua gives His counsel to the Laodecians
Rev 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold having been fired by fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, and your shame and nakedness may not be revealed. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Here is a very intersting verse,which seems to be Overlooked,and not taught on very much.
This verse reveals the Loving care,and concern Yeshua has for the Laodecians.
Yeshua proclaims His LOVE for the Laodecians.
This Love for the Laodecians is not 'AGAPE' or even 'AGAPEO'.
This Love is
English-Love
Greek-phileō
G5368
φιλέω
phileō
Thayer Definition:
1) to love
1a) to approve of
1b) to like
1c) sanction
1d) to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend
2) to show signs of love
2a) to kiss
3) to be fond of doing
3a) be wont, use to do
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from G5384
phile�: to love
Original Word: φιλέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: phile�
Phonetic Spelling: (fil-eh'-o)
Short Definition: I love, kiss
Definition: I love (of friendship), regard with affection, cherish; I kiss.
5368 phil�ō (from 5384 /ph�los, "affectionate friendship") � properly, to show warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship.
Rev 3:19 I, as many "as I love, I rebuke and I chasten." Be zealous, then, and repent. Prov. 3:12
The Admonision of Yeshua to the Laodecians.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with Me.
Rev 3:21 The one overcoming, I will give to him to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father in His throne.
The Word of YHWH is not just for the Laodecians,
This is for ALL believers.
Rev 3:22 The one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
It is obvious from the complete text of Rev 3:14-21 that Jesus is addressing both the unsaved members of the Laodicean Church who are in the majority and the saints who are backslidden in the Laodicean Church in AD 96 who are in the minority:
Revelation 3:16-21: Jesus said in AD 96 to the unsaved and saved members of the Laodicean Church, "Because you are lukewarm--.... I am about to spit you out of My mouth {Jesus never would spit born again saints out of His mouth}. You say,"I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." {The unsaved who believe in the Satanic Prosperity Gospel} But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." {Obviously referring to lost members in the church who are not washed and cleansed in the blood of the Lamb} "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. {An invitation to the lost members to be saved}
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." {Here Jesus is asking the backslidden believers to come back into a close fellowship with Him} "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. {Obviously an invitation to both the unsaved and saved members in the Laodicean Church.} To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne!!"
Well, it is obviously all about the modern American Christian's hyper-sentimentalizing the Bible.
To the Modern American (Arminian) Christian, EVERY SINGLE VERSE of Scripture has to fit nicely on a Hallmark card, so they interpret it that way, or IGNORE the entire verse!
Their Jesus has soft hands, and blue eyes and only says "Peace be with you." Just like in the movies.
The Jesus that made a weapon and used it on the moneychangers, and told the Disciples to carry a sword, well, they pretend that didn't happen.
Jesus SAID he died "for the sheep", and they want to pretend He died for the goats also.
The important thing for those who want to interpret Rev.3:20 literally and sentimentally, is that their interpretation MUST NOT CONTRADICT ANYTHING ELSE THE BIBLE SAYS.
This is where they mess up. I see this over and over again, that Arminians want to make sure everything is sweet and easy, and that they get some of the glory for their own salvation.
