The Open Tomb and The Closed Door

#1 · April 13, 2017, 8:57 am

Quote from Forum Archives on April 13, 2017, 8:57 am
Posted by: richwels <richwels@...>

I adapted this one from the writings of Dr. Earl White.

The Open Tomb And The Closed Door

Luke 24:1-3, Revelation 3:20

Introduction: In Luke 24:1-3, we see that all hell could not have prevented the opening of the tomb. Jesus asked no one’s permission and to the dismay of the powers of darkness, the stone is simply rolled back to reveal that the tomb is empty. Jesus was no longer there! Then when we look at Revelation 3:20, we see the all-powerful Lord is outside a closed door knocking for entrance. This is an amazing thing. In the one case, nothing could stop Him; but in the other case a door stops Him. God has done all that He will do to rescue you and me.

I. The Open Tomb. (Luke 24:1-3) 1 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.”

A. The open tomb means that prophecy is fulfilled. (Mark 10:32-34) 32 “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” None of the events in the life of Jesus’ suffering death and resurrection should have been a surprise to any of the disciples. Jesus had gone over this with them many times. (Matthew 16:21-23) 21 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” The suffering, death and resurrection of God the Son was God the Father’s way of solving the greatest angelic conflict of all time. Jesus came away from the empty tomb with the keys of death and hell. (Revelation 1:17-18) 17 “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Satan is a defeated foe; he is on borrowed time; what he does is permitted and yet partitioned by almighty God!

B. The open tomb means that death has been conquered. If the cross had not been accepted as payment for our sins, His physical body would have remained in the tomb and our hope for eternal life would have been just a dream that was never to be realized. (Romans 4:23-25) 23 “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

C. The open tomb means that there is hope for the hopeless. (1 Peter 1:3-5) 3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

D. The open tomb means that there is power for the present. (Philippians 3:8-10) 8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” The words “conformable unto his death” mean that we constantly identify with Him in His death and see ourselves as raised from the dead in the person of Jesus Christ as our substitute. (1 John 4:17) “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

E. The open tomb means that a fountain of cleansing from sin has been opened to us. (Zechariah 13:1) “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

F. The open tomb means that salvation by grace through faith is offered to the guilty. (Ephesians 2:8-9) 8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Acts 4:33) “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

II. The Closed Door. (Revelation 3:20) The closed door means that God will not violate our will. He allows freedom of choice. We can say no to God, but we cannot say no to the consequences of saying no to God. Have you ever seen one of those paintings of Christ where He is standing, knocking and waiting for an invitation to enter? The artist has his Theology right. Jesus will not enter uninvited. (Revelation 3:20) “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Our Lord’s entrance is conditional. His entrance is based on someone inside opening the door. He is saying that if you will open the door, He will come in to you.

Conclusion: He moved the stone that secured the entrance at the tomb with no prompting from anyone. In the case of the closed door however, He waits for our prompting. He waits for an invitation. The tomb is open to show us that it is empty so the whole world can have the offer of free salvation. However, that salvation with all of its benefits comes only to those who open the door when He knocks. Like all potential visitors who knock, He will eventually stop knocking and go away. (Proverbs 29:1) “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Open the door now while you can still hear Him knocking. Otherwise, even the open and empty tomb cannot rescue you from the wrath to come. God has done all that He will do to rescue you and me.

Posted by: richwels <richwels@...>

I adapted this one from the writings of Dr. Earl White.

The Open Tomb And The Closed Door

Luke 24:1-3, Revelation 3:20

Introduction: In Luke 24:1-3, we see that all hell could not have prevented the opening of the tomb. Jesus asked no one’s permission and to the dismay of the powers of darkness, the stone is simply rolled back to reveal that the tomb is empty. Jesus was no longer there! Then when we look at Revelation 3:20, we see the all-powerful Lord is outside a closed door knocking for entrance. This is an amazing thing. In the one case, nothing could stop Him; but in the other case a door stops Him. God has done all that He will do to rescue you and me.

I. The Open Tomb. (Luke 24:1-3) 1 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.”

A. The open tomb means that prophecy is fulfilled. (Mark 10:32-34) 32 “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” None of the events in the life of Jesus’ suffering death and resurrection should have been a surprise to any of the disciples. Jesus had gone over this with them many times. (Matthew 16:21-23) 21 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” The suffering, death and resurrection of God the Son was God the Father’s way of solving the greatest angelic conflict of all time. Jesus came away from the empty tomb with the keys of death and hell. (Revelation 1:17-18) 17 “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Satan is a defeated foe; he is on borrowed time; what he does is permitted and yet partitioned by almighty God!

B. The open tomb means that death has been conquered. If the cross had not been accepted as payment for our sins, His physical body would have remained in the tomb and our hope for eternal life would have been just a dream that was never to be realized. (Romans 4:23-25) 23 “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

C. The open tomb means that there is hope for the hopeless. (1 Peter 1:3-5) 3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

D. The open tomb means that there is power for the present. (Philippians 3:8-10) 8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” The words “conformable unto his death” mean that we constantly identify with Him in His death and see ourselves as raised from the dead in the person of Jesus Christ as our substitute. (1 John 4:17) “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

E. The open tomb means that a fountain of cleansing from sin has been opened to us. (Zechariah 13:1) “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

F. The open tomb means that salvation by grace through faith is offered to the guilty. (Ephesians 2:8-9) 8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Acts 4:33) “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

II. The Closed Door. (Revelation 3:20) The closed door means that God will not violate our will. He allows freedom of choice. We can say no to God, but we cannot say no to the consequences of saying no to God. Have you ever seen one of those paintings of Christ where He is standing, knocking and waiting for an invitation to enter? The artist has his Theology right. Jesus will not enter uninvited. (Revelation 3:20) “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Our Lord’s entrance is conditional. His entrance is based on someone inside opening the door. He is saying that if you will open the door, He will come in to you.

Conclusion: He moved the stone that secured the entrance at the tomb with no prompting from anyone. In the case of the closed door however, He waits for our prompting. He waits for an invitation. The tomb is open to show us that it is empty so the whole world can have the offer of free salvation. However, that salvation with all of its benefits comes only to those who open the door when He knocks. Like all potential visitors who knock, He will eventually stop knocking and go away. (Proverbs 29:1) “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Open the door now while you can still hear Him knocking. Otherwise, even the open and empty tomb cannot rescue you from the wrath to come. God has done all that He will do to rescue you and me.