Does Jesus Need My Permission To Save Me? Part 6

      

     Let's look at a passage that causes some to object to God's divine election of His people. 
     Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come and eat with him, and he with me."

     Is Jesus talking about knocking on the door of someone's heart, pleading with him to let him
come in?  John MacArthur, pastor for over 40 years, says of Revelation 20:3 - "Rather than allowing
for the common interpretation of Christ's knocking on a person's heart, the context demands that
Christ was seeking to enter this church, in Laodicea, that bore His name, but lacked a single true
believer."

     "This poignant letter was His knocking.  If one member would recognize his spiritual bankruptcy
and respond in saving faith, He would enter the church."
     Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

     Apparently, members were gathering, but not in Jesus' name.  If Jesus saw any sign of repentance
 and faith among its members, He would enter the church, and the believers would produce fruit.


     It has been said that Jesus is a "gentleman" and will not "force" anyone to believe in Him, but considering what we have shown of God's sovereignty in salvation, the word "forced" doesn't seem to be the right word to describe what God does in regenerating a person.

     As an example, take Saul (Paul) and his conversion experience.  On the road to Damascus, to
persecute Christians, he was suddenly blinded by a light from heaven that flashed around him.  He
then heard the voice of Jesus, speaking to him, saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

     Jesus ordered Saul to enter the city and he would be told what to do next.  A believer in Damascus,
Ananias, was told by God to go to Saul and lay hands on him, so that he could regain his sight.  When
Ananias hesistated because of Saul's reputation as a persecutor of Christians, God said to him, "Go, for he is a CHOSEN instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the
children of Israel" (Acts 9:15).

     Ananias obeyed and went to Saul and laying hands on him, told him, "'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight
and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'"  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he
regained his sight.  Then he rose and was baptized'" (Acts 9:17-18).

     Jesus didn't wait for Saul to say the "sinner's prayer" or "walk the aisle" and "decide to follow Jesus."
He simply took His chosen instrument and turned his heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26),
and Saul was miraculously saved!

     It was obvious to everyone he met that Saul's heart was changed because he immediately proclaimed
Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20).

     Later, Saul (now known as Paul), produced spiritual fruit when told Lydia of Thyatira, about Jesus.  Acts 16:40 - "The Lord OPENED HER HEART to respond to Paul's message."  Through God's sovereign grace, Lydia also was saved.


     Just as Jesus raised Lazarus from physical death, He raises His people from spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1 - "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins").  When Jesus told him to come forth from the grave, Lazarus didn't say, "No thanks.  I kind of like it in here, where it's nice and
quiet."

     Lazarus obeyed and arose from the dead by Jesus' power, just as we who believe are raised from
spiritual death when the Holy Spirit regenerates us.  Jesus replaces our heart of stone with a heart of
flesh, so that we can believe, and gives life to a dead sinner.
     2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;  old things have passed away.  Behold, all things have become new."















     We shouldn't feel that God has "forced" us to do anything we didn't want to do.  He has changed us
and made us willing to come to Him.  We should be grateful that God is so generous, kind, gracious,
considerate, and merciful, that He would change our hearts and bring us salvation.


     No one is pulled kicking and screaming and protesting into the Kingdom of God.  Anyone who comes to Jesus, does so because of God's mercy shown to him, when God drew him to himself, and
softened his heart, making him willing and able to receive salvation.