Sermons
August 3rd, 2025 by Pastor Solley072725AM The Open Door That Closes
Sub. Jesus
Theme: Jesus as the door.
Text: John 10:1-9
“The Open Door That Closes” John 10:1-9
Introduction
I want to speak to you this morning about an open door that closes using one of the more well known chapters in the gospel of John as a text. – John 10:1-9 – That this door is open to all is a blessing to all. That this door will close one day is a warning to all.
I. This passage begins with a sheepfold and those gathered around and in it: John 10:1 A sheepfold was a large enclosure, usually man made with walls on four sides and only one door leading in and out. Shepherds in the fields would bring their flocks to a common sheepfold at night to provide rest and comfort for the flock. A fold depending upon size could accommodate many flocks. A wise shepherd would make use of a sheepfold because it allowed the shepherd to rest as a porter guarded the door. In Luke chapter two shepherds were gathered at a sheepfold when the angel appeared and announced the giving of the Son of God into this world and from that sheepfold they went to Bethlehem to greet the Messiah. Sheep folds were very common and everyone that heard the teaching of Jesus in John ten would understand the illustration of the sheepfold.
A. There are several gathered around and in this sheepfold: To fully understand they need to be identified.
1. Jesus is the door to the sheepfold and the Good Shepherd of the sheep in His flock: John 10:9 , 11 – The Lord Jesus Christ is identified as a shepherd three times in the New Testament. (1) Jesus is the Good Shepherd in His death – Jn 10:11 (2) Jesus is identified as the Great Shepherd in His resurrection in Heb 13:20 (3) Jesus is identified as the Chief Shepherd in eternity in1 Pet 5:4 It is important that one knows Jesus as the Great Shepherd and as the Chief Shepherd and those are messages in themselves. but one can never know Jesus Christ in those ways until they know Him as their Good Shepherd. – Jn 10:11 – And one can never know Jesus as their Good Shepherd until they enter into the open door that is Jesus Christ. – John 10:9
2. The sheep within the sheepfold: John 10:3-4 The sheep withing this fold that we need be concerned with belong to the Good Shepherd. It is important to which flock one belongs and these sheep belong to the Good Shepherd.
3. The porter of the door is the holy Spirit: John 10:3 The porter was not a shepherd and the porter was not the door. The porter was a gatekeeper, one that opened and closed the door. The porter here is the Holy Spirit of God.
4. There were thieves and robbers: John 10:1 , 8 Those who would try and steal away sheep from the Good Shepherd and more to the point that would do all they could to keep sheep from becoming part of His flock. The thieves are servants of Satan, preachers of false doctrine, false prophets, fallen angels and Satan himself.
5. Many are gathered around and in this sheepfold and all are important to the message of Jesus the Good Shepherd:
B. A sheepfold was important for all that it offered to the shepherds who used them and their flocks: (1) It offered protection for the sheep. (2) It offered shelter for the sheep. (3) It offered a place of rest for the sheep. (4) It also offered rest for the shepherds as the porter watched the door and stood guard for there was only one door to the sheepfold. (5) It offered fellowship for the shepherds who were isolated most of the time. It was a wise shepherd that made use of a sheepfold.
II. I want to look this morning as the Lord allows at the lessons we can draw from the discourse of the Good Shepherd:
PROP: Do you know the Good Shepherd this morning? Have you entered the door into the sheepfold. TS. If that answer is no you need to enter through the door today. If that answer is yes you need to rest in all the sheepfold has for you.
Body
I. The most important part of the sheepfold was the door and Jesus identifies Himself as that one door: John 10:9 It is impossible to miss this, Jesus is the door. – John 10:9 – There is a door that leads into the sheepfold and that door is open to any and all who would enter in.
A. Salvation is for everyone for everyone needs salvation: One does need to attend a Bible College, does not need a dictionary, does not need pastor to interpret this verse, all one needs is to have the faith to believe it. – John 10:9 – You can be saved today and you need to be saved today. Salvation is for all for the door is open to all.
1. No one who approaches the door to the sheepfold asking for forgiveness of sin, asking for the Good Shepherd to save them will be turned away: John 6:37 “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” I can understand that.
2. Some more highly educated than I am have asked foolishly “Who has the Father given”? John 6:37 That can be answered.
a. The Father has given all to the Son to be saved. – 1 Tim 2:3-6 Not all will be saved because God has also given man a free will to make his own decisions.
b. But it is not the will of God that any perish.
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B. There is an open door for you to enter this morning and to enter through that door brings eternal life: John 10:9 , 11 But a warning between these verses. – John 10:10 Don’t allow a thief to keep you from the open door.
II. This open door to the sheepfold the potter watches and keeps open for a time: John 10:2-3 Who is the porter, who keeps the door, who opens the door to all, who watches the door? In the discourse of the Good Shepherd the porter is the Holy Spirit of God. He was not the door and is not the door, that is Jesus. – John 10:9 – But the porter is the one who opened the door and would close the door when it was time to be closed.
A. The porter is the Holy Spirit of God and no lost sheep can be saved apart from the porter, apart from the working of the Holy Spirit: It is the Holy Spirit that leads a lost sheep to the door of the sheepfold. – John 16:7-11 – How important is the porter, is the Holy Spirit in the work of salvation?
1. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts an individual of sin: John 16:8 – A pastor, an evangelist, a missionary, can preach about sin, preach against sin, point out that all are sinners in the Bible, can point out the sin nature, but can never bring a conviction of sin that will lead one to salvation. That is the work of the Holy Spirit of God.
(1) No one will be here this morning, leave here this morning under conviction because of the message of the pastor.
(2) But many if not all may leave here under conviction of the Holy Spirit of God. God’s Spirit brings conviction. – John 16:8
2. It is the Holy Spirit that brings a sinner to the righteousness of Jesus Christ: John 16:8 – It is the Holy Spirit that brings you to the perfect and sinless Lamb of God, that leads you to the one who knew and knows no sin but became sin for you and me.
3. It is the Holy Spirit that makes judgement real, makes hell real to a lost sinner: John 16:8 – It bothers me the ease with which people use the word hell. The word hell has become common place in language but when the Holy Spirit brings the conviction of hell it become real and people fear hell and judgment. That is the work of the Holy Spirit of God.
4. It is the Holy Spirit that makes one see Jesus is the only door, the only way to be saved: John 16:9
5. It is the Holy Spirit that makes heaven and hell real: John 16:10-11
6. Were it not for the porter, the Holy Spirit no one could be saved. The Holy Spirit is the porter of the door.
B. That door to the sheepfold, to salvation is open to any and all who would enter in, the porter makes sure of that: John 10:3-4
III. But there is coming a time when that door will be closed, a time when the porter will close that door: John 10:3 If the door has to be opened doesn’t that indicate that it can be closed? What then closes the door that is opened to salvation?
A. There are a number of things that will close the open door of salvation: These are things we do to close that door, not God.
1. When the heart stops the door of salvation is closed: When an individual dies, when their life is over the door of salvation closes. There are no second chances after one dies. You will leave this life saved or lost and that will not be changed.
a. One does have up to the moment they die to be saved and most people think they have plenty of time and some have stated they want to wait until the last possible moment. The problem is that we don’t know that appointed time and then it is too late to make a decision. – Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
b. I have conducted funerals for some very old and some very young. We don’t know the day our heart will stop and when the heart stops beating the door to salvation is closed.
c. If you are waiting for the eleventh hour it may come before you know it, it may be approaching midnight right now.
2. Continual refusal to be saved may compel a lost sinner to close the door: 2 Cor 6:2 It is not the Holy Spirit that closes the door but as one continues to deny the Savior, ignore conviction, it gets easier to refuse the offer of salvation.
a. I have had people tell me they “Heard it all before” and do not want to hear the gospel again.
b. I have heard some say they would rather go to hell than heaven. They are closing the door, not God, not the Holy Spirit.
c. Others deny a hell and judgment. They close the door, not God.
3. One day soon when the trumpet sounds this day of grace will end and the door will close to any and all who have heard the truth of the gospel message and rejected Christ: 1 Thess 4:13-18 That will be the happiest day of my life when Jesus appears in the clouds.
a. But for millions of people it will be the worst day of their lives because the door of salvation has closed.
b. The curtain is quickly come down on this age of grace.
4. The door will not always be open: Jer 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
B. The porter, the Holy Spirit also allows you to know what is true concerning salvation: John 16:13 I have also had any ask that with so many different beliefs how one can know which one is true? Here is the test.
1. I have never heard anyone who has believed another way beside Jesus, another way beside the gospel message, who depended upon good works or a church be sure of their salvation: They all have doubts, they all say theu hope they are going to heaven.
2. And anyone who has truly believed in Jesus, truly entered the door of salvation, has no dount they are saved and have a home in heaven one day: Why? That is also the job of the porter, to assure us of our salvation. – Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: I know that I am saved today and I know why I am saved.
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D. There has been and there is a door opened by the porter today for you to enter into the sheepfold: Will you enter in today before that door is closed to all who have rejected Jesus Christ? One day that open door will close.
IV. Now we turn to the sheep within the fold, those who are a part of Good Shepherds flock: What does the sheepfold offer?
A. The sheepfold allows one to enter into an intimate relationship with the Good shepherd: John 10:2-5 The more I read this chapter the more I am moved by these verses. Did you know that the God of heaven, the God of creation, the Savior of the world, the all-powerful God, the God who numbered the stars, did you know that God knows my name? – John 10:3 – Every time I read that verse it brings an overwhelming awe to me, it moves me to think of the Good Shepherd knowing my name, knowing me.
1. It would not surprise me to know that the Good Shepherd knows the apostles: Those used to establish the church.
2. It would not surprise me to know that the Good Shepherd would know the heros of fundamentalism: To know their names.
3. It would not surprise me to know that the Good Shepherd would know the great evangelists past and present: To know them.
4. But why would God take knowledge of me? Why know me? But the Good Shepherd known my name. – John 10:3
5. The sheepfold brings this close relationship to the Good Shepherd: He knows my name.
B. The sheepfold allows me to be that close to Him: John 10:4 He wants me to be used to hearing His voice, to know His voice and follow Him. I can know Him just that closely. I can know the sound of His voice. – John 10:4 – Do you know the sound of His voice? The Bible is very clear that the sheep of His flock can hear and know His voice. – John 10:4
1. I hear His voice when I pick up a book He has written and given to me: I hear the voice of God in my King James Bible.
2. I hear His voice as I meditate on His Word: When I take time, real time, to meditate upon His Word. – Ps 143:5-6 – When I lose myself in the clouds of heaven I hear His voice.
3. I hear His voice in prayer: I know my Good Shepherd is answering me, I hear His voice.
ILL I hear and you can hear the voice of God. Not is an audible way but in a way that you know God is speaking to you. I was reading my Bible recently and came to a passage of Scripture I really needed that morning. I then picked up a devotional my wife got me and the very same Scripture was at the heading, was the reading…I know my Good Shepherd was speaking to me.
4. The sheepfold allows me to be close to the good shepherd:
C. The sheepfold allows me to be sheltered and protected: John 10:1 Along the top of the wall of the sheepfold were sharp rocks, thorns and other obstacles that would hinder the thieves and robbers from getting to the sheep. – John 10:1 , 8 – His sheep are sheltered.
1. Deut 33:27 What a blessing to be sheltered in the arms of God.
2. In trials the Good Shepherd will be our strength: Isa 26:4
3. The sheepfold allows me to be sheltered and protected:
D. The sheepfold allows me fellowship and companionship: John 10:3-4 Did you know that sheep are very social animals? They develop very strong ties with others of the flock and they experience stress and panic when left alone. Sheep will not flourish alone.
1. So do I need the fellowship the sheepfold provides: Eccl 4:9-12 Christians will not flourish alone.
2. This fellowship must be with those who agree in Christ: Amos 3:3 Wrong fellowship will also hinder. – 1 Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
4. I will not draw strength from thosed who do not know the Good Shepherd or walk with Him: That is why it is important what fellowships you are given to. – 2 Cor 6:14-18
5. The sheepfold allows me fellowship and companionship:
E. The sheepfold allow me to come under the influence of the porter of the door, the Holy Spirit: John 10:3-4 All the sheep of the Good Shepherds fold can come under the influence of the porter, of the Holy Spirit. He is opening and closing doors.
1. Are we not commanded to be yielded to and filled with the Holy Spirit? Eph 5:18 Just as the alcoholic is influenced by the alcohol and drug addict is influenced by the drugs, so is the Christian, so am I to be influenced and under the control of the Holy Spirit of God. When I am there are changes that take place in my life.
2. Controlled by the Holy Spirit I don’t want to be controlled by the world and by sin: Rom 6:11-18 Only the Holy Spirit can do this in your life or mine.
3. The sheepfold allows me to come under the influence of the porter of the door, the Holy Spirit of God:
F. That door of blessing can also be closed: Not closed by the porter, but closed by the sheep
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1. When I neglect His Word, neglect prayer, neglect the Good Shepherd I close the door to that closeness I can have:
2. When I trust in self, trust in the world, trust in others more than my Good Shepherd I can’t feel sheltered and protected:
3. When I determine I don’t need the fellowship of the flock I feel all alone and cannot flourish:
4. When I yield to the flesh I hinder the influence of the Holy Spirit in my life, I hinder His working in me:
5. Those are doors to blessings that I close, not the Holy Spirit:
Conclusion
There are many lessons to be learned from the discourse of the Good Shepherd.
I. The most important part of the sheepfold was the door and Jesus identifies Himself as that one door: John 10:9 It is impossible to miss this, Jesus is the door. – John 10:9 – There is a door that leads into the sheepfold and that door is open to any and all who would enter in.
II. This open door to the sheepfold that the potter watches and keep open for a time: John 10:2-3 Who is the porter, who keeps the door, who opens the door to all, who watches the door? In the discourse of the Good Shepherd the porter is the Holy Spirit of God. He was not the door and is not the door, that is Jesus. – John 10:9 – But the porter is the one who opened the door and would close the door when it was time to be closed.
III. But there is coming a time when that door will be closed, a time when the porter will close that door: John 10:3 If the door has to be opened doesn’t that indicate that it can be closed? What then closes the door that is opened to salvation?
IV. Now we turn to the sheep within the fold, those who are a part of Good Shepherds flock: What does the sheepfold offer?
A. The sheepfold allows one to enter into an intimate relationship with the Good shepherd: John 10:2-5 The more I read this chapter the more I am moved by these verses. Did you know that the God of heaven, the God creation, the Savior of the world, the all-powerful God, the God who numbered the stars, did you know that God knows my name? – John 10:3 – Every time I read that verse it brings an overwhelming awe to me, it moves me to think of the Good Shepherd knowing my name, knowing me.
B. The sheepfold allows me to be that close to Him: John 10:4 He wants me to be used to hearing His voice, to know His voice and follow Him. I can know Him just that closely. I can know the sound of His voice. – John 10:4 – Do you know the sound of His voice? The Bible is very clear that the sheep of His flock can hear and know His voice. – John 10:4
C. The sheepfold allows me to be sheltered and protected: John 10:1 Along the top of the wall of the sheepfold were sharp rocks, thorns and other obstacles that would hinder the thieves and robbers from getting to the sheep. – John 10:1 , 8 – His sheep are sheltered.
D. The sheepfold allows me fellowship and companionship: John 10:3-4 Did you know that sheep are very social animals? They develop very strong ties with others of the flock and they experience stress and panic when left alone. Sheep will not flourish alone.
E. The sheepfold allow me to come under the influence of the porter of the door, the Holy Spirit: John 10:3-4 All the sheep of the Good Shepherds fold can come under the influence of the porter, of the Holy Spirit. He is opening and closing doors.
**Why would anyone refuse to enter into the sheepfold?**