Legal Entry Into the Kingdom: Why Jesus Alone Is the Door

Sermon outline

Jesus loves you, He is the only door into the kingdom, and when you grasp that He holds first place in all things you will have boldness in your faith.

1. The firstborn among many brethren and the prince of the kings of the earth

   Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren and the prince of the kings of the earth, which means the scripture calls believers kings on the earth. Some came from a religion where they yearned for God's love but received only a dose of religion, so he tells them once and for all that Jesus loves them, whatever they are going through. Beyond being loved, they are forgiven and washed from their sins in His blood.

   “Your circumstances have got nothing to do about the love of God that he has given you.”

   • Romans 8:29
   • Revelation 1:5

2. Jesus became the door, the legal entry into the kingdom

   Jesus' fleshly birth was His legal entry to the earth, but as head of the church and firstborn from the dead He became the door into the kingdom of God. Many modern religions teach many ways, but Jesus boldly said He is the only way. You cannot get in through the church door, baptism, tithes or being good: you must be born again, and when you accepted Christ you stepped into a new kingdom with different rules, where God is in control and He has filled you with the knowledge of His will.

   “Just as physical birth is the entry to the earth, the spiritual birth through Jesus Christ is the only legal entry into heaven.”

   • John 10:9
   • John 14:6
   • John 3:7
   • Colossians 1:9

3. What preeminence means: first in rank and influence

   Reading the devotional, he asked the Lord what preeminence means and how it affects us on earth; the answer is that it gives boldness and fuel to your faith in trials. In a world of many religions and beliefs, the Amplified says Jesus alone occupies the chief place. The Greek protos means first in rank and influence, not one among many, foremost in time, order and importance, and the first type or model of something.

   Illustration: Engineers and craftsmen design a car prototype, and every car off the production line is compared with it; whatever fails is rejected and fixed. Jesus is the church's first original design.

   “If you understand that he has preeminence, then you will have boldness in your faith.”

   • Colossians 1:18

4. 1. Preeminent in universal government

   Under this point he gives four points: Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, the agent of creation, the sustainer of all things who existed before all things, and the head of the church. When the natural fails, such as an incurable diagnosis, you switch to the invisible God for a visible manifestation. Everyone is on a journey, stumbling and learning, but all must press for Jesus to be number one.

   Illustration: Of all the millions who could have been born at the time you were conceived, you were the one: you are a word from God and not a mistake.

   “If you look at yourself, you are a word from God.”

   • Colossians 1:15
   • Colossians 1:16
   • Colossians 1:17
   • Colossians 1:18

5. 2. Preeminent in reconciliation

   Christ reconciled you to God through His death, to present you holy and faultless in the Father's presence, so you are connected to God and not alienated from Him. God will deal with your wrongs, but your mistakes do not separate you from Him. The edit ends partway through this point.

   Illustration: Your children's surname does not change because they become naughty.

   “Your mistakes don't separate you from God. You're God's child, period.”

   • Colossians 1:21-22