THE BARRED GATE AND THE OPEN DOOR

GENESIS 3:2

A. "HE PLACED AT THE EAST OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN CHERUBIMS, AND A FLAMING SWORD WHICH TURNED EVERY WAY, TO KEEP THE WAY OF THE TREE OF LIFE" 1. The Bible opens with:
  1. A barred gate and
  2. It closes with the ever open door; compare Gen. 3: 17-19 with Rev. 21:25
  • This contrast emphasizes:
    1. How sin affects man's access to the blessings of heaven - Rev. 3:17-19
    2. How the removal of sin changes man's hope for the restored blessings of God Rom. 8:1 B. THE BARRED GATE
  • Emphasizes the effect of sin:
    1. God had planned the best for man; but sin prevented Him from enjoying the blessings of Eden
    2. Sin separates from God, makes him an enemy of God - Is. 59:1-3; Rom. 8:6-7
    3. It becomes a barrier to the store house of God's blessings - Deut. 28:15-68
  • The barred gate reveals the seriousness of sin in the sight of God:
    1. His eyes are purer than to behold evil - Hab. 1:13
    2. Our God is a devouring fire to those who rebel against Him - Is. 33:14; Ps. 50:3
  • The barred gates symbolizes:
    1. A broken relationship - Is. 59:1-10
    2. The garden of Eden had been the center of God's fellowship with man; that was one reason why He had prepared the garden--made it a place of beauty and relaxation
  • What is of special significance:
    1. That barring the sinner from the tree of life meant that he had neither a right or a power to prolong his life
    2. This truth was emphasized by our Lord ; John 6:48-58
  • One must assume that Adam and Eve learned the hard way that the way of the transgressor is hard - Prov. 13:5
    1. By breaking their relationship with God
    2. By being driven from their Paradise home - Gen. 3:22-24 C. THE OPEN DOOR
  • "I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it" - Rev. 3:8:
    1. What a glowing hope that brings to the benighted soul
    2. One can almost hear one of the good angels comforting the penitent and sorrowing pair, with the assurance that God has found ransom for the restoration to their Paradise home - Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; Jer. 31:11
    3. The key to open the door is found in man's connection to the One who says, "I am the door" - John 10:9
  • The open door is a constant reminder to man:
    1. Of God's infinite love toward man, that is ever willing and ready to change man's sinful nature to fit him for the Paradise home - John 3:3-9
    2. The second important truth about the open door to the New Jerusalem is that there are no more enemies to invade it - Rev. 20:9-10
    3. Also, there are no more sinners to defile either the city or it's inhabitants - Rev. 21:27
  • We ought to have our hearts filled with love and admiration for the Lord Jesus, who is the true door to the new hope - John 10:1-17:
    1. He makes the difference in our relationship to God the Father - Col. 1:27; Eph. 2:14
    2. He makes the difference to our hope of the Paradise home - John 14:1-3; 6
    3. He makes the difference of our hope to have eternal life - John 11:25; I John 5:11-12
    4. He makes the difference of us being fellow heirs to God's promises - Gal. 3:16; 2 Cor. 1:20; Col. 1:27
    5. He is in truth the sinners only open door to the Paradise home; examples; the thief on the cross - Luke 23:43. A man with the name of Saul called Paul; I Tim. 1:15; Mary Magdalene; Dear reader, do you center your hope in Christ? Acts 4:12; are you gladdened by the knowledge that while sin bars the way to Paradise; Jesus Christ is the open door to all who believe in Him.


    • Design © John Bryant 2011