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.
None of the above.
Revelation 3:20 was said to those in the
church Laodicea. The book of Revelation is explicitly stated to be written to "
show to his bondservants." It was written to those whose lives had already been bought, purchased by the blood of Christ. The book was NOT written to noon-believers, those not yet saved. Verse 3:20 is explicitly stated to be said to those in the ecclesia at Laodicea, those
bondservants who'd already been called out (and chosen) by God. Their deeds are lukewarm, and they are, therefore, at risk of being spit out, but they are still bondservants in the ecclesia. Because they are bondservants, they are also regenerate, converts, giving Jesus at try (whatever that might mean
), already saved, and have already had a new birth from above. They are told Jesus will dine with them if they open the door. Is this a reference to Jesus eating with the tax collectors, or a reference to the lamb's wedding feast? If the latter then there are no unsaved, unregenerate non-converts there.
The alternative means there must be an explanation for how a bondservant, a person whose life has been purchased and whose debt forgiven can be a bondservant without being regenerated, converted, giving Jesus a try, saved, and born anew from above. Where in scripture would we find a
bondservant in the ecclesia that isn't saved?
Therefore, verse 3:20 is telling those who already live in Christ, those regenerated and indwelt with the Holy Spirit to invite Jesus in, perhaps back in so that they may be zealous, repent, overcome, and be seated with Christ on his Father's thrown.
The key feature here is overcoming. That theme of overcoming runs through all seven letters. Each church, or city's set of congregations, is commanded to overcome what lies ahead, and every one of them is also commanded to repent. All but Laodicea have already overcome to one degree or another and, therefore, instructed to hold on and/or persevere. even Laodicea has deeds to show. They just happen to be lukewarm ones for which God has no palate. One work isn't lukewarm; it's outright disobedience: they tolerate Jezebel. As a consequence of that toleration, many
of the bondservants are being led astray. Astray of what? If they weren't saved, regenerated, and converted (from death to life?
) then they'd already be astray. To those who do not hold to the teaching of tolerating Jezebel (or the teaching of Jezebel) Christ says, "
Hold fast until I come." That would be a curious thing to say to the unsaved, not-converted, unregenerate who will be sent off to the fiery lake any way. Those that do hold on will be made a
pillar in God's temple. As bondservants, they are already the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16). Those that persevere will be made pillars in the temple to which they already belong.
Luke 2:25-32
And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."
Romans 1:1
Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.....
Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Colossians 1:3-8
We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bondservant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
Titus 1:1
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.....
James 1:1
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
2 Peter 1:1
Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ....
Jude 1:1
Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.....
Those to whom Revelation 3:20 was spoken were bondservants in the ecclesia at Laodicea.
