Where The Gates Swing Outward Never THE GOSPEL IN SONG

Creative License In Hymns  Many Christian hymns depend on metaphor and allusion to make their doctrinal points.  We must be careful when singing such songs not to over-extend the metaphor and teach false doctrine.  Today’s hymn will present some examples.

No Paperless Hymnal Copy Available

A Few More Days  Living in the last days  Hebrews 1:2 – “…in these last days [God] has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”  We are living the last days for as long as they last.

We Don’t Know When Christ Will Come  Matthew 24:42 – “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”  1 Thessalonians 5: For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

A Few Days To Carry Our Cross  Luke 9:23 -- And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

…for toil and tears  Psalm 126:5 – “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.”

Philippians 3:17-19  Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Going To Him In Glory  Philippians 3: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

The Greatest Gift We Will Receive  Matthew 19:29 -- And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  John 5:24 --“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Called By Jesus On That Day  John 6:40, 54 --For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day…. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Receiving An Eternal Weight Of Glory  2 Corinthians 4:17 – “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison….”

We Will Reign With Jesus  Exchanging our cross for a “starry” crown  There are many false doctrines involved in this matter of receiving a crown(s) from Jesus.

The 5 Crown False Doctrine  Some teach we will receive up to five different crowns depending on what we do while on earth.  The Bible speaks of only one crown, but calls it by different names.  The crown is most probably metaphorical as well – though that is uncertain.

A Crown By Any Other Name…  1 Corinthians 9:25 -- Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  The incorruptible crown for faithful believers

1 Thessalonians 2:19  For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?  Crown of exultation (soul winners)

2 Timothy 4:8  …in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.  Crown of righteousness (faithfulness)

Revelation 2:10  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  Crown of life (martyrs)

1 Peter 5:4  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.  Crown of glory (pastors)

Adding stars to our crown?  This likewise is a false doctrine.  Possibly based upon misunderstanding of Daniel 12:3 – “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

We receive the STEPHANOS  A wreath of victory, a garland  As co-regents with Christ  2 Timothy 2:11-12 – “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us….”

Where The Gates Swing Outward Never…  Hymn is by C.H. Gabriel  Words spoken by his son upon his departure to fight in WWI.  Uncertain of his return, he told his father if he did not return, he’d see him again in the land where the gates swing outward never.

Revelation 21:25-27  “In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”