In the opening three chapters of the book of Revelation, St. John penned the seven letters God sent to seven churches in the province of Asia Minor. To one of these churches in Laodicea, we hear the Savior saying: “Look, I stand at the door and I am knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in with him and dine with him, and he with me” (3:20). Some incorrectly understand Jesus’ words as an invitation to unbelievers to “make a decision” to accept Jesus into their hearts and come to faith.
We know that to be impossible, however, from multiple passages of Scripture. In one such passage, St. Paul reminds us: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3).
Martin Luther, too, clearly confessed in his explanation to the Third Article that focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit: “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the truth faith.”
What’s more, Jesus made His inviting appeal to a Christian congregation of people who are already believers. Jesus is simply urging them—as well as applying this appeal to all believers—to stay connected to Him through His word, faithfully follow Him and live their Christian faith verses following the ways of the sinful world.