The Great Invitation

By:  M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

97026

06/01/97 - Cyclone, KY

 

Introduction

A.   The title of the sermon today is "The Great Invitation."  Our text will be based out of Mt. 11:28-30.

1.     When we extend an invitation to someone, we invite them into our company.  Whether it be in our home, a restaurant, social gathering, or whatever, they share that time with us.

2.     It is good to invite people to spend time with us and it also good to be invited.

B.    Jesus extends an invitation in 11:28-30.  What does he invite us to do?

1.     Christ invites us to come to Him and receive rest from our toils with sin.

2.     Why?

a.     b/c sin burdens a person down spiritually and emotionally.

b.     Sin brings forth:

1.     feelings of guilt

2.     anxiety

3.     fear of judgment; being caught

c.     b/c sin separates man from God & when one is separated from God , he has no hope!

1.     let us realize this important principle!

3.  Christ is willing to be there for all of mankind.  All man has to do is submit to Him.

C.    Today, we wish to look at this invitation from Christ, the Son of God, and apply it to us.

1.     let each one of us examine our lives today and see where we stand before God.

2.     Make correction where necessary!

D.  Hope the lesson will be beneficial for you!

 

This Invitation Implies:

A.   That Jesus Can Save.  (He is Able to Deliver Thee)

1.     Why else would Christ make such a statement?

a.     Mt. 1:21 - angels foretold the mission of Christ in a summary of 10 words.

b.     It was prophesied throughout the OT about the mission of Jesus.  He is the center of God's scheme of redemption for mankind.

c.     Christ is the way, and the ONLY way!

2.     Christ Himself stated His mission in Lk. 19:10.

a.     All who are willing to repent of their ways and turn to Him in obedience will be saved.

1.      Christ is looking for you - if you are outside the kingdom!

b.     He still adds to the church daily those who are being saved through His blood.

3.  This passage implies that Christ is the only one who can save us from our sins.

a.     Singular in nature.  I will give you rest.

b.     Acts 4:12 - no other way but Christ.

1.     not through Buddha; Mohammed; little green men from Mars; not behind the Hale-Bob comet; or just being a good person

c.     Bible is clear from the start about who grants salvation.

1.     why not just accept it and obey it?

2.     It is harder not to understand the Scripture than it is to comply!

4.  Heb. 7:24-25- able to save to the uttermost.

a.     what does phrase save to the uttermost mean?

1.     Christ can save all who will entrust their salvation to His hands.

2.     Christ does not begin a work that He cannot finish.

b.     many feel as if they are out of reach by the hand of Christ.

1.     God would never let a person like me into heaven

2.     There's no use…

c.     Christ extends His invitation to ALL men.  To you, to me, to everyone.

 

B.    His Willingness to Save.

1.     Why would Christ make such a statement if He didn't want to save man?

a.     the Bible is crystal clear that God wants you in heaven - NOT HELL!

1.     rather you turn than burn.

2.     Demonstrated in 2 Pet. 3:9…

a.     longsuffering; patient; gracious

b.     gives each one of us the benefit of the doubt that we will submit to Him b/f it is too late.

2.  1 Tim. 2:1-4

a.     God wants you to be saved.  God wants all to be saved!

b.     He wants you to understand the scheme of redemption and see how He loves you by letting you take advantage of it.

c.     Again, we see the graciousness of Almighty God being demonstrated.  He didn't have to do what He has done!

3.  Ezek. 33:11 - (GO B/F READ)

a.     think of parent's love to a child…

b.     willing to provide for, nourish, love & praise our children

1.     parents want to see their children grow up & do what is right.

2.     What kind of parent would desire his child to not do right?

c.     even though we love our children, we are willing to punish them if they do not do what is right.

1.     no pleasure in it, is there?

d.     read passage. - this applies to us today on a spiritual plain!  Again, God wants you in heaven - not hell!

 

C.    Unlike Men:  Christ Needs No Persuading.

1.     men have to be persuaded of the gospel.  They have to be taught the Word of God which produces change (Rom. 10:17).

a.     sometimes takes weeks, months, even years to acquire enough faith to obey the Lord.

b.     2 Cor. 5:11 - some have to understand the consequences before they will turn.

c.     Heb. 10:31; Mt. 10:28 - fear is a motivator for man to do right.

2.     Acts 26:28 - Men must be persuaded to put away earthly influences/philosophies.

a.     don't know the contents of Agrippa's heart in this passage, but statement made that he almost persuaded.

b.     But still was not fully convinced to come to Christ:  many men in same condition today.

3.     but contrast this statement of Christ to that of men:

a.     no second thoughts with Christ

b.     ready when man is.  He patiently waits, longing for your salvation.

c.     He means what He says.

 

D.   Man is Away: Separated.

1.      be not deceived:  sin separates man from God.  God has nothing whatsoever to do with sin.

a.     Isa. 59:1-2

1.      no middle ground with God.  Impossible for God to tolerate sin.

2.      No overlooking sin.

b.     Separate: to be cut off.  Away from.  Inaccessible to one another.  No relationship. (Alien or foreign come to mind.)

1.      In this state, man is alone spiritually and only looks forward to destruction.

2.      God has no obligations to those who aren't His children.

3.      W/O death of Christ & His willingness to save, all men would be separated from God with no hope of ever partaking in His blessings.

2.  Ezek. 18:20 - the one who remains in sin - does not live but dies in His sins.

a.     each one of us has the responsibility to realize:

1.     w/o Christ one is headed for destruction.

2.     Christ is the only way

3.     Only you can make the choice for yourself.  (each man is resp. for His soul)

b.     v. 23 - God has no pleasure in punishing those who do not obey Him.

c.     Conclusion:  child of God = life; outside Christ = death.

3.  Eph. 2:12-13

a.     deplorable state of Israelites in v. 11-12

1.     having no hope w/o God

a.     notice the separation.

b.  what ended that separation?  What caused them to have hope?

1.     blood of Christ

2.     In it contains the power to make one whole in the sight of God.

 

E.    Man is a Free Moral Agent.

1.     Each man must make up his own mind that he is going to do what is necessary to be pleasing to God.

a.       live in a society where many people do not realize what personal resp. is.

1.     want someone else to do everything for them.  So they won't have to.

2.     Carried over into religion

3.     Not what Christ wants.

b.      Rev. 22:17

c.       All we need to do is heed the call.

2.     many, though are not willing to come to Christ - on His terms!  Want to come to Him on their terms.

a.     I'll come to you if…

b.     I'll come to you but…

c.     Many like Israelites in John 5:40.

1.     why not respond to Christ?

2.     B/c His way wasn't what they wanted.

3.  what I don't understand is this:  who is man to demand the terms that he will come to Christ upon?  Who is he?

a.     man subject to God.  He is our creator.

b.     He has made terms of condition for us.  Must accept them.  Mt. 16:24

 

F.    Man Must Come:  Not God!

1.  2 Cor. 5:17-21 - Be reconciled to God.

a.     God has done His part!

1.     sent His only begotten Son - Jhn. 3:16; 1 Jhn. 3:9-11

2.     sent His son to die on cross.

3.     Did this for you and me!

2.  Lk. 15:17-24

a.     must come to ourselves realizing the state which we are in and seek forgiveness.

b.     Must come to the Father and ask for forgiveness

c.     Must be ready to follow in obedience to His will.

 

G.   Man is benefited When He Comes.

1.     Why would man want to come if He wasn't going to be benefited in some way?

2.     Benefited by forgiveness of sins.

a.     Heb. 10:16-18

b.     One can be forgiven of sin - free form the tremendous load that sin carries with it.

c.     It is in Christ that one can have confidence that God will forgive us of sin upon confession.

1.     1 Jhn. 1:8-9

2.     have you been cleansed from unrighteousness?

3.  Titus 1:2

a.     when one comes to Christ, he shares in the hope of heaven.  God has promised this to His children.

b.     That hope will continue to motivate us to do what is right for the rest of our lives.

1.     want to go to heaven bad enough - you'll do whatever it takes.

4.  Jhn. 14:1-3

a.     this should be our goal.  To come to Christ to partake in great mansions He is preparing for us.

b.     Can you look forward to that today?  Right now?  Are you in such a state with God that you can say with confidence, I'm going home to heaven some day?

1.     if not, then you need to get to that point.

 

Conclusion

A.   Read. Mt. 11:28-30

1.     Christ invites you to come to Him.  He implores you to turn your ways around.

2.     Rev. 3:20-21

B.    come today while you have opportunity.

1.  all things are ready - it is now up to you!