The Great Invitation

The Great Invitation (2)*

Matthew 11:28-30

INTRODUCTION:

1. The significance of invitations.

2. The greatest invitation of all – Matthew 11:28-30.

3. This invitation is great because of its very existence.

DISCUSSION:

1. Assures us we can come.

a) Calvinism teaches man cannot come.

i) Calvinism teaches that man inherited Adam’s sin, is totally depraved, and cannot change his will without the Holy Spirit acting directly upon his heart, causing him to receive "irresistible grace." Scriptures incorrectly used to support this doctrine include:

(1) Romans 5:12 – "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." This scripture does not teach sin passed upon all men, but death passed upon all men.

(2) I Corinthians 15:22 – "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Obvious from the context that reference is to physical death.

ii) The scriptures teach it is possible for a person to come to Christ.

(1) John 6:35 – "Jesus said, I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger."

(2) John 7:37 – "Jesus said, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."

(3) John 14:6 – "I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

(4) Revelation 22:17 – "The Spirit and the bride say come, and let him that heareth say come."

b) As with any invitation, man has the ability to accept or decline.

i) Consider excuses many give for not accepting. "I’m not good enough, I don’t know enough, etc."

ii) Reasons many do not come (implied by Matthew 16:24).

(1) No desire – if any man will come after me.

(2) Let him deny himself – many are unwilling to deny self - Galatians 2:20.

(3) And take up his cross – many are unwilling to bear cross.

(4) And follow me – many are unwilling to recognize Jesus as Lord of their life.

2. Assures us we are capable of living the Christian life.

a) Take my yoke upon you.

i) Take – implies effort, action on our part. Consider Acts 2:40 – save yourselves.

ii) My – must follow the will of Christ.

iii) Yoke – indicates there is a definite burden to bear. Consider Luke 14:28 – which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost.

iv) Upon you – implies personal responsibility. Consider Philippians 2:12 – work out.

b) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

i) Yoke – service and obligation.

ii) Easy – manageable, not overly burdensome.

iii) Burden – (imposed precepts) – burden is minimal in comparison with the reward. Consider Romans 8:18 – "For I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

iv) Light – Thayer’s makes the following observation – "Used figuratively concerning the commandments of Jesus, easy to be kept". Consider I John 5:3 - his commandments are not grievous (not heavy, not burdensome, not difficult to observe).

v) Is it hard to live the Christian life? It’s only as hard as you make it.

CONCLUSION:

1. We can come to Christ through obedience to the gospel. Once we become Christians, we can live the Christian life.

2. Greatest invitation of all – Matthew11:28-30.

*Portions of this outline are based on an excerpt from "Things That Accompany Salvation" by Wendell Winkler

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