1. The Great Invitation
Matthew 11:28-30

2. Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

3. The Great Invitation of Jesus
Introduction
Jesus offers an invitation to all in sin
Those who are not Christians have no hope of salvation unless they accept the invitation of Jesus
Many do not realize…
Their lost condition
That Jesus invites them to come to Him
In this lesson, we will consider…
The Great Invitation of Jesus

4. There is a need for such an invitation because all are lost in sin!
Men are in sin
Isaiah 59:1-2; 53:6
Romans 3:10, 23; Galatians 3:22
1 John 1:8, 10
The wages of sin is death
Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14-15
No hope without Christ & His Gospel
1 Timothy 1:15; Ephesians 2:11-18
Romans 1:16; Luke 19:10; 5:31, 32
John 14:6
Isa. 59: Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Isa. 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Rom. 3:10, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one [Psa. 14:1-4; 53:1]. 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Gal. 3:22 - But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
1 Jn. 1: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Rom. 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rev. 20: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
1 Tim. 1:15 - This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Eph. 2: READ
Lk. 19:10 - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Lk. 5:31, And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jn. 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The Great Invitation of Jesus

5. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened”
This invitation is Universal in nature
All are invited, not just the “elect”
Acts 10: Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Rom 2:11 - For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rev. 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
2 Pet. 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 17:30, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
The Great Invitation of Jesus

6. Unconditional Election (Calvinistic Predestination)
“God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass ... By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto life, and others foreordained to everlasting death. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished”
The Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., from chapter 111, entitled “Of God’s Eternal Decree”

7. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened”
This invitation is Universal in nature
All are invited, not just the “elect”
God is no respecter of persons
Acts 10:34-35; Romans 2:11
Revelation 22:17; John 3:14-16; Acts 10:43
2 Peter 3:9; Acts 17:30, 31
Acts 10: Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Rom 2:11 - For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rev. 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Jn. 3: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 10:43 - To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
2 Pet. 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 17:30, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
The Great Invitation of Jesus

8. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened”
This invitation involves a “Precious Promise”
“I will give you rest” - vs. 28
Eternal rest - Hebrews 4:1-11
The heavily burdened need rest and peace
John 14:1-3, 27
Heb. 4: READ
Jn. 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Jn. 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The Great Invitation of Jesus

9. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened”
This invitation involves Action!
“Come unto me…take my yoke…”
God desires all to be saved
1 Timothy 2:3-5 2 Peter 3:9
Man must come to God - John 6:37; Hebrews 7:25
The action must be according to His will
Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 22:14; Hebrews 5:8-9
Luke 6:46; James 1:22-24
One must obey the terms of the Gospel
Romans 10:9-10; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38
Two things that are yoked together generally work together for a common goal. Example; two ox yoked together plowing work at the same objective. That which yokes man with the Lord is the teachings of Jesus and thereby the Lord explains that we ought to “learn” of Him. The teachings of Jesus and a spiritual union with the Lord is “easy” and “light.” There is nothing difficult and heavy about the Lord’s doctrine that unites man with God. Let us all thereby repent of sins as they are revealed to us through God’s holy word.
1 Tim. 2:3-5 - For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
2 Pet. 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Jn. 6:37 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Heb. 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Matt 7: READ
Rev. 22:14 - Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Heb. 5:8-9 - Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
Lk. 6:46 - And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Jas. 1: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Rom. 10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Mk. 15:15, 16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 2:28 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Great Invitation of Jesus

10. The Great Invitation of Jesus
Conclusion
Christ issued this invitation because he is not willing that any perish!
If you are in sin, you are lost and this invitation is for you!
Will you accept or reject this invitation?
Have you come to Christ according to His terms?
Yesterday is gone – tomorrow may never come…
The Great Invitation of Jesus

11. “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” – 2 Corinthians 6:2
Quote of Isa. 49:8 - Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.

12. “What Must I Do…” Acts 16:30 An alien sinner must…
Hear the Gospel - Romans 10:17
Believe - Acts 16:31, 32
Repent – Acts 17:30
Confess Christ - Acts 8:37
Be Baptized in water - Acts 2:38
An erring Child of God must…
Repent and Pray - Acts 8:22
Live “faithful unto death”
Revelation 2:10
Rom. 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 16: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Acts. 17: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Acts - 8:37 - And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts. 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:22 - Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.