Gospel Invitations

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7: 37-39)

It is both our duty and privilege, as disciples, and as representatives of the Lord and Savior, to call (or 'invite') men to come to Christ, for the quenching of their thirsts, and for the deliverance of them from theirs sins. We plead, urge, beg, exhort, the thirsty soul to come to Christ where they may find "living water," or "eternal life."

Sin, and the life of sin, "dries out" the soul, sapping it of all life, strength, and spiritual moisture. Sin parches the spirit but Christ and the gospel, and the life he gives, "quenches" such thirst, both now and forever.

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Revelation 22: 17 NIV)

Christ identified this "water of life" as the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Spirit that accompany the Spirit's presence in the heart and mind of the believer in Jesus. The Spirit calls to men saying "come" and partake of Christ and of me, the Spirit of the Father and the Son. Come drink the fountain of eternal youth, of immortality and eternal life! What a glorious invitation!

The "bride" corresponds to the "church" or body of believers, who are "married" to Christ. (See Romans 7: 1-4 & Ephesians 5: 25-33) Thus, every disciple, as has been noted, has the privilege and duty to extend this gracious and glorious invitation to every sinner whom they meet in life. When they invite the Spirit invites.

How does one "come to Christ" and how does one "receive" Christ? It is by "believing" on him, by accepting the revelation and testimony given to him by the Holy Spirit. (See John 1: 12, 13 & 6: 65)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30 NIV)

Not only "living water" that forever satisfies and quenches the thirsty soul, parched by sin, but also "rest" and easy servitude are promised to those who leave the servitude of sin and Satan to become servants of Christ by faith. (See Romans 6: 16-18)

The invitation of Christ is for sinners to "change masters," to forsake sin and the way of disobedience and rebellion against God, from serving themselves, and their own wills and lusts, and become the servants of Christ, where true freedom is found. Thus, the invitation is also a call for slaves to come to Christ for freedom from thirst, weariness, and guilt.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55: 1-3 NIV)

What a grand, glorious, and gracious invitation! From Lord God himself! There is no qualification required! Nothing anyone can do can merit the great gift that is being offered here. It is freely offered. All are invited to come. If one is thirsty because of the struggle with sin in the desert of this depraved world, then he is invited to Christ and the water of life. If one is tired of the the life of sin, he is invited to come to Christ for eternal rest and ease. If one is under the tyrant of sin, he is invited to come to Christ who is a gentle and loving Master, and whose service is easy and delightful. If one is dead in sin, lifeless (Ephesians 2: 1), he is invited to come to Christ who is both "the Ressurrection" and "the Life." (See John 11: 25 & 14: 6)

Friend, will you ignore this invitation, or will you accept it?

Christ Died In Vain?

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 21 KJV)

"I do not frustrate the grace of God" avows Paul. "I do not preach any doctrine that makes the death of Christ to have been in vain, or useless, or of none effect," he steadfastly affirms. Christ's death was not, in any sense, or to any degree, a failure, or "in vain." The grace or God, exhibited in Christ and his death for sin upon the cross, was a success, did not fail, and will fully accomplish all that God intended to accomplish by it.

Had Christ remained in the grave, without a resurrection, he had surely "died in vain," and the gospel, faith, and hope of the Christian, yea, of all men, would be "vain." (See I Corinthians 15) Did any for whom Christ vicariously suffer and die are condemned, and fail to be justified, then the death of Christ would have been "in vain."

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8: 31-35 KJV)

The "elect" are identified with the number for whom Christ died upon the cross, as a divine substitute and representative. Paul, like a defense attorney, asks any and all pretended juries to consider the questions he rhetorically asks and the inquisitive interogatives he puts forth. "Who is able to condemn the one whom God and the law has justified?" Who are the justified? They are they for whom Christ died and shed his blood, for whom he was substitute.

"Who can condemn those for whom Christ died?" Who can punish again the sinner when Christ has already suffered for him? Can the law exact its punishment twice and yet be just? Is God guilty of "double jeopardy"?

Paul affirms the success and victory of Christ's atonement. He affirms again that it was "NOT in vain." It did not fail to accomplish all that the Father designed and intended.

Christ's legal death for a sinner is a way in which God has shown sinners, believing and elect sinners, that he is "for them." God being "for" them, in this regard, pro-elect or pro-believer, justifying them for the sake of Christ, "who can be against them?" Can the law? No, for it cannot punish twice. Can Satan? No, for he has been "destroyed" by the death of Christ. (Hebrews 2:14)

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection...Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God (once for all). " (Romans 6: 5, 8-10 KJV)



In other words, "if we have been represented by Christ in his death, we have also been represented in his resurrection." Because we are represented in Adam we "die." But, if we are represented in the second Adam, we will "live." (I Corinthians 15)

If, says Paul, we have "died with Christ," or been "crucified with Christ," then we have also been "raised with Christ," and "exalted with Christ," the one thing guaranteeing the other. If we have "died with Christ," we shall be saved. There is no such creature who it may be said "died with Christ" but who was not also "raised," "exalted," and "glorified" with Christ. All for whom Christ died to save will be saved, for Christ did not die in vain nor fail.

"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53: 11 KJV)

"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law." (Isaiah 42: 4 KJV)

Did any for whom Christ died as a substitute fail to be justified or saved, then Christ's death would have been "in vain" as regards them. Yet, Paul affirms that Christ did not die in vain. The prophets also, as the verses above demonstrate, testified that the Messiah would not fail, nor even be "discouraged" but only fully succeed. No doubt it was this kind of victory that Christ foresaw as the result of his substitutionary death and was able to "rejoice," which he could not do if all whom he intended to save, by his death, were not saved. (See Hebrews 12: 2)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep...I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10: 11, 14, 15, 27, 28 NKJV)

We know who are the "sheep," just as we know who is the "shepherd." The sheep are equated with the "elect." Who are the "elect"? They are equated with those who believe in Jesus, who are his disciples, who hear his voice and obey his word, and who perseveringly "follow" him as sheep do their shepherd. These, and these alone, are they for whom Christ died. He died for no unbeliever, nor for any fallen angel. He did not lay down his life for any who are not sheep, who do not follow him or know his voice. They are sheep that belong to some other shepherd. Christ, however, dies for his sheep, not for someone else's sheep.

None of the sheep, for whom the shepherd died and sacrificed his life, are destroyed or perish. All are saved because of the death of the shepherd. That was why the shepherd died. How could we say he "did not fail" if many, or any, of his sheep are destroyed?

"Charity (love) never faileth." (I Corinthians 13: 8 KJV)

If God's love does not fail, then all whom he loved will be saved. No man whom God loves will be lost. No one, wrote Paul, who is loved by the Father and Christ can ever be "separated from" it, but will certainly be loved forever. "God is love" (I John 4: 8) and therefore God never fails. Christ never fails.

When one trusts Christ as Lord and Savior, and hears his voice, and follows his teachings, he can then be assured of being one whom God has chosen and for whom Christ died.