TEXT: Matthew 11:28-30
READING: John 6:22-40
SUBJ: The manner, the method, and the necessity one experiences in coming to Christ for salvation.
AIM: That many be urged to go to Christ for salvation and because of salvation.
INTR: While this verse is often quoted, certain terms are left undefined. How easily we pass by some scripture with knowledge but not experience.
1. We would therefore ask the questions about coming to Him. What is the manner of those coming, what is the condition of those coming and exactly what is His rest?
2. It important to emphasize that it is Him to Whom we come, He gives the rest, it is His yoke, and He is the subject of our learning.
3. It is imperative that we know that we are not brought by a method or device, rather the route to Christ is direct.
THSIS: There is no other that can issue the command to come and assure the loving obedience to it. Those who come do so because of their necessity and in response to He who calls.
I. “Come unto me…” Invitation or command?
1. We consider the question of invitations and examine: Revelation 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. It is to those hearing (obedience), thirsting (needing), and willing (personal desire).
2. Consider the efficacious nature of His words. There is no “if” to be considered. None hearing ever refused to come.
3. The call is not to religion, reformation, morality, ritual, or any other such thing it is to come to a person Who is Jesus Christ the Lord.
4. The personal nature of salvation:
1) Christ died particularly for individual “sinners.”
2) He commands personally (the burdened and heavy laden).
3) We respond exclusively and fully surrender to Him and fully embrace Him as Lord and believe His promises.
II. Who are the comers?
1. By implication we understand that not all were so burdened.
2. These addressed have a compounding burden. That is:
1) They deal with the issue of sin itself: Psalms 38:4-6 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. See also: Against thee only have I sinned.
2) The overburdening by those who would prescribe legalistic and ritualistic processes which do not work. They do not bring a person to Christ and that is the need. (Well meaning uncle and the issue of seeing my dad again).
3. Needless to say, their way is “hedged up,” Hosea 2:6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.
4. They are indeed the hearing, the thirsting and the willing. Regeneration, necessity and a response to the will of God.
5. They are the promised: John 6:36-40 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
6. How irrational that any should refuse; but, left to themselves, all do.
III. What is His rest?
1. It is His rest which He personally gives and administers. He does not offer, He promises. The reason for coming must be Him, not the rest He gives.
2. His rest brings a total and complete confidence in the design of God and the love of Christ and what love constrained Him to do. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
3. It causes peace of conscience, ease of mind, tranquility of soul, through an application of pardoning grace and free justification by the righteousness of Christ. Guilty vile and helpless we, Spotless Lamb of God was He; Full atonement can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior.
4. The thrust of the words here are of force: “Hither to me,” and “I will rest you.”
5. Like Noah’s dove there can be no rest apart from Christ. There guilt is removed, labors are ended and peace reigns in the heart.
6. The “yoke” that rests. This is not an exchange of loads.
1) Learn of me (once for all).
2) To be identified with Christ makes the yoke easy and the burden light
3) There is a delight in obedience to Christ and there is freedom from doubt and fear with regard to all that comprised the burden.
4) When doing what we delight in there is pleasure and rest is found.
