Featured The Freewill Invitation system is a False Gospel

If there was a "skyscraper font", I would

 

Would you tie this into His Sermon on the Mount teaching regarding those who thrist and hunger for spiritual things will those who find it in and thru thru Him?

 

The invitation goes out to all. As one man put it:
"There is a God-sized vacuum within every man that only God himself can fill."
Certainly people try to fill that vacuum with their self, works, materialism, humanism, various religions, their own self-righteousness, etc. But nothing but Christ will ever fill it.

The call goes out to all. Only Christ will satisfy the hunger, meet the need, relieve the heavy burdens, make the burdens light, take the yoke from upon them, etc. Only Christ can do that. He accomplished it all on the cross. But only those who appropriate it for themselves will actually get the benefit. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

The question ought to be: "Will God deny the gospel to those who earnestly seek him."
Did he deny Cornelius the opportunity to be saved?
In the OT, what about Rahab the harlot?

There are those that earnestly seek after God. "God if there is a God, reveal yourself unto me." Will God answer them?

 

And such were you.

 

When Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me," only his disciples heard him. Does that mean that that truth is confined to the disciples and no one else? No, of course not. It is a timeless truth, true for all generations, for all people, especially them that believe on him.

So it is with Mat.11:28ff. Where was Christ? Who was his audience? How many actually heard him?
How is that verse applicable to us today? Is it just confined to those first century people that heard him on that day, and have no relevance to you or I? I don't believe that.
I believe it is a timeless truth applicable to all people, especially to those who believe on him.

 

John 14:5-6 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Prior to my salvation I was not Thomas, and yet that was one important verse used to lead me to Christ. Was it for Thomas only? Does that fact cast a doubt then, on my salvation?
Though the fact remains that Christ was talking to a very specific person, it also remains a fact that the verse was very applicable to me, just like Mat.11:28 was and still is.

 

If "The broader principle may be universally applicable," as you admit, then what is the point of your post? Hermeneutically, we look for Biblical principles which can apply to our lives today.

 

Matthew 11:28 (KJV): Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
When considering the above it is interesting to look at the context and the following is relevant:
Matthew 11:20 (KJV): Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Both Chorazim and Bethsaida had at first rejoiced in His miracles. The parallel record in Luke 10 also mentions Capernaum, and the record in Mark 1 of the initial response is remarkable by comparison to the Lord’s remarks concerning Capernaum later on in His ministry.

It is in the context of their failure to respond and repent that the next words are spoken:
Matthew 11:25-27 (KJV): 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

There are a number of things to note in the above:
1. “At that time Jesus answered” indicates that what he is about to say is in response to the failure of the citizens of the three cities to respond to the clear evidence of his miracles and preaching.
2. God the Father has the prerogative to hide and reveal the things of the gospel to different classes of people.
3. God has exercised that prerogative, but in the above citation there is indicated the basis upon which he has exercised that prerogative.
4. God has hidden the gospel from those that are wise and prudent and has revealed the gospel to those who are babes.
5. The gospel revelation has been entrusted to the Son.
6. This revelation consists in coming to an understanding or the knowledge of the Father, and the Son.

In the context then of the above Jesus makes the call of the gospel:
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV): 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.

In reality all mankind labour and are heavy laden and in need of rest, so the appeal is universal, but the response will be from those who are babes, that is those that are humble and teachable.

The same separation process is seen when Jesus called upon all to respond, and as a result the sinners responded, but the Pharisees murmured. Jesus then answered with the three parables of the lost
Luke 14:35 (KJV): He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Luke 15:1-3 (KJV): 1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
Again it is God’s prerogative how and when and to whom He shows mercy, but the parable of the Lost Son or the Prodigal Son reveals some aspects of the basis upon which God exercises mercy.

This process is also revealed in the following:
Matthew 13:9-16 (KJV): 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Luke 8:15 (KJV): But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

God has the prerogative to show mercy to whom He will show mercy, but the appeal is universal and those that respond are the humble, the teachable, those who have honest and good hearts.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

Those who respond have bad hearts and are dishonest. They respond because of the Holy Spirit's conviction of their sins and when they ask God to forgive them through faith in Jesus Christ they are given a new heart.

 

"Oh God, look not upon my sins, but take away all of my guilt;
Create in me a new heart and restore within me a upright spirit."

WM

 

What is the "World" in that context?