Title: A Personal Invitation From The Master
Series: The Harvest Is Ripe
Text: Matthew 11:28-30
Introduction
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they tried to cover their sin by sewing fig leaves together to hide their nakedness. Since that time, man has worked relentlessly to provide for his own salvation, and like Adam, he has always failed in his efforts. Still, people work harder and harder, trying to earn their way into heaven and into the graces of God. They foolishly believe that somehow they will be accepted if they do enough good. But they are ignoring the root problem of personal sin that must be dealt with, either by being forgiven or being judged. They want to go to heaven, but they also want to keep their sins. So, rather than repenting and turning from their sins, they invent ways to get to heaven while still enjoying the pleasures of sin. This will never work, of course, because in the matter of sin, you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
So, no matter how accomplished and polished our works may be, they will never be of a sufficient quality or quantity to merit eternal life. Our self-righteousness will never be good enough to cover a multitude of sins. We can work until we are utterly exhausted, and we will still die in our sins without Christ. But God has provided a way, the way of the cross. Jesus tells us this is the only way. It is the way that leads to life. All other ways lead to death.
Illustration: It Doesn’t Work Any Other Way
My granddaughter, who is 3 years old, has entered the “Why” stage of development. It doesn’t matter what I am doing, she will invariably ask, “Papaw, what are you doing?” No matter what I tell her, the next question is always, “Why?” This is followed by an endless string of “whys” until I finally tell her something to the effect of “It doesn’t work any other way.”
That’s the way God has designed the plan of salvation. He says, “I am the way.” We ask, “Why?” The final answer has to be, “Because it doesn’t work any other way.” Jesus prayed, “Father, if there be any other way…” The answer was, “There is no other way.” No one will go to heaven except through Jesus Christ. With all due respect to those of other religions, it doesn’t work any other way.
I. THE DOOR OF SALVATION OPENS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. (Matthew 11:28)
Illustration: It’s The Boat
Imagine a ship filled with people crossing the Atlantic. In the middle of the ocean there is an explosion. The ship is severely damaged and slowly sinking. Most are dead, and the rest are rushing for the lifeboats.
Now suppose one man doesn’t know about the lifeboat, so he does not get aboard. He doesn’t have knowledge, so he is not saved.
Suppose another man knows about the lifeboat and believes it will save his life, but he is grief-stricken over seeing his wife killed, so he chooses not to get aboard and dies with his wife. He has knowledge and mental assent, but he is not saved.
Others believe the lifeboat will save them, and they get into the boat. They are saved by faith, that is they have knowledge, mental assent, and trust. However, it is not their faith that saves them--no matter how much they have. It is the boat.
Saving faith trusts Christ, and Christ saves. (Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, M. Cocoris, Moody, 1984, p. 77)
A. Salvation Is Possible Through Jesus Christ Alone. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
Note: Christianity is often disparaged by the world because of its exclusive claim to eternal life through Jesus Christ alone. The false religions of the world would rather us acquiesce to their claim that all roads lead to God, but that is not what Jesus taught us.
1. There is no other way to heaven except Jesus.
2. There is no other truth on earth except Jesus.
3. There is no other life worth living without Jesus.
B. Salvation Is Impossible Through Our Own Effort.
1. Salvation is by the grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Salvation is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
3. Salvation is according to the mercy of God. (Titus 3:4-5)
4. Salvation is the work of God. (John 6:37, 44, 65; Ephesians 2:10)
5. Salvation is through the love of God. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
II. THE REST OF SALVATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH BONDAGE TO CHRIST. (Matthew 11:28-29)
Note: A yoke was made of wood, hand-hewn to fit the neck and shoulders of the particular animal that was to wear it in order to prevent chafing. For obvious reasons, the term was widely used in the ancient world as a metaphor for submission. The yoke was part of the harness used to pull a cart, plow, or mill beam and was the means by which the animal’s master kept it under control and guided it in useful work. A student was often spoken of as being under the yoke of his teacher, and an ancient Jewish writing contains the advice: "Put your neck under the yoke and let your soul receive instruction."
That is the particular meaning Jesus seems to have had in mind here, because He adds, and learn from Me. …Christ’s disciples are His submissive learners. They submit to Christ’s lordship for many reasons, among the most important of which is to be taught by Him through His Word. A yoke symbolizes obedience, and Christian obedience includes learning from Christ. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (c) Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2002.)
· Jesus took the form of a bondservant (Philippians 2:7).
· Others who followed His example were Paul (Romans 1:1), Epaphras (Colossians 4:12), James (James 1:2), Peter (2 Peter 1:1), and Jude (Jude 1).
· This will be true of all believers who truly find rest.
A. The Yoke Of Christ Provides Rest. (I will give you rest)
Note: Christ paints two pictures in this passage. One picture is of extreme weariness. This is the person who has gone as far as he can; he can go no farther – he cannot take another step. The other picture is of extreme pressure. This is the person who is about to explode; he cannot take any more. Christ does not say what caused the weariness or pressure (heavy burdens). It does not matter, for His invitation is open to all. It is a simple invitation, requiring so little and offering so much. (The Preacher’s Outline And Sermon Bible: Matthew 1. Leadership Ministries Worldwide. Chattanooga, TN. p. 264.)
1. Our futile efforts to earn salvation become a terrible burden.
2. Jesus calls us to repent of our self-righteous works and come to Him for rest.
3. It is only when we reach the place that we are finally willing to give up, to stop trusting in our own abilities, that we will find that place of rest.
4. Only when we come to Christ in utter humility, turning from the life of sin, looking to Him alone for salvation, will we ever know the rest He provides.
5. This is what hymn writer Augustus M. Toplady must have had in mind when he wrote the timeless hymn “Rock of Ages.”
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown, see Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.
B. The Yoke Of Christ Provides Wisdom. (learn from Me)
Note: In Jesus’ day, the rabbinical teachings had become so massive, demanding, and all-encompassing that they prescribed standards and formulas for virtually every human activity. It was all but impossible even to learn all the traditions, and was completely impossible to keep them all. Jesus spoke of the heavy loads of religious tradition that the scribes and Pharisees laid on the people’s shoulders; and at the Jerusalem Council, Peter noted that the Judaizers were trying to saddle Christianity with the same man-made "yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear". (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (c) Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2002)
1. We learn that our foolish works will never get us to heaven. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)
2. We learn that our self-righteousness is totally inadequate to prepare us for heaven. (Matthew 5:20; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
a. The righteousness we need to get to heaven can only be found in Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3 8-9)
b. It is only when that righteousness is imputed to us that we become worthy of eternal life.
3. We learn that Jesus Christ has forgiven us of our sins. (Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24)
4. We learn that we have eternal life when we believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)
5. We learn that our eternal home is in heaven. (John 14:1-4)
C. The Yoke Of Christ Requires Humility. (I am gentle)
1. The Lord takes pleasure in our humility. (Psalm 149:4)
a. In humility we are most like Him. (Philippians 2:5-11)
b. Jesus humbled Himself to become a man, therefore, we must humble ourselves to become children of God.
2. He resists those who are proud. (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)
a. All those who insist that all roads lead to God are proud and arrogant in their beliefs.
b. They want salvation, but they want it on their own terms, in their own way, and in their own time.
c. Though it may not be politically correct to say so, no one will ever receive salvation unless they come through Jesus Christ.
d. God has never been politically correct, but He has always been right.
D. The Yoke Of Christ Requires Submission. (and lowly in heart)
1. Gentleness and lowliness are the self-described attributes of the Lord.
2. The lowly heart does not contend with God in the matter of salvation.
3. It does not insist upon having its own way, but graciously and tenderly submits to the way God has prepared.
III. THE FREEDOM OF SALVATION COMES THROUGH OBEDIENCE. (Matthew 11:30)
Note: Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” This contradicts the claim by some who lament, “It’s so hard to be a Christian.” But it’s only when we lean toward our own selfish desires that we find the yoke of Christ to be a burden. As we bow our necks to receive the yoke of Christ, we find, to our surprise, a number of spiritual benefits that make our existence in a sinful world much more bearable. When we are obedient to His invitation, we find that His way is much easier than all the stuff we have been trying. Especially when compared with the bondage of sin, we indeed find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
A. We Have Peace In The Midst Of Anxiety. (Philippians 4:6-7)
1. In Christ, thanksgiving overcomes anxiety, even in our deepest need.
2. There will be peace that we cannot explain.
B. We Have Comfort In The Midst Of Tribulation. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
1. There is no tribulation in which we are not comforted by God.
2. As he comforts us, we then, in turn, comfort others.
3. Those who have no comfort cannot be a comfort.
C. We Find Strength In Our Weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
1. God’s grace is sufficient for every weakness.
2. He provides the strength we lack, thereby making us complete (perfect). (Colossians 2:10)
3. We can rejoice in those times, for His strength added to our weakness makes us stronger than we can ever imagine.
D. We Find Provision In Our Need. (Philippians 4:19)
1. There is no need that God cannot supply.
2. He meets our need through His vast, unlimited resources.
Conclusion: Under New Management
A certain Army man had been a heavy drinker for 35 years. For all those years he had been angry; angry with everyone and everything. Finally, he encountered Christ and his whole life changed.
He was speaking once before a group of medical people. He told them of his personality change, how he was now sober as he once had been drunk; considerate as he once had been severe; concerned for others as once he had been selfish and self-serving.
A psychiatrist, who believed that personalities are so firmly set in early life that no one can change, protested to the Colonel that at his age a person could not have such a radical transformation.
"Well," replied the Colonel, "that may be true. But I am under new management - I answer to another authority - the highest and truest there is." (Source unknown.)
We all need to be under new management. Will you come the way of Christ, or will you depend upon your own efforts to get to heaven? Peter warns us of the consequences of refusing to come to Christ on His terms. He writes, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:17-18). That is the question I ask of you today.
