The Gospel Invitation

Pastor’s Bible Class

Thomas Road Baptist Church

Dr. Elmer Towns

November 11, 2007

The Gospel Invitation

A. INTRODUCTION

1. The beginning: an invitation to Noah. “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen [that] you [are] righteous before Me in this generation” (Gen. 7:1).

2. The last invitation. “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” . . . and let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

3. First in recorded church history, Charles Finney.

a. In Rochester, mourner’s bench.

b. In Buffalo, the anxious seat (chair).

c. Later, the altar call.

4. Churches that do not use an invitation:

a. Worship is primary emphasis, i.e., liturgy.

b. Bible teaching churches.

c. House churches: Kononia/fellowship.

d. Outreach and evangelism not emphasized.

e. Knowledge is basis of personal Christianity.

f. Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, “high churches.”

5. Churches that use an invitation.

a. Conversion is based on a convert’s total personality, i.e., intellect, emotion and will, i.e., decision.

b. Emphasis on Great Commission and soul winning.

c. Baptist, early Methodist, Pentecostal, Wesleyan, Nazarene.

6. The Great Chicago Fire changed it all for D. L. Moody. “You can be saved now.”

7. Billy Graham has popularized the invitation across all denominations. “The Hour of Decision.”

B. CHRIST AND THE INVITATION

1. For salvation. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

a. For whom: tired of sin.

b. He offers: rest and peace.

c. His promise: “My yoke is easy.”

2. For service. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men’” (Mark 1:17).

a. “I will make you” – must learn character.

b. “Fishers of men” – will win people to Christ.

3. The invitation appeals to all three aspects of personality:

a. Intellect – “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as woo1” (Isa. 1:18).

b. Emotions. “The woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before (Jesus) Him” (Mark 5:33).

c. Will/decision. “Jesus . . . found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (John 1:43).

4. The invitation is:

a. Easy, Charles Spurgeon as a boy heard, “Look and Live.”

b. Difficulty, some tarry at the altar to “pray through.”

5. The invitation expects outward results.

a. Repentance. “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized” (Acts 2:38).

b. Focus on God. “Look unto Me, and be saved” (Is. 45:22).

c. Life-changing. “Jesus . . . saw a man named Matthew sitting in the tax office. And he said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him” (Matt. 9:9).

6. The invitation promises inward satisfaction.

a. Satisfaction. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37).

b. Freedom. “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9).

Questions:

7. Can a person be saved apart from responding to a gospel invitation? Yes.

8. Is everyone who goes forward saved? No. Why?

9. Why do churches quit giving an invitation?

a. No evangelistic praying and activity.

b. No one was coming forward.

c. No faith.

10. What can a believer do during an invitation?

a. Pray.

b. Carefully encourage someone.

c. Learn soul winning and work at the altar.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

To receive this lesson, log on to www.elmertowns.com. You will find it under Sunday School lessons. To email Dr. Towns, eltowns@liberty.edu. For more information on the class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.