“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Mt.11:28]
“All that the Father giveth me — shall come to me — and them that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out.” [Jn.6:37]
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him — for he that cometh to God — must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” [He.11:6]
“No man can come unto me — except the Father which hath sent me draw him — and I will raise him up at the last day.” [Jn.6:44]
These four texts of scripture succinctly declare the purity of an important truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the most part, many see the activity of “coming to Christ” as a primary and decisive act of the sinner…and it is not. In fact, the last text from Jn.6:44 clearly states that no sinful, fallen man can come to Christ — except the Father (God the Father) draw him! The third text from He.11:6 plainly says that it is impossible to please God in coming to Him as a saved one without true and genuine faith to believe in God and that He is an eternal Savior! The God/man, Christ Jesus, Himself, tells us from Jn.6:37 that all those from out of lost and fallen mankind whom the Father has eternally given to His eternal Son shall come to Him — and all those that do come — He will in no wise cast away from Him.
This, in turn, leaves us with the first text that is commonly purported to be a general worldwide invitation of Christ, Himself, for any and all sinners to come unto Him. However, the context of Mt.11:28 is that of being a command — not an invitation! Jesus is in no way contradicting the specificity of the other three texts, but He is in actuality underscoring and further identifying the ones who truly do come to Him in eternal salvation! They are sinners who have become weary and heavy laden with their constant, inescapable sinfulness and hear the commanding voice of the loving Spirit of Christ summoning them to come to Him for eternal redemption, peace and rest. To their weary and burdened soul this summons is irresistible music to their hearing ears!
As they come to the sound of His powerful voice — out of the mists of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pe.2:9) — He reveals Himself unto them as their personal Savior and Lord who will never ever leave them, or forsake them, or cast them out. Praise His holy Name! He truly becomes to them “the way, the truth, and the life” throughout the time of their life in and through this fallen world. His Word is the only thing that sustains and satisfies their longings — and counsels them all the way until they literally enter into His most glorious presence (Ps.73:24). Indeed, their daily struggles seem to center upon the dark and deadly iniquities that are so prominent where the proclamation of pure gospel truth is concerned (Ps.119:130> “The entrance of thy words giveth light”). His Word is to them a lamp unto their feet; and a light unto their path through this troubled and trying world (Ps.119:105).
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
