Gospel Offer
Introduction
- Opening Illustration
- How would you cope if someone in your family divorced
- Example
- The Samaritan Woman - John 4 who lived in Syca
- Jesus deliberately met this woman
- He spoke to her - he knew her heart
- He gave her an unconditional offer of eternal life and living water
- This is the Gospel
- Isaiah - the gospel text
- Isa 53 - Particular redemption
- Isa 55 - the free offer of the Gospel to all people
- Both of these must be held hand in hand
- Isa 55
- Reading 55:1-2, 6-7
- Paul uses these verses to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
- There can be no doubt that these are gospel verses
- Overview:
- An Invitation
- A Response
- A Promise
- Consider first last week's memory verse: Isa 53:6
- We have all sinned
- Example of deceit, a bad or unkind word, always loved God
- Example of the Samaritan woman had fallen into the temptation of looking for satisfaction in relationships
- Example of Zacchaeus
- Example of King Saul
- Each person discovers that this way does not lead to peace or satisfaction
- v2
- Have you not found the words of Jesus Christ true?
- Things of the world do not satisfy the soul
An Invitation
- Who is invited? - Everyone who thirsts
- Isa 54 - is about the Gospel going out to the Gentiles (not just the Jews)
- Reading 54:1-3
- 55:5 - the nations are invited
- The Christian Gospel must go to all lands and all people
- He who thirsts
- There are many who have no desire for and reject God
- Some are stirred up
- You are not to do 'work' but come to and trust in Christ
- It is a wonderful free and unconditional offer
- Consider the parable of the Wedding Banquet
- Have you come to Jesus?
- Is He your personal Saviour?
- Is He your personal Lord?
A Response
- You must believe
- That He is
- That He rewards those who seek Him
- That Jesus is your solution to sin
- The record about Jesus Christ
- v2 - Listen carefully, open your ears and hear
- v6 - Seek God
- Example of Spanish ship laden with gold
- Are you seeking Him?
- Do you see Him as greater treasure that anything in the whole world?
- Have you sought Him with your whole heart?
- v6 - Call upon God
- Cry out to Him
- Don't worry about the words you will use
- Hold onto the promises of God
- God is near in the preaching of His word - He is not far from any of us
- v7- Come with a repentant heart
- No one who has ever found salvation has continued in sin in the same way
- If you love sin you have not been converted
- You must repent of and turn away from sin
- Sin described in terms of way and thoughts
- Forsake your sin - the Spirit of God will help
- God sees into your heart and knows us through and through
- Turn from your sin and turn to God
- Will you believe and repent?
A Promise
- He will abundantly pardon
- He delights in mercy
- Do you believe that God loves to save sinners and change hearts?
- Do you believe that all your sin will be forgiven?
- Do you believe that Christ forgave all those who requested forgiveness?
- Do you believe in justification by faith?
- His promises
- Think of the prodigal son
- Think of the Samaritan woman
- I am the bread of life
- v2d - God wants us to know joy and rejoice
- Do we really desire God?
Closing Remarks
- Exhortation: Trust in God - while you have time
- Do not drift
- While He is near - call upon Him and He will abundantly pardon you