Doctrines (posted Wednesday, October 17 2007)

Many times in the Bible, God is said to desire that mankind draw near to Him for fellowship. Some Christians believe that they must invite God into their lives for this fellowship to take place, but careful study reveals that we don't need to invite Him, because He invites us.

What does the Bible say about receiving an invitation from God?

What is the invitation from God?

The primary passage concerning this invitation is taught by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself during His ministry on earth.

- John 6:44-45 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."

Here, Christ directly taught that the invitation from the Father is for all mankind to hear what He, the Father, has to say about His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the Father drawing us to Christ.

In other scriptures, Christ refers to this as calling us to Him.

- Matthew 9:13 "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

- Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

- Luke 5:31-32 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

- John 12:32 "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

Even in appointing the Twelve Apostles, Christ called and invited them to Him.

- Matthew 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

- Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him

- Mark 3:13-15 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

- Luke 6:12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles

In every case, Christ first invited and then people responded to that invitation; even as He hung upon the cross.

Where else is this invitation taught?

This invitation given by Christ matches the teachings of the Old Testament concerning God's invitation to follow Him.

- Isaiah 55:1-3 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

- Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

The Apostles understood the importance of this teaching and continually asserted that all believers are called and chosen by God. The epistles frequently remind believers that God has called us.

- Romans 8:28-30 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. or those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. nd those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

- 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

- Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel

- Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called

- Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

- 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

- Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ

Why is this important?

This invitation is important ot unbelievers because it teaches God's desire for them to be saved. He has done the work and He has now invited all men to participate in His redemption.

- John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

- Romans 10:11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

- 1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Furthermore, by recognizing salvation as a calling to which we responded, we should act according to that calling. Being a Christian isn't supposed to be something that is done for only a short period of time, it is supposed to be an entire spiritual lifestyle because of the calling we received and accepted.

- Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

- 2 Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

- 2 Timothy 1:8-10 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

- 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

- 2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.