Sovereign Grace Church

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest

(MATTHEW 11:28)

The Gospel is not an offer from God. He does not offer His mercy and grace so that it is up to your acceptance or rejection of what is offered as to whether or not you will have it. He does not offer anyone the forgiveness of sins. He does not offer salvation, and then wait and see if we accept His offer. If any aspect of salvation is an offer, that means the determining factor of salvation lies in man’s decision to accept or reject the offer. That is salvation by works in grace clothing. The Gospel is a gracious command. When He says, “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden” (MATTHEW 11:28), that is an imperative. “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink” (JOHN 7:37), that is an imperative. When we read, “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (REVELATION 22:17), that is a gracious command. I need not wonder if I am offered salvation or invited to believe. Being weary and heavy laden, I am commanded to come to Him for rest. Thirsting, I am commanded to come to Him and drink. Having nothing to pay, I am commanded to take the water of life freely. God does not offer. He commands. And the ability to obey the command comes with the commandment. When He commanded the man with the withered hand to stretch forth his hand, the man stretched forth his withered hand. When He says to a man….believe…..he believes!