TEXT:  Matt. 11:28-30

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WONDERFUL INVITATION TO ALL - FAVORITE PASSAGE OF SOME.

B.      IN KEEPING WITH HIS DIVINE PURPOSE( Luke 19:10 ).

                   - Are you heavy laden?

C.      SOME IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS THAT ARE MISSED.

I.      IMPLIES THAT MAN IS SEPARATED FROM GOD.

A.      NOT IN BIRTH( Ez. 18:19-20 ).

B.      SIN SEPARATES( Isa. 59:1-2;  Eph. 2:1 - 2:11-12 ).

C.      ALL HAVE SINNED( Rom. 3:23;  6:23;  5:12 ).

II.     IMPLIES MAN HAS A CHOICE.

A.      CALVINISM - T-U-L-I-P;  JW's 144,000.

B.      THIS MAKES THE INVITATION A MOCKING BY GOD!

C.      MISUNDERSTOOD VERSES( John 6:44-45;  Eph. 1:4-5 ).

D.      MAN IS ALWAYS GIVEN CHOICE( Josh. 24:15;  Rev. 22:17;  Ez. 33:10-11 ).

III.    MAN MUST COME TO GOD, NOT GOD TO MAN.

A.      GOD HAS DONE ALL HE CAN( John 3:16;  Rom. 5:8 ).

B.      CAN MAN SAVE HIMSELF?( Acts 2:40;  Phil. 2:12-13 ).

C.      OUR RESPONSE MUST NOT BE PASSIVE( Rev. 3:20 ).

IV.   SOMETHING BETTER AWAITS IF WE'LL ANSWER.

A.      "YOKE IS EASY ... BURDEN IS LIGHT."

B.      THE BURDEN OF SIN IS HEAVY( Prov. 13:15;  Matt. 10:28 ).

C.      BUT...( 1 John 5:3 ).

D.      ALL BURDENS, EVEN SIN, WE MAY CAST ON THE LORD

          ( 1 Pet. 2:24;  1 John 2:1-2 ).

V.    MAN MUST LEAVE SIN TO COME.

A.      MAN CANNOT SERVE BOTH SIN AND GOD( Matt. 6:24;  12:30 ).

B.      SALVATION INVOLVES A CHANGE OF SERVITUDE( Rom. 6:17-18 ).

C.      OUT OF DARKNESS INTO LIGHT( 1 John 1:6-7;  1 Pet. 2:9 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE INVITATION IS FOR EVERYONE.

                                                                   YOU AND ME.

B.      ARE YOU BURDENED BY SIN?