The call to “Come to Christ” is the most important and urgent message that can be proclaimed. The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, base on Scripture alone, to the Glory of God alone. We are saved not by our own efforts or good works, but solely by the work of Christ on the cross.
The invitation to “Come to Christ” is one of the most important invitations that anyone could ever receive. This invitation is based on the promises of God and the redemption that is offered through Jesus Christ. As a believer in reformed theology, I firmly believe in the power of God to bring salvation to all who will come to Him.
The message of the Gospel is the most important message that anyone can ever hear. It is the message of salvation, the message of hope, the message of eternal life. It is the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. This message is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ( Romans 1:16 ).
The Bible is clear that there is only one way to salvation, and that is through our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the only way to God, and without Him, there is no hope for eternal life. The message of the Gospel is one that has been preached throughout the ages, yet its power remains unchanging. The call to “Come to Christ” is a call that desperately needs to go out today. The message of the Gospel is one of hope and salvation, and it is the duty of every believer to share this message with the world.
The Biblical Foundation
The call to come to Christ is rooted in the very nature of God. Throughout the Old Testament, we see God extending invitations to His people to turn to Him for salvation. Isaiah 55:1-2 offers a beautiful example of this: “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?” In the New Testament, we see this call to come to Christ taking on an even greater urgency. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This invitation is not just to the physically weary, but also to those who are spiritually weary. It is an invitation to come to Christ and find rest for their souls. The rest that Christ offers is not just a physical rest, but a spiritual one. It is a rest from the burden of sin, guilt, and shame. It is a rest from the fear of death and judgment. It is a rest from the constant struggle to earn God’s favor and acceptance.
Another verse that speaks to this invitation is found in John 6:35, where Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” This invitation is not just about finding temporary relief from the burdens of life but is about finding true satisfaction and sustenance in and through Christ.
By Grace Alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This passage makes it clear that our salvation is not earned by our own efforts or good works, but is a gift of God’s grace. This is a central doctrine of Reformed theology and is supported by numerous other biblical passages. Romans 3:23-24 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” This passage emphasizes that all people are sinners and fall short of God’s standard, but are justified (made right with God) by his grace as a gift through Christ’s work on the cross. Titus 3:5-7 says, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” This passage further emphasizes that our salvation is not based on our own works or righteousness, but on God’s mercy and grace through Christ.
The Bible is replete with invitations to come to Christ. Another passage that highlights the call to come to Christ is found in Revelation 22:17, where the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” This passage underscores the universal nature of the invitation to come to Christ, as it is extended to all who thirst for the living water that only Christ can provide.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
The Puritans
The Puritans were renowned for their deep devotion to God and their passionate preaching of the Gospel. They recognized the urgency of the call to come to Christ, and they exhorted their listeners to respond without delay. As John Flavel wrote, “Delay in coming to Christ is the greatest folly in the world, because it hazards your eternal salvation.” John Bunyan, in his classic work “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” portrays the journey of a man named Christian who, burdened by his sins, sets out on a quest to find salvation. Along the way, he encounters many obstacles and temptations, but ultimately finds rest and peace in Christ. This allegory beautifully illustrates the truth of the call to come to Christ, and the obstacles that we must overcome in order to answer that call.
The Puritans placed a great emphasis on the call to come to Christ. They believed that it was essential for salvation and that it required a response from the individual. John Flavel, in his book “The Mystery of Providence,” writes, “There is no hope of salvation but by coming to Christ; nor any coming to Him but by faith; nor any faith but what is wrought by the operation of the Spirit of God.” Richard Baxter, in his book “The Reformed Pastor,” states, “If thou wouldst be saved, thou must come to Christ, and if thou wouldst come to Christ, thou must be willing to forsake all for Him.”
The Puritans were known for their emphasis on the doctrines of grace, including salvation by grace alone. John Bunyan wrote, “Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving.” This quote emphasizes that grace is not earned or deserved, but is given freely by God. John Owen, a prominent Puritan theologian, wrote, “Salvation is to be ascribed to nothing but free grace; and free grace is to be ascribed to nothing but the sovereignty of God.” John Owen also said, “The only way to come to Christ is to believe in Him; and the only way to believe in Him is to hear of him.” These quotes emphasizes that our salvation is entirely dependent on God’s grace and sovereignty, not on our own efforts or merit and emphasizes the importance of hearing the gospel message and responding in faith.
The Puritans were known for their deep understanding and appreciation of the invitation of Christ to come to Him. They saw it as a call to repentance and faith, a call that was urgent and necessary. The Puritan Richard Sibbes wrote, “The call of the gospel is a spiritual call, a call to the soul, to come out of the darkness of sin and unbelief, into the light of grace and faith.”
In his book “The Religious Affections,” Jonathan Edwards writes, “The great and most important duty which God requires of us is to seek Him with our whole heart… and to come to Him for mercy and grace, with a true sense of our own unworthiness.”
The call to come to Christ is an invitation that is extended to all humanity. It is a call that is rooted in the love of God and the desire for all to be saved. The Scriptures are clear in expressing this call, and the Puritans have provided us with a rich theological framework for understanding it.
The Need to Come to Christ.
The Scripture affirms that there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved ( Acts 4:12 ). Therefore, it is imperative to discuss the necessity of Christ in our salvation. The Bible teaches that all humanity is born in sin ( Psalm 51:5 ) and is alienated from God ( Ephesians 2:1-3 ). We are dead in our trespasses and sins, and there is no way we can save ourselves. We need a Savior who can reconcile us to God and bring us back into a right relationship with Him. Unless we repent, we shall perish, ( Luke 13:3 ). All are guilty of sin, and so stand in need of repentance, ( Acts 17:30 ). For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ( Romans 6:23 )
In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This statement is clear and unambiguous: salvation is only possible through Christ. John 3:36 states, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Therefore, Christians must implore the lost to turn to Christ for salvation.
The necessity to come to Christ is clear: without Him, there is no salvation. The Scriptures testify to this truth. In Romans 3:23-24, we read, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Here, we see that all have sinned, and therefore, all are in need of a savior. This Savior is none other than Christ Himself, who provides redemption through His atoning death, burial, and resurrection.
Salvation is a gift of God that is given to those whom He has chosen. However, this does not negate the importance of the invitation to “Come to Christ.” In fact, I believe that the invitation to “Come to Christ” is a necessary part of the process of salvation. It is through this invitation that God draws people to Himself and enables them to respond in faith.
The necessity of coming to Christ cannot be overstated. He is the only way to the Father, the very source of our life, and the exclusive means of our salvation. Therefore, let us heed the words of the writer of Hebrews who said, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” ( Hebrews 2:3 ). Come to Christ and trust in Him alone for your salvation.
The Call to Come to Christ.
As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:20 , “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” This plea is echoed throughout the New Testament, as the Apostles implore all who will hear to come to Christ for salvation. The Puritan Richard Baxter wrote, “This is the business of your life – to repent and turn to God. Let nothing divert you from it. Nothing is so important as this one thing.” We urge you to consider the urgency of this call, as Jonathan Edwards wrote, “The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given.” Do not delay; come to Christ today.
The call to come to Christ is not just a theological concept but a personal invitation from God. It is a call to turn away from our sin and to embrace Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Do not delay, for tomorrow is not promised. The Scriptures tell us that “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2 ). Do not be deceived by the lies of the world or the temptations of the flesh. Only in Christ will you find salvation, peace and joy. As the Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, “Christ is the most necessary thing; without Him we are undone, without him we are lost forever.” Come to Christ, for in Him alone is found grace, mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” ( Romans 10:13-15 ). Therefore, I plead with the lost to come to Christ, to hear the Gospel message, and to respond in faith. I urge them to turn from their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation. I pray that God would open their hearts to receive the invitation of Christ and give them rest for their souls.
In conclusion, the call to “Come to Christ” is the most important message that can be proclaimed. Our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, base on Scripture alone, to the Glory of God alone. Salvation is entirely the work of God, from beginning to end. It is God who chooses, calls, and saves His people. It is not based on anything they have done or can do, but solely on God’s grace and mercy. This understanding of salvation highlights the importance of the invitation of Christ to come to Him. It is not just an invitation, but a call from God Himself to His chosen people.
Come to Christ.
