Coming to Jesus

1 Coming to Jesus (Following Jesus, Part 2)

Following Jesus, Part 2

LEARNING TO SWIM

When I was in college, I enjoyed swimming so for many of my PE classes I selected the swimming

options. My junior year I took lifesaving.

We started with classroom instruction. We learned how to correctly approach a struggling swimmer. If

you don’t do it right, you can end up downing yourself. We studied how to grab and hold someone so

you could stay in control of the situation.

Then we moved into the pool to practice it. You know, it’s a totally different feel when you get in the

water. When you are working with a live struggling person, it’s different than studying a textbook.

The next year I passed Water Safety Instructor Certification and for my last quarter at college I taught

swimming to a class of young elementary school students.

We would have them practice the arm motions while they were standing on the edge of the pool. They

would work and work to get the motions just right. But then, we would have them get into the water.

You can’t really learn to swim unless you get into the water. It may be scary at first, the water may be

cold, you may even swallow some of it – but there is really only one way to learn how to swim. You get

into the water and start trying to swim.

REVIEW

Last Sabbath we began a new six-week sermon series titled Following Jesus. We began by looking at the

end of the story.

I don’t know how you approach a new book, but before I begin reading it I always look at the end. I like

to know where it is taking me. It helps me know if it will worth my time reading the book.

Last week we began by looking at the end of the story. It’s good to know where Jesus wants to take us.

He made it clear there are only two final destinations in life. He said:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV)

We will either perish or have everlasting life. These are the only options – hell or Heaven.

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Jesus talked about Heaven the last night He was with His disciples prior to His arrest and death. He said:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough

room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a

place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with

me where I am.” (John 14:1-3, NLT)

As I shared last week, I love the way the Voice translates verse 3:

“I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together.”

(John 14:3, the Voice)

Home – this is what Jesus wants for us – to be home with Him for eternity! And then Jesus added this

interesting statement:

“And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:4, NLT)

This confused at least one of His disciples:

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we

know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except

through me.” (John 14:5-6, NLT)

JESUS IS THE WAY!

Jesus is the only way for us to experience Heaven, the only way for us to escape the destruction of sin.

Paul in his letter to the Romans said:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, NLT)

For those who belong to Jesus, there is no condemnation – this means if you belong to Jesus you have

salvation!

So, how do we know if we belong to Jesus?

John the Apostle, in one of his letters, said:

He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does

not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the

Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13, NLT)

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This is pretty straight-forward. If you have the Son (have Jesus); you have life – you are secure for

eternity! If you don’t have Jesus, you don’t have life – you will perish.

So, what does it mean to have Jesus?

These are critical questions and they demand an answer. It doesn’t help us much to know what we need

if we have no idea how to get it. That is a recipe for hopelessness.

Fortunately, Jesus does not leave us in the dark on this. The answer is simple and straight-forward,

although many find it difficult.

COME TO ME!

The answer is found in a familiar text; one we have looked at numerous times – a text many of you have

even memorized. We quote this passage so often it’s easy to see it as a complete thought. But, it’s even

more powerful when we understand the context.

It is part of a passage where John the Baptist sent a couple of his disciples to ask Jesus this question:

“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

(Matthew 11:3, NLT)

This is a bit puzzling since John had confidently said earlier God had revealed to him that Jesus was the

Messiah – he had even received a sign from Heaven! (See John 1:29-34).

Jesus used this as a jumping off point to talk about doubt, disbelief, and eternal consequences. Then He

said that God had entrusted Him (Jesus) with everything. Salvation and a knowledge of God was in His

hands. And then He said:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take

my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find

rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

(Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)

Jesus, after making the point that our eternal destiny is a stake and He is the one who has the key to

eternity, invited us to come to Him and trust Him with our lives.

What He is asking is for us to stop reading and talking about it, and start doing it.

He is saying it’s time to get into the water and really learn to swim. He wants to make it real in our lives.

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Real rest only comes with real experiences in Jesus. We can only know He has everything under control

as we live life with Him. And Jesus is saying that the most important thing, our eternal destiny, will be

under control if we will just come to Him and stay with Him!

This is a really important invitation. Our eternal destiny depends on what we do with it!

THE INVITATION

This invitation is not limited to a select group of people. Anyone who recognizes they are weary and

carry heavy burdens; anyone who desires real rest can respond.

This invitation is not limited to mature people. You are welcome to come however old or young you may

be!

This invitation is not limited to those who have good attitudes, to those who are strong, kind, or

cheerful. You are welcome to bring your attitude, whatever it is! He knows how to deal with our

attitude!

This invitation is not limited to those who have their lives in order. Jesus does not ask us clean up, or

make changes in order to be accepted – He invites us to come just the way we are, dirty and sinful.

Making people clean and whole is His specialty!

He doesn’t even tell us we have to be sorry for our sinfulness – He just invites us to come to Him! He will

take care of what we need!

He simply says:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28, NLT)

THE RESULTS

In the Gospel of John, Jesus illustrates this another way; a gate into a sheep fold – an enclosure designed

to keep sheep safe. He said:

“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep … Those who come in through me will be saved.

They will come and go freely and will find good pastures … My purpose is to give them a rich and

satisfying life.” (John 10:7-10, NLT)

When we accept His invitation, or come in through the Gate; we will experience salvation – a rich and

satisfying life that will last throughout eternity!

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In the little book Steps to Christ, there is a passage we have looked at numerous times. The author tells

us what the condition is for eternal life – perfect obedience, perfect righteousness. She then makes the

observation that we cannot do it and do not have it because of our sinfulness – which puts us into a

rather hopeless situation.

But, she notes, Jesus came and lived a life of perfect obedience and had perfect righteousness. He offers

to take our sinfulness and give us His perfection. And then she makes this observation:

… If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have

been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your

character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.

(Steps to Christ, page 62)

When we accept Jesus’ invitation (or walk through the Gate) we are accepted by God as if we had never

sinned! Remember what the Apostle Paul said:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, NLT)

When you accept His invitation, you belong to Jesus! And when you belong to Jesus you are not

condemned, but you are saved!

And remember what the Apostle John wrote?

He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does

not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12, NLT)

When you accept His invitation, you have Jesus! And when you have Jesus, you have eternal life!

RESPONSE REQUIRED

An invitation requires a response. You have been invited, so what are you going to do?

You can say no. You can tell Him that you have life under control and don’t really need His help or

involvement. Of course, Jesus won’t believe you – and will keep inviting.

You can ignore it – this is basically the same as saying no. The problem with it is you often come to the

place where you don’t even notice it or hear it any longer. And the bigger problem is that since you have

never actually said “no” you have a false sense of security. Ignoring it will take you to the same eternal

destination as saying no.

Or, you can say yes – you can accept His invitation; you can jump into the water. You do this by telling

Him that you want to accept His invitation. It’s really just that simple.

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You just need to say in your heart to Jesus: “Thank you for your invitation. I want to accept it and stay

with you forever. Please teach me what this means and hold me tight.”

The moment you do that; you belong to Jesus! You have Jesus – which means you have life!

How about it?

Are you going to just keep watching the videos and reading the books or are you going to jump in and

experience it?

Are you going to just stand on the sidelines and watch and point out the mistakes of people who are in

the water and trying, or are you going to dive in and start learning what it really means to live for Jesus

and experience His peace?

If you have never really said yes to Jesus, today is a great day to change that. Accept His invitation and

start really living!

_______________

If you click on text this color it will take you to more complete references, the ability to compare

translations, previous sermons, or to pertinent websites.

To check out previous sermons in this series, click on the title below.

Home with Jesus, Following Jesus Part 1, Preached June 18, 2016

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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Proverbs 14:12 (NLT): There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

(Proverbs 14:12, NLT)

Isaiah 30:15-18 (NIV): This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would

have none of it. 16 You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore, you will flee! You said, ‘We

will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore, your pursuers will be swift! 17 A thousand will flee at the

threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a

mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.”

18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For

the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:15-18, NIV)

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT): Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy

burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble

and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the

burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)

Matthew 11:28-30 (the Message): “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get

away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me

and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything

heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

(Matthew 11:28-30, the Message)

John 1:29-31 (NLT): The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God

who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is

coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not

recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed

to Israel.” (John 1:29-31, NLT)

John 3:3-8 (NLT): Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the

Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s

womb and be born again?”

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5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water

and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual

life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:3-7, NLT)

John 3:14-17 (NLT): And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of

Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who

believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge

the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:14-17, NLT)

John 10:1-10 (NLT): “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than

going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through

the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep

recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After

he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know

his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his

voice.”

6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained

it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were

thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who

come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and

satisfying life. (John 10:1-10, NLT)

John 14:1-7 (NLT): “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more

than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going

to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will

always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we

know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except

through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you

do know him and have seen him!” (John 14:1-7, NLT)

John 14:1-6 (the Voice): “Don’t get lost in despair; believe in God, and keep on believing in Me. My

Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you. If there were not room for everyone, I

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would have told you that. I am going to make arrangements for your arrival. I will be there to

greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together. You know where I am

going and how to get there.”

Thomas said: “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the path?”

Jesus replied: “I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except

through Me.” (John 14:1-6, the Voice)

John 17:3 (NLT): “… And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus

Christ, the one you sent to earth …” (John 17:3, NLT)

Romans 7:14 – 8:4 (NLT): So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is

with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to

do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is

wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin

living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is

right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I

do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin

living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do

what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that

is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what

a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want

to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you

belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads

to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.

So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners

have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a

sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied

for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

(Romans 7:14 – 8:4, NLT)

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1 John 1:8 – 2:11 (NLT): If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the

truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to

cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and

showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

2 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we

have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly

righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and not only our sins but the sins

of all the world.

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I

know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the

truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we

know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have

had from the very beginning. This old commandment – to love one another – is the same

message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and

you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in

darkness. 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to

stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a

person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

(1 John 1:8 – 2:11, NLT)

1 John 5:11-15 (NLT): And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his

Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know

you have eternal life. 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that

pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he

will give us what we ask for. (1 John 5:11-15, NLT)

E.G. WHITE REFERENCES

Desire of Ages, page 635-636: The world, full of rioting, full of godless pleasure, is asleep, asleep in

carnal security. Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord. They laugh at warnings. The

proud boast is made, "All things continue as they were from the beginning." "Tomorrow shall be

as this day, and much more abundant." 2 Peter 3:4; Isa. 56:12. We will go deeper into pleasure

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loving. But Christ says, "Behold, I come as a thief." Rev. 16:15. At the very time when the world is

asking in scorn, "Where is the promise of His coming?" the signs are fulfilling. While they cry,

"Peace and safety," sudden destruction is coming. When the scorner, the rejecter of truth, has

become presumptuous; when the routine of work in the various money-making lines is carried on

without regard to principle; when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his

Bible, Christ comes as a thief.

Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast

their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows

calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every

grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human

or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly

are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting

and watching and working for our Lord's appearing. Another class are falling into line under the

generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to

shun and a heaven to win.

The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual

round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting

and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are

jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding

to theaters, horse races, gambling halls. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is

fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He

has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced,

until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut.

Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the

Mount of Olives: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with

surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these

things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

(Desire of Ages, page 635-636)

Our Father Cares, June 2: Not to Condemn but to Save

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him

might be saved. (John 3:17).

There are souls who are trembling in unbelief. They ask, “How can I know that God is reconciled

to me? How can I be assured that He loves and pardons me?” It is not for you, dear youth, to

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make yourselves just with God. Jesus invites you to come to Him with all your burdens and

perplexities … Accept the promise and the provision that God has made … Look away from self to

Jesus; for in Christ the character of the Father is revealed.

The blood of Christ in ever-abiding efficacy is our only hope, for through His merits alone we have

pardon and peace.

The character of God as revealed by Christ invites our faith and love, for we have a Father whose

mercy and compassion fail not. At every step of our journey heavenward He will be with us to

guide in every perplexity, to give us help in every temptation.

Your reason and imagination should be touched with the life-giving power of Christ, that forms

of beauty and truth may be impressed thereon. There are great and precious truths that demand

your contemplation, in order that you may have a sound foundation for your faith by having a

correct knowledge of God. O that the superficial, vain seeker for truth would learn that the world

by wisdom, however much acquired, knew not God.

It is proper to seek to learn all that is possible from nature, but do not fail to look from nature to

Christ for the complete representation of the character of the living God. By contemplation of

Christ, by conformity to the divine likeness, your conceptions of the divine character will expand,

and your mind and heart will be elevated, refined, and ennobled. Let the youth aim high, not

relying upon human wisdom, but living day by day as seeing Him who is invisible, doing their

work as in the sight of the intelligences of heaven …

He who constantly depends upon God through simple trust and prayerful confidence, will be

surrounded by the angels of heaven. He who lives by faith in Christ, will be strengthened and

upheld, able to fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold upon eternal life.

(Our Father Cares, E.G. White, June 2)

Selected Messages, Book 1, page 96: Every soul has a heaven to win, and a hell to shun. And the angelic

agencies are all ready to come to the help of the tried and tempted soul. He, the Son of the

infinite God, endured the test and trial in our behalf. The cross of Calvary stands vividly before

every soul. When the cases of all are judged, and they [the lost] are delivered to suffer for their

contempt for God and their disregard of His honor in their disobedience, not one will have an

excuse, not one will need to have perished. It was left to their own choice who should be their

prince, Christ or Satan. All the help Christ received, every man may receive in the great trial. The

cross stands as a pledge that not one need be lost, that abundant help is provided for every soul.

We can conquer the satanic agencies, or we can join ourselves with the powers that seek to

counterwork the work of God in our world (Selected Messages, Book 1, page 96)

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Steps to Christ, pages 17-19: In his sinless state, man held joyful communion with Him "in whom are hid

all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:3. But after his sin, he could no longer

find joy in holiness, and he sought to hide from the presence of God. Such is still the condition of

the unrenewed heart. It is not in harmony with God, and finds no joy in communion with Him.

The sinner could not be happy in God's presence; he would shrink from the companionship of

holy beings. Could he be permitted to enter heaven, it would have no joy for him. The spirit of

unselfish love that reigns there --every heart responding to the heart of Infinite Love --would

touch no answering chord in his soul. His thoughts, his interests, his motives, would be alien to

(18) those that actuate the sinless dwellers there. He would be a discordant note in the melody

of heaven. Heaven would be to him a place of torture; he would long to be hidden from Him who

is its light, and the center of its joy. It is no arbitrary decree on the part of God that excludes the

wicked from heaven; they are shut out by their own unfitness for its companionship. The glory of

God would be to them a consuming fire. They would welcome destruction, that they might be

hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them.

It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our

hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?

not one." "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither

indeed can be." Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort,

all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward

correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life.

There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed

from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the

soul, and attract it to God, to holiness …

(19) It is not enough to perceive the loving-kindness of God, to see the benevolence, the fatherly

tenderness, of His character. It is not enough to discern the wisdom and justice of His law, to see

that it is founded upon the eternal principle of love. Paul the apostle saw all this when he

exclaimed, "I consent unto the law that it is good." "The law is holy, and the commandment holy,

and just, and good." But he added, in the bitterness of his soul-anguish and despair, "I am carnal,

sold under sin." Romans 7:16, 12, 14. He longed for the purity, the righteousness, to which in

himself he was powerless to attain, and cried out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver

me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24, margin. Such is the cry that has gone up from

burdened hearts in all lands and in all ages. To all, there is but one answer, "Behold the Lamb of

God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. (Steps to Christ, pages 17-19)

Steps to Christ, page 24: But when the heart yields to the influence of the Spirit of God, the conscience

will be quickened, and the sinner will discern something of the depth and sacredness of God's

holy law, the foundation of His government in heaven and on earth. The "Light, which lighteth

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14 Coming to Jesus (Following Jesus, Part 2)

every man that cometh into the world," illumines the secret chambers of the soul, and the hidden

things of darkness are made manifest. John 1:9. Conviction takes hold upon the mind and heart.

The sinner has a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah and feels the terror of appearing, in his

own guilt and uncleanness, before the Searcher of hearts. He sees the love of God, the beauty of

holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed and to be restored to communion with

Heaven. (Steps to Christ, page 24)

Steps to Christ, pages 26-27: Just here is a point on which many may err, and hence they fail of receiving

the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they

first repent, and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins. It is true that

repentance does precede the forgiveness of sins; for it is only the broken and contrite heart that

will feel the need of a Saviour. But must the sinner wait till he has repented before he can come

to Jesus? Is repentance to be made an obstacle between the sinner and the Saviour?

The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he can heed the invitation of Christ,

"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.

It is the virtue that goes forth from Christ, that leads to genuine repentance. Peter made the

matter clear in his statement to the Israelites when he said, "Him hath God exalted with His right

hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts

5:31. We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can

be pardoned without Christ.

Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity

against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness, is an

evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts.

Jesus has said, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." John 12:32. Christ

must be revealed to the sinner as the Saviour dying for the sins of the world; and as we behold

the Lamb of

God upon the cross of Calvary, the mystery of redemption begins to unfold to our minds and the

goodness of God leads us to repentance. In dying for sinners, Christ manifested a love that is

incomprehensible; and as the sinner beholds this love, it softens the heart, impresses the mind,

and inspires contrition in the soul. (Steps to Christ, pages 26-27)

Steps to Christ, pages 31-32: If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. How many

there are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ. Do you expect to become better

through your own efforts? "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may

ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." Jeremiah 13:23. There is help for us only in

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15 Coming to Jesus (Following Jesus, Part 2)

God. We must not wait for stronger persuasions, for better opportunities, or for holier tempers.

We can do nothing of ourselves. We must come to Christ just as we are.

But let none deceive themselves with the thought that God, in His great love and mercy, will yet

save even the rejecters of His grace. The exceeding sinfulness of sin can be estimated only in the

light of the cross. When men urge that God is too good to cast off the sinner, let them look to

Calvary. It was because there was no other way in which man could be saved, because without

this sacrifice it was impossible for the human race to escape from the defiling power of sin, and

be restored to communion with holy beings – impossible for them again to become partakers of

spiritual life – it was because of this that Christ took upon Himself the guilt of the disobedient

and suffered in the sinner's stead. The love and suffering and death of the Son of God all testify

to the terrible enormity of sin and declare that there is no escape from its power, no hope of the

higher life, but through the submission of the soul to Christ. (Steps to Christ, pages 31-32)

Steps to Christ, pages 35-36: When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look up to your

Redeemer and talk of His merits. That which will help you is to look to His light. Acknowledge

your sin, but tell the enemy that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" and that you

may be saved by His matchless love. 1 Timothy 1:15. Jesus asked Simon a question in regard to

two debtors. One owed his lord a small sum, and the other owed him a very large sum; but he

forgave them both, and Christ asked Simon which debtor would love his lord most. Simon

answered, "He to whom he forgave most." Luke 7:43. We have been great sinners, but Christ

died that we might be forgiven. The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father

in our behalf. Those to whom He has forgiven most will love Him most, and will stand nearest to

His throne to praise Him for His great love and infinite sacrifice. It is when we most fully

comprehend the love of God that we best realize the sinfulness of sin. When we see the length of

the chain that was let down for us, when we understand something of the infinite sacrifice that

Christ has made in our behalf, the heart is melted with tenderness and contrition.

(Steps to Christ, pages 35-36)

Steps to Christ, pages 44-45: There are those who profess to serve God, while they rely upon their own

efforts to obey His law, to form a right character, and secure salvation. Their hearts are not

moved by any deep sense of the love of Christ, but they seek to perform the duties of the

Christian life as that which God requires of them in order to gain heaven. Such religion is worth

nothing. When Christ dwells in the heart, the soul will be so filled with His love, with the joy of

communion with Him, that it will cleave to Him; and in the contemplation of Him, self will be

forgotten. Love to Christ will be the spring of action. Those who feel the constraining love of God,

do not ask how little may be given to meet the requirements of God; they do not ask for the

lowest standard, but aim at perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. With earnest desire

they yield all and manifest an interest proportionate to the value of the object which they seek. A

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16 Coming to Jesus (Following Jesus, Part 2)

profession of Christ without this deep love is mere talk, dry formality, and heavy drudgery.

(Steps to Christ, pages 44-45)

Steps to Christ, pages 62-63: The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been – just what

it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents – perfect obedience to the law of God,

perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the

happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its

train of woe and misery, to be immortalized.

It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's

law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make

ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have

no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has

made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to

meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His

righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your

life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place

of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.

More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain

this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long

as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. So you may

say, "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and

gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. So Jesus said to His disciples, "It is not ye that speak, but

the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matthew 10:20. Then with Christ working in

you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works – works of righteousness,

obedience.

So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no ground for self-exaltation. Our

only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by His

Spirit working in and through us. (Steps to Christ, pages 62-63)