How to Come to Christ

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION:
“Come.” 
Here is the clearest evidence that Jesus thought Himself to be God in human form. To come means to believe (Acts 16:31); to receive (John 1:12); to look (Isa. 45:22); to confess (1 Jn. 4:2); to hear (John 5:24, 25); to enter a door (John 10:9) and to accept the gift of eternal life through Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23).

“To Me.”
The object of faith is not a church or a clergyman, but Jesus Christ. Salvation is in a Person. Those who have Jesus are saved.

“All you who labor and are heavy laden.”
In order to come to Jesus, a person must admit that he is burdened with the weight of sin. Only those who acknowledge they are lost can be saved.

“And I will give you rest.”
Notice that rest speaking here is a gift; it is unearned and unmerited. This is the rest of salvation that comes from realizing that Christ finished the work of redemption on Calvary’s cross. It is the rest of conscience that follows the realization that the penalty of one’s sins has been paid once for all.

God offered rest to the weary (Is 40:28-31).

Jesus invites those who labor and are heavy laden. The “wise and learned” Pharisees had placed so many rules and regulations on the people that ­religion had become like “labor,” and a life of devotion to the law had become a burden to carry.

I. COME HUMBLY (James 4:6)
Phil. 2:3 gives the characteristic of those who come to Jesus.

2. COME REPENTANT (Acts 3:19)
Romans 3:23 tells us all men need to repent.
Isa. 55:7 tells us that true repentance includes a turning from sin.

3. COME CONFESSING (1 John 1:9)
Ps. 32:5 tells us to confess to God.

4. COME BELIEVING (Matt. 21:22)
Romans 10:10 tells us with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.

5. COME JUST AS YOU ARE (Isa. 1:18)
Isa. 1:18 tells us “though your sins be as scarlet they shall he white as snow.”

6. COME ONE—COME ALL (Rev. 22:17)
Rev. 22:17 tells us “whosoever will, let him come.”

7. COME NOW (Prov. 27:1)
Prov. 1:28 tells us there is coming a time when the Lord will not answer.

What it means to come to Jesus?
To come to Jesus is clearly described in John 6:35, “He who comes to me will in no way get hungry, and he who believes in me will in no way get thirsty.” It is clear from this passage that “coming” to Jesus means “believing” in him. The Religion said “Do!”  True salvation is found only in a person, Jesus Christ. To come to Him means to trust Him. This invitation is open to those who are exhausted and burdened down.

CONCLUSION:
With an invitation found only in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus, who alone reveals the Father and the divine plan of redemption, calls out, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” “Come to me,” a tender call to intimacy with him for all those who are weary and burdened. “Weary” evokes the image of persons exhausted from their work or journey, while “burdened” indicates persons weighted down with heavy loads. They are like the crowds whom Jesus said in Matthew 9:36 are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

When Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,” even the happiest man, woman thankful for the offer. For we all bear burdens. If you worry about your marriage come to Jesus. If you worry about your sickness come to Jesus. If you worry about your Job come to him. For some reason you cannot seem to get a good night’s sleep come to Jesus. If ypu are helpless come to him. Jesus invite us to come to him, that he may bear our burdens and give us rest. It is one of the sweetest promises of Scripture, but to understand it we first must see that Jesus bears our burden.

Jesus’ gracious invitation extends to all. No one is omitted or neglected. All we must do is acknowledge our need and come to him. Jesus frees people from these burdens. The rest that Jesus gives equals eternal life (Hebrews 4:9) and brings love, healing, and peace with God.

To the Jews, rest reminded them of the Promised Land given to their ancestors. Jesus applied the word “rest” to himself spiritually, “I will give you rest, I will refresh you” (Jeremiah 31:25). Those who follow Christ will find refreshment in their renewed relationship with Him, freedom from guilt over sin, deliverance from fear and despair, and the promise of continued help and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

The deliverance of our soul from damnation is dependent upon Jesus Christ. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The way to peace with God is through Jesus Christ. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV).

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