The Invitation

You Are Invited‍

Everyone loves an invitation. An invitation communicates that you belong, that someone desires to spend time with you, that someone values you, and that you are welcome to participate. An invitation is a pathway to participate in an event or celebration. Would you consider how Easter offers you an opportunity to invite others who may not yet know Jesus?

The Gospel Is the Invitation‍

The gospel is God’s personal invitation for people. God’s plan for a sinful world (Romans 3:23) was to provide the payment for the sin through the death of His Son, Jesus. The problem is that people are sinful, and God can have nothing to do with sin. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered again and again to cover sin, but they were never enough to remove sin completely. They pointed forward to a coming Messiah who would provide the once-and-for-all final blood sacrifice to cover the sins of those who would turn from their sin to follow the Messiah. God demonstrated His great love toward us that even when we were the worst of sinners, Christ died for us to provide our way. Jesus was our invitation to the Father (Romans 5:8).

Who Receives the Invitation? ‍

The Bible is clear regarding to whom the invitation is given. John 3:16 reminds us that God loved the world so much that He provided His only Son as the final payment for the sin of the world. Romans 10:15 indicates that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved, so the invitation is open to all who will respond. The invitation is open to all, but it must be received.

How Does One Respond to the Invitation? ‍

One simply responds to the invitation with faith. This means agreeing with God about your sin, turning from it, and trusting in Jesus alone as Savior and Lord. A life-changing “yes” to God’s invitation (Romans 10:9-10) indicates that by faith, you have accepted the free invitation with access to the Father.

Who Needs to Know about the Greatest Invitation? ‍

As Easter approaches, let’s consider the open invitation God offers to give people access to the Father. Is there someone you would like to invite to church so they can hear the good news of the gospel? Consider how a simple invitation from you might be a tool by which the Holy Spirit draws a friend or family member into a personal relationship with God.

Below are five people you might consider inviting to church on Easter Sunday:

1. A family member who is far from the Lord
2. A co-worker you have not yet talked with about Jesus
3. A neighbor you have not yet met
4. Someone you intentionally meet this week at a store or restaurant
5. A family friend who is not currently attending church

‍