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Scripture Reading: Acts 26:17-20 

The Gospel Invitation: "We Persuade Men"

Intro.
1.  God invites sinners to come to Him, Isa. 55:1-3; Matt. 11:28.

2.  cf. Bread & water of life, Jno. 6:35; 7:37; Rev. 22:17.

3.  Invitation & call to a wedding feast, Matt. 22:1-10.

  a.  The gospel invitation is God’s invitation to salvation (22:4).

  b.  Sinners must come to be saved (22:3-8).

  c.  Servants of the king invite sinners to come to salvation, 22:9.

  d.  Compel (necessitate) them to come using persuasion, Lk. 14:23.

4.  Gospel preaching tries to persuade sinners to be saved, 1 Cor. 1:23.

5.  This is what Christ sent Saul to do, Acts 26:17-20.

6.  The gospel invitation is crucial to every sermon we preach.

I. THE GOSPEL INVITATION MUST BE PERSUASIVE.

  A.  Persuasion to be Saved, Acts 2:40; Rom. 10:13-14.

    1.  Our task: To help people see they are lost in sin & to persuade faith in Jesus the Christ, Acts 17:3-4; 18:4.

      a.  Requires boldness, Acts 19:8 (26).

      b.  Requires patient teaching, Acts 28:23-24.

    2.  Object:  To persuade to become a Christian, Acts 26:27-29.

  B.  Persuasion Due to the Terror of the Lord, 2 Cor. 5:11 (Heb. 10:31; 12:29).  (Use both heaven & hell in the gospel invitation.)

  C.  Persuasion to Continue in God’s Grace, Acts 13:43 (Heb. 12:15; Gal. 5:4).

II.  THE GOSPEL INVITATION MUST BE PERSONAL.

  A.  To the Individual, Acts 2:40-41.

    1.  Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents, Lk. 15:10.

    2.  Gospel invitation applies to each person, Acts 17:30-31, 34.

  B.  It Must Address the Spiritual Needs of the Sinner, Acts 24:24-25.

    1.  We must do more than say, “come if you have a need” or “whatever your need is, come” – We must first preach the gospel & teach them what they need!  (cf. Acts 16:30-32)

III. THE GOSPEL INVITATION IS PLAIN.

  A.  It must be Relevant, Acts 8:35-37.

      -Gospel invitation helps the sinner plainly see his sin & the salvation available to him in Jesus Christ:  Shows sin & salvation.

  B.  It must be Decisive (bold), 2 Cor. 3:12; 6:1-2; Heb. 3:7, 13.

      -“What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37); Clear & decisive answer was given (Acts 2:38).  Invitations must make the application of truth & boldly call sinners to obey the gospel!

IV.  THE GOSPEL INVITATION MUST BE PRACTICAL.

  A.  Tells What Must be Done to be Saved.

    1.  The lost, Acts 9:6; 22:16.

    2.  The Christian who returns to sin, Acts 8:18-24.

      a.  Peter identified the sin, rebuked & warned the sinner, exhorted him to repent & pray.

      b.  If we fear hurting feelings we will be tempted not to give the practical warnings & instruction sinners must have to be saved!

    3.  Preach the gospel & make the application for salvation, Matt. 28:19-20.

V.  THE GOSPEL INVITATION MUST BE POWERFUL.

  A.  Because the Gospel is Powerful to Save, Rom. 1:16; Acts 26:18:

    1.  To open eyes (enlighten with understanding – truth).

    2.  So they can turn (conversion):

      a.  From darkness to light

      b.  From the power of Satan to God (Col. 1:13).

    3.  So they may receive forgiveness of sins.

    4.  So they may receive an inheritance through faith in Jesus.

Conclusion

1.  The gospel invitation contains God’s call to salvation (Acts 2:39):

  a.  Call to faith & faith’s confession, Acts 8:37.

  b.  Call to repent, Acts 8:37-38; 8:22; 17:30.

  c.  Call to be baptized, Acts 2:38; 22:16.

  d.  Call to remain faithful, Acts 13:43 (forsake sin, 2 Cor. 6:16-7:1).

2.  The gospel preacher offers the gospel invitation to help sinners see they are lost & help them be saved in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:40)

3.  Fulfill your ministry:  Your charge is to preach the word, make the application, & call sinners to salvation, 1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5).