Win the Lost, Equip the Saints, Send the Servants

Knowing Jesus

The Bible often refers to a person who is going to heaven as “going to a wedding feast” (Revelation 19:7-9). Jesus Himself told a story about a king who gave a wedding feast for his son (Matthew 22:2-14). The king wanted to fill the wedding hall with guests, so he asked his servants to go everywhere and invite everyone to the feast. When the day of the wedding came, the king came into the hall and looked over the dinner guests. As he did, he spotted a man dressed inappropriately for such a grand royal occasion. He asked the man, “Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?” The man was speechless. Jesus continued the story, “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”

God greatly desires that you come to His wedding feast. He has sent you a personal invitation. But the invitation includes one request, “Appropriate attire required”.

The Bible has a name for the wrong things we do, it calls them “sin”. Sin is simply not keeping God’s standards of right and wrong. It’s doing things that do not please God. The Bible also tells us what sin looks like to God. It looks like dirty, filthy, torn, tattered clothing.

“For all of us have become like one who is unclean. And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.” (Isaiah 64:6)

In other words, even the things we do that look good according to our standards, are tainted with the evil stench of sin, according to God’s standards. “Now hold on a second”, you say, “If the best thing I can do is only as good as a filthy garment, how can I ever dress appropriately for this grand party?”

Here’s the good news about God’s invitation to you. He’s simply thought of everything. He’s arranged for His personal tailor to fit you with shiny clean new clothes, clothes just perfect for a royal wedding.

All God asks of you is that you be willing to exchange your filthy garments for His beautiful new clothes. How can God make it so simple? He’s done all the work for you. He did it by lovingly sending His Son to come collect all our dirty laundry He sent Him to pay the price of new clothes with His death on the cross. Jesus offers these new clothes for you, that is, if you’ll have them. Will you accept this gift?

To sum things up:

1) Everyone of us have sinned, staining our clothes beyond repair (Isaiah 59:1,2; 64:6; Romans 3:23; 6:23)

2) God knows about our hopeless condition, and because He loves each one of us so much, He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for new clothes. (Romans 5:8; 2Corinthians 5:21)

3) God is not going to force a new wardrobe on you. But He does offer it freely to you. What must you do? Be willing to give up your old clothes (by turning from sin) in exchange for His new clothes. Simply receive His free gift. Speak to Him with your heart (some call it praying) and ask Him to cleanse you and to forgive you of all your sins. He’ll do it gladly. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and live inside you. He wants to be your closest friend. (John 1:12; 3:16; 1John 1:9; Revelation 3:20)

Here’s how you might ask Him:

Dear Father, I know that I have sinned and that I need Your help. Please forgive me of all my sins. Jesus, please come into my heart and make me your child. Thank you for doing it even as I ask. In Jesus name I humbly ask. Amen!

If you would like to talk more about this, We’d love to help! Please give us a call. (714-879-3314), or email us at: office@calvaryfullerton.org

Calvary Chapel of Fullerton