The Final Invitation in the Bible

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 3 AUGUST 2025 pm - MR CALVIN STRIPP

REVELATION 22 VERSES 6 TO 21

THE FINAL INVITATION IN THE BIBLE

"And the Spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." verse 17

The book of Revelation is the final book of the bible. It serves as a culmination of God's redemption plan written by John as he was exiled on the isle of Patmos. It is a book of the majesty and mystery of God. There are visions of heaven and God's unfolding judgment which ultimately results in the triumph of Christ in a new heaven and new earth where God will dwell with his people for ever. It was written under a time of persecution, the Roman Empire. It is a book of comfort to Christians. The theme is of the sovereignty of Christ and the supremacy of Christ conquering all his enemies, being victorious including death, hell and Satan. It speaks of the eternal hope for believers. Take heed, calling for perseverance through trials. It often brings specific challenges to its readers. Very often Christians set aside Revelation saying it is too deep, too hard to understand. Some bypass this book altogether. We should embrace the whole counsel of God. The aim is always to exalt Christ and there is hope. Revelation is also an epistle and the letter begins with the identification of its author John. Then the intended recipients and blessing in grace and peace with God. It ends with the blessing of grace. In the last chapter verses 1 to 5 glorify the church of Christ. Verses 6 to 21 contain warnings and blessings found in Christ, blessings given to all of the Christian church.

In verse 17 we have the final invitation found in the bible. Firstly the generous proclamation. In this verse we have a word that is repeated several times - "come" It is not only mentioned here in verse 1 but also in verse 7 "behold I come quickly" and again in verse 12, then in verse 20 "surely I come quickly." Ecclesiastes 4 verse 12 says "a threefold cord is not quickly broken". Who is being asked to come - Jesus Christ. Early in the chapter he states "behold I come" and later "surely I come". The Christian is found in this verse. The Spirit refers to the Spirit of God. The bride is Christ's church. We are involved in the last chapter of the last book of the bible. We as members of Christ's church here on earth those saved trusting in Christ. We are saying with the Spirit "come, come Lord Jesus, come quickly, surely come Lord Jesus." Here Christ asserts his deity and equality with his Father in heaven. He came as a babe to the manger of Bethlehem, as a man despised and rejected of men, he lived a sinless life keeping every jot and title of the law perfect. He died that I might not see death. Isaiah 53 "for he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was on him and with his stripes we are healed." It is this Lord Jesus and the Spirit of God, those saved by grace are calling for Christ to come. Let me apply it - are we as God's people calling for Christ to come? Sometimes the Christian has the roots so deep in this world that they don't want the Lord to come, not just yet. "I am doing pretty well in life, in my business, in my education." That is not the context here. We are as Christians traversing through this world, we are stepping forward in this world to a better land. As we travel down that road, that narrow road we were taken from the broad road by grace but let us not be fixated by the things of the world. Are we holding onto those things, frivolous things loosely enough because we came into the world with nothing and when we go to meet the Lord we will go with nothing. He is coming again and he is coming quickly. He is coming as judge. Every man will give account of their work for him. The church calls for him to come quickly. It is interesting - it has the inference that there was that person who heard and their eyes were opened. God opened their heart. They too are saying "come Lord Jesus". The bride, the Church and the Holy Spirit and him that heareth say come.

It is also a personal possession - "and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely". The one who chooses. Are you going to chose Christ tonight? To take that step of faith towards him. He will meet you there. David Brown felt his name was so common. When he read the scriptures and it said "if David Brown should come" but then he realised it was not his name but rather "whosoever will" which included him. You have to grasp it. Our text declares "and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." The invitation is here - "let him take the water of life freely" Will you obey today? The scriptures say "come". Christ is coming and he is coming quickly. So will you come and will you take the water of life freely? When you are offered a present at Christmas you take it. It would be offensive to refuse. Someone has went to the expense of buying and wrapping it - will you refuse it? No you will take if for your possession. This water whereby you will never thirst again. He wants no payment for it. No preparation, just come as you are. No recommendation from a third party. It is a gift. Isaiah 55 verse 1 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." It is a free gift but you must be willing to take it. Will you take that free gift offered in the gospel? To drink of that life giving water? Will you step forward to know repentance? By his grace he will grant it to you. He will step forward and meet you and he will give that living water but you need to come as you are. Are you willing to come as you are? To take freely without money and without price? We are to grasp the possession through his gracious provision. To take the water of life, eternal life that we are offered. We are so preoccupied with living beyond the grave today. The films being released today are all about living on beyond the grave. As God's people we know that we will live for ever. In India it is all about reincarnation. They believe that you should do you best, stay where you are and try your best, give your money to the poor, pay into the temple and when you die you will be reincarnated. You might move up the caste system, you are a little bit richer. That religion is ingrained in people but here we are told to take the water of life freely. It is free, eternal life. we cannot attain to this through our own merits, our own righteousness. Like those in India seeking to work their way. We have it here in our own province. People going into their churches and paying every week. The reason they are doing it is they think they are paying their way to heaven. If you think that tonight that is not the case. It is only through Christ's righteousness. Isaiah 64 verse 6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." We cannot work our way to heaven but this gracious provision says you are to take the water of life freely. No money. The price has been paid. it is not free because Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross by shedding his blood, laying down his life. He laid down his life for you at the cross of Calvary. It cost him everything for you to take freely. 

Let us guard against presumption. We always think we have more time. We want to engage with that free gift, we want to become a Christian, to be able to say that we are a Christian but not tonight, some other night. How many years have you been saying that? We have read that Christ comes quickly. He is coming. He is surely coming and yet you procrastinate. You think you have more time but you don't. James 4 verse 14 "for what is your life. It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away." The vapour from teh kettle will rise up and then evaporate. It is gone. That is just your life. it is a picture of it. It appeareth for a little time then it is gone for ever. "Him that heareth let him come." There was a picture painted of the drinking fountains on our streets many years ago. That water pumped up water to all who stopped and drank. Imagine anyone who cries out "I cannot drink from this water for I do not have enough money." That would be foolish for the water is free. The poor man comes an dhe drinks of that water. He drinks and is satisfied. The passengers go by in their carriages and as they approach the pump they cannot drink for the poor are there, the sick are there. They will not drink from a water that is free. They are dressed in beautiful clothes but will nto disembark from the carriage. They will stay in their carriages and pass by. They cannot be so vulgar to drink from the fountain. They will not drink from the same fountain. There are those rich in their own works, their own righteousness. They pass by the living water. They don't want to come the same way. To trust in Christ. The way others trust. They want a different way. I will not be saved that way but you see they are mistaken. That is the only way. I will not go to heaven the same way as the thief. I will not be saved that way. The proud boasters must live without the living water. "Whosoever will let him take of that water, let him drink freely." That water is offered to you in the gospel. What happens if it is your final invitation tonight? You reject Christ. Your life is but a vapour and he comes quickly.