Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to the broadcast for today. very enlightening text this morning that deals with what men call today a gospel invitation. You've probably heard of that, a gospel invitation. Listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ said, and it's recorded by Matthew in Matthew chapter 22. And I wanna read this parable that the Lord Jesus Christ gave concerning, as I said, what men today call a gospel invitation. Matthew chapter 22 and verse 1, And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come. Again he sent forth other servants saying, tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready, come unto the marriage. But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. And the remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully and slew them. And when the king heard thereof, he was wroth, and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guest, he saw there a man which had not a wedding garment. And he saith unto him, friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to his servants, bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many are called, but few are chosen. What an astounding, enlightening passage. Number one, think about this. This is a parable. That is, it is an earthly story, an earthly illustration expressing divine spiritual truth. And of course, Matthew lets us know that. in the first verse, and Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables and said, so he began to go through this story, this illustration, and it's an illustration of men and women being bidden to come to the marriage of his son. You see, this parable expresses the truth about gospel preaching and a calling, or a calling upon men and women to come to Christ. It expresses what our Lord's talking about is him sending forth gospel preachers to preach and to preach unto all the world. And he even told the disciples, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. So men go out, sin of God, and they preach, and they call upon men to come, to come to Christ, to submit to Christ, to believe Christ. And we will see this, God willing, in our parable. My title for this morning, though, is this. Think about this. Think about what I've just read. Think about what you've heard, and then we'll look at this and what I have to say. Here's my title. Being Bidden Alone Is Not Enough. Do you hear me? Being bidden alone is not enough. That's the first thought. Remember, it's a parable. But this parable clearly is expressing the truth about gospel preaching and a call for men and women to come to Christ.

Here's the second thought. Number two, to be bidden to come to Christ, never, just to be bidden to come to Christ, never makes God's work in Christ effectual. You see it? and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come. You see it? Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. There's nothing you have to do, just come. And this is what gospel, true gospel preachers do. They're preaching that in Jesus Christ, all things are ready. It's already, I've prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready. Come to the marriage. And this is what gospel preachers do.

Now, true gospel preachers, granted there are false preachers and they're preaching another gospel. They're telling men and women to come, and then incoming, and when you come, there are all kinds of things to do. The gospel message is all things are ready. Christ has done it all, come, come. So again, number two, to be bidden to come to Christ never makes God's work in Christ effectual, just to be bidden, and we've read that. You see, salvation is not you come and God will, that's not it. Salvation is not if you come, then God will do this. The preaching of the gospel is God has done everything, come. come. So again, salvation is not you come and God will. Salvation is God has made all things ready. Jesus Christ has already accomplished salvation. He has obtained eternal redemption. He has reconciled a people unto God by the death of himself. It is all things are ready. Come to a person. This is what gospel preaching is. This is what truly being bidden, being called upon to come. All things are ready. Come to a person who has accomplished the work. Do you see it?

Here's number three. Notice this though. We've already read it, but notice this. Remember, number three. None, look at it, none bidden came. Verse three again, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding. and they would not come. Do you see it? Again, do you see it? Again, he sent forth other servants saying, tell them which are bidden. Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready. Come unto the marriage. But they made light of it. Oh, how much do you see that today? Men and women will hear the gospel preached that Christ has done it all. Not this false gospel. Not God's done all he can do, now it's up to you, but Christ has done it all, just come to Christ. But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, do you see it? One to his farm and another to his merchandise. And the remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully and slew them, do you see it?

So remember, this is a earthly story, an earthly illustration expressing the truth about gospel preaching. And these men who are preaching the gospel, calling upon men and women, come to Christ. And just being called, just being called upon to come, doesn't make God's work effectual. To be bidden to come to Christ never makes God's work effectual. And notice in the account of our Lord, none bidden came, not a one. Not one who was bidden came.

Here's number four. to refuse Christ's work done already. Do you see? That's the whole point of this. It's not that men are not called upon to come. They make light of the fact that it's done already. All things are prepared already.

Do you see it? I have prepared my dinner. I have killed my oxen and my fattenings. I have made all things ready. Come. They make light of that. That's what they make light of.

They don't make light of the historical facts of Jesus being born into this world by a virgin mother. They do not dispute the facts that he lived in this world in righteousness and went about doing good. They do not dispute the fact that he died on the tree and was buried and rose again the third day. They do not even dispute the fact that he went back to heaven. but they do make light of the fact that God through Jesus Christ has already, has already made all things ready. Do you see it again?

Again, he sent forth other servants saying, tell them which are bidden. Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My ox and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready. Come to the marriage. but they made light of it. And others not only made light of it, but they became angry, angry at this. They slew the very servants that this king had sent to bid them to come. So again, none bid and came. And that was, here's the fourth thing, to refuse Christ's work done already.

You see it, already, to refuse Christ's work done, already, all things are ready, brings the unmitigated wrath of God the Father. And that's what Christ went on to say in this parable. Look at it, verse five, but they made light of it and went their way. one to his farm, another to his merchandise. And the remnant took his, that is those remaining, others that didn't go back to their farm, others that didn't go back to their merchandise, the remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth.

" Do you see that? Everyone listened to me this morning. This very day, everyone listening, do not think that God loves everyone. Here it says what? The king was wroth. and sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Listen, then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

So you remember, we've got these four things again. This parable expresses the truth about gospel preaching. and those being sent forth to preach this gospel, calling upon men and women, come, everything's ready. And again, to come to Christ never makes God's work in Christ effectual, just being bidden to come never makes it effectual. And here's the third thing, just being bidden, just being bidden to come. None bidden came, did they? According to our Lord Jesus Christ. And fourthly, to refuse Christ's work done already. All things are ready. That was the message. That was the message these servants who went out to bid those to come, who were bidden, all things are ready.

To refuse Christ's work done already, it brings about the unmitigated wrath of God the Father. This is so of the Jews who rejected Jesus Christ. Back in Christ's day, listen to what the Apostle Paul said about this in Romans chapter 11.

Romans chapter 11. I say then, hath God cast away his people? He's talking about the Jews here. Those who are natural Jews, those who are Israelites, born of a Jewish mother and father. I say then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid, for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew, What ye not, what the scripture saith of Elias, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and dig down thine altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

But listen, but what sayeth the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so, then, at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Did not our Lord Jesus Christ mention this in our parable? For many are called, but few are what? Chosen, do you see it? Chosen.

Even so then, at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then there's no more works. Otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. Otherwise, work is no more work. But what about Israel? They rejected. They had murdered and killed and despised and rejected God's messengers that he had sent forth and said, come, the marriage is ready. And look, what then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Do you see it? And the rest were blinded, according as it is written, God, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day. And David saith, let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them. Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back all way.

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid. but rather through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousy. You see, again, I say it. To refuse Christ's work done already brings about the unmitigated wrath of God the Father. And this was so of the Jews who rejected Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And in 70 AD, God sent forth the armies of Rome under Titus and wiped out all that pertained to the worship of God that the Jews had distorted for years, but that's not only so.

Listen to what Paul said as second Thessalonians, and this is concerning mainly of those who are the Gentiles. And this is what Paul has said concerning them. This is so that is this unmitigated wrath of God the Father comes upon those who When they hear that, hey, the marriage is ready, everything's done already, just come, just come. And when they reject it, this is so of all Gentiles who reject Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2, I'll begin in verse eight. And then shall that wicked be revealed. Who's that? Antichrist. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all powers and signs and lying wonders, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.

Now listen at it. Listen, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned, who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Someone, maybe someone saying this, this day, the preacher, I've never heard anything like that. My preacher, my church, our elders, they don't preach that, but this is who God is. And this is the very parable that, in line with the very parable that our Lord Jesus Christ gave concerning men being bidden to come to the marriage of the king's son. to refuse Christ's work done already, already will bring about the unmitigated wrath of God the Father. And that was Christ's summary in this whole parable.

When he puts it this way, In verse eight, then said he that is the king to his servants, the one he'd sent out, and said, come, everything's ready, come. Then said he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. How were they not worthy? Because they refused the very fact that the king had already made everything ready. He said, just come, and they made light of it. they made light of it.

But here's a fifth thing to think about. Here's a fifth thing to think about. That God is not, you hear what I said? God is not and will never be defeated. Just because he sends forth men to preach and he's done so for thousands of years. And he is still doing so in what we call this gospel or church age. And he's sending forth, God sent men to preach his gospel, saying, come to the wedding, come. Everything's ready already. My son has accomplished all the work. There's nothing you have to do. Just come and worship him. Come and rejoice in him. Come and believe in him.

But men may delight, but I will tell you, our God will not be defeated, though men and women reject. though they despise God's preachers, though they despise God's son, though they despise God's gospel, and though they despise God himself by making light of the fact that Christ has done it all, yet God will not be defeated. Look at verse eight of the parable of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then said he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which are bidden were not worthy. Do you see it? They were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. Do you see it? The wedding was furnished with guests. God will not be defeated. God will not be defeated, but that's not the end of the parable, is it?

Here's a sixth thought to think about. But just hearing the preaching, Just hearing the fact that come, come. Just hearing the preaching. Even gospel preaching now. See, I'm not talking here about a false message. I'm talking about hearing the true message preached. Just hearing preaching. Even gospel preaching. And even responding to it with some kind of religious profession is not enough. Do you hear what I'm saying? It is not enough. Listen to the parable of our Lord. Verse 10, so those servants went out into the highways, you see it? And gathered together all as many as they found, do you see it? Both bad and good, you see that? And the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, do you see it? And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. This man had come He had physically come. He had responded to the message that was declared. He had come to look. And he said unto him, as the king did to this man, friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Do you see it? And he was speechless. Then, look at this. Well, think about it. He made a decision, didn't he? He made a choice and he did outwardly what everybody else did. He came, you see it? He came, you see it?

Then said the king to his servants, bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why? Because he didn't have on the wedding garment for many are called. Do you see that? For many are called, but few are chosen.

Think of it. Many that were bidden were called to come to start with. They made light and even became valid against God's men, God's preachers, God's gospel preachers.

So others, these men, other men, the ones that are not killed, they go out and they gather together, men of bad and good, they gather of all nations and of all sorts and of all types, and men come, they make decisions, they walk aisles, they pray prayers, they make confessions of faith.

But here we find a man that's there, he'd done what everybody else had done, put that in quotes, but he had not on a wedding garment. And the king said, bind him hand and foot and cast him out.

What was the difference? For many are called. You see it? Remember what I told you my title was? Being bidden alone, being called alone, being summoned alone, and even responding, just responding is not enough. You have to have on. that which the king demands you have on when you're at the wedding feast.

Do you see it? You have to have on the clothing that the king demands you have on while you're at the wedding feast. Just coming to, just making a decision, just making your choice is not enough. For many are called, what made the difference? Our Lord says so in the parable. But few are what? Chosen. Do you see that?

You remember what I read, Romans 11? The election of grace, you remember? The election of grace.

Have you heard the gospel preached? Have you? I'll tell you this, if you're listening to me right now, this very day, if you're listening right now, you've heard the gospel preached. What is the gospel preached? All things are ready. Christ has already accomplished everything that needs to be accomplished. God Almighty, the sovereign King of heaven and earth, he is satisfied. Jesus Christ has obtained eternal redemption. Jesus Christ has reconciled the people. Jesus Christ has made peace by the sacrifice of himself. God Almighty in his holy, righteous judgment and condemnation has been satisfied, has been appeased in Jesus Christ.

Come! Have you heard that? Have you heard that gospel preached?

But here's another thought. Have you made a religious profession? Have you? I'm not talking about even a religious profession out here underneath all this false gospel that's being preached today. I'm talking about have you made even a profession of faith? I believe that, I believe that truth.

Here's the point. Have you submitted to God's way in God's Christ? That's what it boils down to. You see it in verse 12? And he saith unto him, friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless, didn't know what to say.

The fact that he was speechless is he finds out he had no excuse. You're hearing me preach the fact, the truth, the truth of the gospel, the facts of the gospel, that Jesus Christ has made all things ready. Everything's done, come to him. Worship Him, put on by faith, believe Him, put on by faith the robe of His righteousness, be clothed in Him. That's where it's all at. Listen to what the Apostle Paul, how he put it. In Romans chapter 10, this is very pertinent to this, very pertinent to this parable that we have. Romans chapter 10, brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record, they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. You see, there's that robe. There's that wedding garment, do you see it? And for Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise. Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven. That is, to bring Christ down from above. Or, who shall descend into the deep? That is, to bring up Christ again from the dead. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart. That is, the word of faith which we preach. Look, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus. He's sovereign. He's the king, he's in control, he's made all things ready. But if thou shalt believe, thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth, here it is, on him, not makes his decision, not comes forward, not makes his choice, but whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Do you see that? That's Christ's summary. It all boils down to this, where does God Almighty truly work? Many are called, many are called, but few are what? Chosen, chosen, amen.