485. REV 22:17. THE GOSPEL REPRESENTED AS THE WATER OF LIFE
Rev_22:17. The Gospel Represented As The Water Of Life
"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."’97Rev_22:17.
The word of God contains many free and delightful invitations to lost and perishing sinners: many of these are met with in the prophecies, in the gospels, and in the epistles. But as if the Holy Spirit, in concluding the holy writings, wished to give one enlarged and expansive view of the divine benignity to man, the copious, tender, universal, and urgent entreaty of the text was penned. To explain and enforce the invitation will be the end of our present address. Observe,
I. To what the Invitation refers.
II. The Persons to whom the Invitation is given.
III. From whom the Invitation is issued.
I. To what the Invitation refers.
"It is to the water of life." By the water of life we clearly understand the blessings of salvation, the enjoyment of the favor and love of God. This salvation is variously represented. As treasure to the poor. As a robe to the naked. As medicine to the sick As food to the starring. And as the water of life to the polishing, thirsty sinner.
The stream from the smitten rock was a striking type of it. The prophets often dwelt with delight, when using the metaphor, "Ho, every one," &c. "With joy shall they draw water &c. The psalmist said, "There is a river &c. "In that day," said Zechariah, "a fountain shall be opened," &c. Jesus very often employed the same expressive phraseology, "In that last great day of the feast," &c. "To the woman of Samaria," &c. Thus the language of the text. Now this is called the water of life, as.
1. It springs from the fountain of life.
See ver. 1, of this chapter. So Christ said let him come unto me. He is the source of all life, and these streams flow from the ocean of his godhead. "Every good gift," &c. All the blessings of salvation are the gifts of his grace.
2. It communicates spirit and life.
A man may have natural life and yet be dead to God, and to holy and heavenly things. And this spiritual death, if not removed, will end in eternal death. Now it is only by the reception of the gospel stream that the soul is quickened, and renewed, and lives.
3. It terminates or is consummated in eternal life.
Spiritual life of God in the soul is the germ of eternal life. This is "life eternal," &c.; this is the first degree, the firstfruits, &c. Now the saving grace of God not only renews, but sustains: by it we not only begin, but continue to live; and it matures and perfects the life of God in the soul, and then at last it gives us the full ocean of the blessedness of eternal salvation.
II. The Persons to whom the Invitation is given.
The invitation respects two kinds of characters.
1. Those who feel need, and desire it.
"Him that is athirst."
(1) Now thirst arises from conscious need. So, many are conscious of their need of Christ’97they admit it and feel it. By the word read or preached they have been convinced of their true state and condition.
(2) Then thirst is a condition painful and distressing. Many of you have felt this. Know how it rendered every thing worthless and unsatisfying.
(3) Then there is no substitute for fluid to the thirsty. Nothing will do instead. So to the convicted sin-smitten sinner; the man truly sensible of his state, cannot find in all the world an equivalent, &c. Now these are invited’97conscious, anxious penitents. Then the invitation refers,
2. To all who are willing to receive it.
"And whosoever will." There is one condition’97"will." No respect to your character, age, sex, or condition. No respect to merit, or righteousness, or fitness, but to the will. If you will, you may, and shall have the water of life, and if you will not you must perish, and hat too because you will perish, by rejecting the merciful offer of a gracious God. Observe,
III. From whom the Invitation issued.
1. The Spirit invites.
Now every invitation contained in the holy scriptures is the invitation of the Spirit. "Holy men of God," &c. "All scripture is given," &c. In those passages we quoted all were indited by the one blessed Spirit of God Just as a monarch or nobleman issues his mind by the ambassadors of his court, and the servants of his palace So Christ by the Spirit inspired men to speak his word and mind to the human race. Remember, the words of the scriptures are the words of God.
2. The church invites.
The church is the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And she is expected to feel and make Christ’s interests her own, and he has commanded her to shine and speak, and witness before men that they may be saved. Now the church, possessing the Spirit, wishes what the Spirit wishes, and enters into all the mind of the Spirit. The people of God under all dispensations felt and acted thus. Thus Moses invited his father-in-law, "Come thou," &c. Thus David prayed, Psa_67:1, Psa_67:2. But more fully did the church of Christ by her apostles and evangelists, go forth and invite. So they were commanded to visit the whole world, and invite every creature.
3. Every one who hears invites.
"Let him that heareth." That is, all who have heard, obeyed, and found the water, may and must invite. No specific call, office, or talents are requisite. As a Christian you may do it. As a Christian you ought from love to God and love to man. But perhaps the idea is this, that all who hear must invite those beyond, then those must invite the still more distant, until all the earth shall see the salvation of God. In our
APPLICATION
We notice,
1. The duty and interest of those invited. You are to "come" to God’s "gospel." To his "throne of grace." And you are to "drink." Enjoy and profess his salvation. Approach first, and then drink of the water of life freely.
2. Let this course be urged upon your practical attention. Think of the worth and preciousness of the water of life Think of its abundance and freeness. Think of your present and eternal interest. Come now. Come as you are. Come all of you, and take of the water of life freely.
3. The duty of the church and of every member. To echo the will and the words of the Spirit earnestly, prayerfully, and continually.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS