If God Chooses Who He Will Save, Why Evangelize?
Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by Les in Christian Living
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” -Romans 10:17
It’s very often the question Christians immediately ask when election is explained to them: “If God is just going to choose people, why would you waste your time sharing the gospel?”. It’s understandable, especially in the american evangelical landscape. The idea that God isn’t in Heaven worrying that some people might not choose him, is startling. It sounds like you’re uprooting everything the average church teaches, including evangelism.
The truth is: God is allowing us to participate with Him, our loving Father, in His work of saving men. It’s an honor and a privilege… not just a duty.
The Means of Salvation
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” -Romans 1:16
You see, the gospel isn’t just information. We’re not simply telling someone what Jesus did, and hoping they accept it (although we are doing that). The gospel is very, very special. The words themselves have power. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, the message of Jesus is the power of God that saves men. It is, in fact, the ONLY way that God had ordained men to be saved.
So first of all, don’t misunderstand this: the Biblical teaching of election does not deny the absolute necessity for all men to hear the gospel. No man will be saved unless he calls upon the name of, and trusts in the work of, the Lord Jesus.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12
God has not only chosen a people to be saved, but has also chosen the means by which they will be saved, namely through the hearing, and receiving of the gospel. When the elect hear the gospel, the Holy Spirit regenerates their hearts, and they believe.
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” -Acts 13:48
Preaching to the Elect
So how do we know who the elect are? Why would we waste our time with the non-elect? Again, the average Christian already knows the answer, but has just never applied it in the correct context.
In Jesus’ parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15), Jesus tells of a man that spreads seed all over the ground, on different soils, and only the seed that falls on the good soil grows to fruition. Jesus also explains the parable to His chosen disciples. The seed is the word of God (the gospel) being shared with all kinds of people. Some of the people don’t receive it at all because of the devil. Some get excited about it, then fizzle out as they move on. Others seem like they’re growing, but get choked out by the cares of the world. And finally, those whom Jesus calls the “good soil” receive, believe, and produce fruit.
Now, we see that the sower was not specifically searching out good soil, or being stingy with the seed. So, was he wasting the seed, or was he trusting that it would grow where it should?
This is what the kingdom of God is like. We are to share the gospel with everyone, and we just assume that they are all elect. We know that many will reject the gospel, but those whom God has prepared – the good soil – will receive it. So we preach confidently knowing that God will move on His people, and save them. Our job is to simply be obedient, and know that it isn’t our convincing that saves people.
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” -1 Corinthians 3:7
An Overly Semantic Calvinist?
Ok, so I’m saying that we should preach the gospel to everyone, but only some will believe. Isn’t that what the Christian who denies sovereign election teaches? Aren’t we saying the same thing, but from different perspectives? No. Here is where the theological rubber meets the road.
If you believe that the offer is simply made to all men, but God isn’t working to irresistibly save His chosen people, the catalyst to salvation then lies in your words. You must be convincing, you must be smooth, you must be a better salesman than the Buddhist, and Jehovah’s witness that your audience has heard philosophies from. And anything that isn’t chalked up directly to what the preacher says, is in the hands of the hearer. They must be spiritually sensitive, and innately willing to have faith like a child. When these two human traits (salesmanship and receptiveness) kiss, magic happens… right?
This is the gospel according to the flesh. The gospel of sinner’s prayers and decision cards. No matter how much lip service is offered up to the Holy Spirit working in these situations, He is discredited as unable to make you do anything against your will. Man is the deciding factor.
Worst of all, this kind of philosophy, mixed with a zeal to save lots of people, produces a bad gospel. As anyone who has preached the bloody Christ of scripture quickly learns:
“…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…” -1 Corinthians 1:18
When your main task becomes convincing someone to “make a decision for Jesus”, you have no choice but to remove the offense. You need to water down the sin, blood, wrath and Hell of scripture, or remove them completely. That kind of offensive talk has no place in the seeker-friendly gospel. When it’s about your words, and not strictly dependent on the Holy Spirit’s work in the sinner’s heart, the flesh will always compromise the message.
No, my friends, salvation is not a cooperation between lovable men and a lonely God that just wants you to choose Him. Salvation is of the Lord, and the Lord alone!
Necessity is Laid Upon Me
“For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” -1 Corinthians 9:16
We do not have a quota to meet, we are not doing God a favor, and God does not need us to save His people. He compels us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to preach His gospel, and save souls. The Saints are not only blessed with forgiveness, adoption, and eternal life, but we also are invited to participate in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish His kingdom and save more men and women from their sins. It’s no easy task, but it is not a burden, as all of the heavy lifting is done by God. All he requires of you is your mouth. If you are His, you will naturally present it as part of your living sacrifice.
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…” -2 Timothy 4:2
Christians, I encourage you to practice your gospel preaching. Be fully prepared to explain God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness, Christ’s perfect life, substitutionary death, and resurrection from the grave. Let the hearer know that through faith in Christ they can be forgiven, and receive eternal life. Don’t water it down. And trust that ‘all who are appointed to eternal life will believe’. Not because of your words, or their obedience, but because of God’s grace, alone.
If there is, indeed, anyone who feels that they don’t need to work for God’s harvest, that is a clear sign that you are not one of God’s workers. And you need the very message you refuse to preach: Repent, and believe.
A. Davis
Jan 27th, 2010
“… He is discredited as unable to make you do anything against your will. Man is the deciding factor…”
Actually, most would say or believe that He’s unwilling (not unable) to do anything against our will.
And, yes, man IS the deciding factor. God the father sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to the earth as a man to die for the sins of the world. God became a MAN in the form of Jesus Christ and fulfilled the law perfectly. So yes, man… THE MAN… Jesus Christ… was the only, perfect deciding factor.
“… When your main task becomes convincing someone to “make a decision for Jesus”, you have no choice but to remove the offense. You need to water down the sin, blood, wrath and Hell of scripture, or remove them completely. That kind of offensive talk has no place in the seeker-friendly gospel…”
You speak as though any non-reformed, non-Calvinist has this thought process. I’m neither reformed nor a Calvinist (nor even an Arminist). I don’t try to convince people to “make a decision for Christ”. I speak boldly of their sin, usually including some of my own past sins (ie: my testimony) and speak of Christ’s atoning death on the cross. I don’t remove the “offensive talk” nor try to be seeker-friendly… heck the reality is that most people aren’t seeking [sic. God] to begin with.
Les
Jan 27th, 2010
Your creative flip with Jesus being THE MAN who is the deciding factor doesn’t answer the problem being presented.
According to your synergistic theology, God has done everything He can, in Jesus, and can do no more. Now it’s up to man to cooperate and complete the circuit. Jesus is NOT the deciding factor in your theology, He is the constant, and He’s waiting, powerlessly, for the sinner to make His decision.
jordan
Mar 19th, 2010
A. Davis said: “Actually, most would say or believe that He’s unwilling (not unable) to do anything against our will.”
I think Exodus 10:20 is a pretty clear indicator that God is in fact WILLING to do something against our will. Sure, Pharaoh was hardening his own heart too, but God took his “free will” where it needed to be in order to accomplish his own will. Think about the guards arresting Jesus who fell back onto the ground when he told them who he was. Do you think they would have got back up to arrest Jesus after that unless God is directing them to do so?
If I was the deciding factor in my salvation, then I deserve some credit (and some praise) for saving myself… hopefully you don’t think any of us deserve credit for this or that we saved ourselves. Galatians 6:14 for me. I think Jesus meant it when he said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
Les
Mar 19th, 2010
Amen Jordan.
Matt
May 11th, 2010
Some are called to be Evangelists but we are all called to have a ready defense. Just as we are to pray we are to share the Gospel to participate in God’s desire to add to His eternal family. God answers prayer, assuming it is His will do do so. If I do not pray that this or that would take place how do I share in the joy of its occurrence? If I do not share the Gospel how do I share in the adoption occurrence?
We are called to share the Gospel and some people have the vocation of street side evangelism. Some have the vocation of cubical workers. When you know someone will not be receptive why cast your pearls before swine? If you don’t know someone it is like fishing, God elects the fish to enter the net. Yet, we are still supposed to cast the net and be fishers of men and share in God’s harvest.
My two cents – Live contagiously and when others see our joy, hope and love and they ask why we possess them we can tell them…This side of life the only way to true contentment and entering God’s rest is accepting the sacrifice of His Son and accepting His Spirit. You die and God lives in you. No one can convince another to die but when they are ready to die, and God knows who they are, one of His children will show them how and will share in the experience of sharing in His joy.
We know the pearl of great price and the treasure in the field and know that you are an idiot if you don’t accept the offer and cost. Yet calling people idiots even if they are ready to be caught up in God’s loving net as best causes us to loose out on the joy that we could have shared and at worst hardened ones heart no matter how right we are. We were all once idiots and I doubt that was the message that helped us.
Thanks be to God for who He is. What a privilege (for lack of a better and all encompassing word for what life is all about) it is to know God, love Him, be loved and known by Him and share that message.
Until Zion,
Matt
Matt
May 11th, 2010
http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/articles.html – Good Site
http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/classics/castswine.html – Pearls Before Swine
janice caswell
Jul 6th, 2010
We are Christ’s body, Christ Jesus is our head. He indwells us, therefore, walk by the spirit. We do not know, of course, who is going to believe on the Lord Jesus, so let the gospel, the good news, be told. Speak the truth, in love, and then see what God will do as He regenerates hearts in those whom He choosen; and they will be born again by His Spirit. “Evangelize”?…of course. Wherever we are, wherever we walk, remember, “Christ in us, the hope of glory”!! He will make Himself known, in His time, through us, wherever and whenever He has planned before the foundation of the world was laid. That is truly amazing Grace and a mystery made known….Colossians 1:27. Ephesians 3. So many more amazing scriptures to be encouraged by. Rest in our Father/Abba, who will do His will in and through us. Walk by His Spirit and commune with Him, as you read His Word and meditate on it in your inner man…..Ephesians 3:16. Blessings.
janice caswell
Jul 6th, 2010
correction…..:}
…..and then see what God will do as He regenerates hearts in those whom He has ‘chosen’…! And I’m sure God smiles with me:).
I love Him.
Darryl
Aug 1st, 2011
So if salvation is all in God’s hands, and some people aren’t saved, then that must mean God has his favorite people whom he has chosen by lottery to make it into heaven. When people are sent to hell, it’s not their fault.
Igor
Jun 27th, 2012
“The truth is: God is allowing us to participate with Him, our loving Father, in His work of saving men. It’s an honor and a privilege… not just a duty.”
Isn’t this a logical fallacy? How can we save men, if they were already destined for damnation? I don’t see the honor and privilege preaching the saving God, if I fully know that in a room of 100 lets say, 30 God already destined to save, and 70 he didn’t. Are you not then lying? Because you’re preaching that God saves, but they were not saved to begin with. This is the problem with all these reformed doctrines. They make way to many assumptions, and do not stick to what the Bible reveals to us, and what it does not.
“You see, the gospel isn’t just information. We’re not simply telling someone what Jesus did, and hoping they accept it (although we are doing that). The gospel is very, very special. The words themselves have power. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, the message of Jesus is the power of God that saves men. It is, in fact, the ONLY way that God had ordained men to be saved.”
Another logical fallacy. In Romans 1:16 it written “everyone” that means ALL. So everyone who believes, then they are saved. Yes some people won’t believe while some will believe. I agree 100% The Word has the power to save cause its God breathed. But kind of redundant for God to go tell us to spread his Gospel since it’s been determined who will be saved.
“So first of all, don’t misunderstand this: the Biblical teaching of election does not deny the absolute necessity for all men to hear the gospel. No man will be saved unless he calls upon the name of, and trusts in the work of, the Lord Jesus.”
It does deny the necessity for all men to hear. Because like I said before it’s redundant to preach a loving God when you already condemned the room of people you’re preaching too. Yes you’re correct that God calls upon people. So it works like this logically. If God calls upon you then you trust the work of God. So it does hold true that God can call upon you and you don’t trust the work of God (aka people who hear God, and reject God), But you cannot trust the work of God, if God does not call you. Cause you need faith (trust) if you have been called.
“God has not only chosen a people to be saved, but has also chosen the means by which they will be saved, namely through the hearing, and receiving of the gospel. When the elect hear the gospel, the Holy Spirit regenerates their hearts, and they believe.”
So when the non-elect hear the Gospel, the Holy Spirit skips them and condemns them to hell. Wow such a loving God.
Preaching to the Elect:
Looking at how you consider what Jesus parable means then how can God be soveirgn if he already condemned? This parable is more understood as that his Gospel is spread everywhere. It falls into all types of places. Now this seed (the Gospel) in that place is God calling upon people. The different failures of seed growth show that just some people reject God. The flaw you seem to be making (a lot ) is that you try to conclude from the Bible that a “some” statement can mean an “ALL” statement. Like John 3:16 says “God loved this world, and Gave his only son….” (which is an ALL statement). But another part of the bible in John also it says “He layed down his life for HIS SHEEP (which is an some statement). Now by taking that some statement you try to (which tons of Calvinist do) conclude an ALL statement to mean something as some statement. But if you view it the other way (right way) you can take an ALL statement and conclude a some statement.
I wont go into the detail on the rest of your post. But as you can see the Bible is VERY logical. Gods its breathed. EVERYTHING was created by God. It is governed by his will. If I had to categorize God by a profession, he is a mathematician to me. Everything works out perfectly in his equations, and logically. Sorry for my spelling errors! God Bless!!!
Feel free to contact me.