Evangelism, Part 6

The Joy of Sharing the Good News

 What is God’s part and our part in evangelism? Scripture teaches both parties have a role though only the Lord can effect salvation. The question above underscores the age-old theological paradox, “How do you reconcile God’s sovereignty and human responsibility?”

We have what seems like two incompatible truths. Think of a seesaw. How do you find balance on a seesaw? By moving to the middle? No, although certain Christian traditions have attempted this by diminishing God’s sovereignty on one hand and amplifying man’s ability on the other. The way you find balance on a seesaw is to have two people of equal weight on each end. Likewise, the way to find balance for this theological conundrum is to give equal weight to both truths. J. I. Packer comments:

“The particular antinomy which concerns us here is the apparent opposition between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, or … between what God does as King and what He does as Judge. Scripture teaches that, as King, He orders and controls all things, human actions among them, in accordance with His own eternal purpose. Scripture also teaches that, as Judge, He holds every man responsible for the choices he makes and the courses of action he pursues.”

We come to some sense of resolution, at least in our own minds, by embracing mystery. We must learn to live with the tension we find in Scripture rather than insisting on a solution acceptable to our finite minds (see Dueteronomy 29:29; Proverbs 16:9; Romans 11:33-36).

God’s work is absolutely necessary given our fallen condition. Because of the fall, man has become spiritually dead, blind and deaf to the things of God and is therefore unable of himself to choose spiritual good and determine his eternal destiny.

The Bible teaches these truths:

• The fall has resulted in spiritual death to all men. (Genesis 2:16, 17; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:13).
• In ourselves we are now blind and deaf to spiritual truth (Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Jerermiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23).
• We are under the control of Satan and in bondage to sin. (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; 1 John 3:10, 5:19; Romans 6:20; Titus 3:3).
• Fallen man left, in his dead state, is totally unable to repent, to believe the gospel, or to come to Christ. (John 6:44, 65; Romans 8:7,8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 3:9-12).

The only way to overcome our spiritual deadness is through the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Some hold the Holy Spirit cannot regenerate fallen man until he believes. The Holy Spirit does all he can to bring every fallen person to salvation, but until we respond in faith, of our own free will, the Spirit cannot give life. Faith precedes and makes possible the new birth. This reflects the Arminian view.

The Reformed position is that the Holy Spirit regenerates every one of God's chosen people, enabling them to believe. The Holy Spirit graciously regenerates everyone of God's chosen people, creating within them a new heart and enabling them to freely and willingly believe in Christ as Savior and Lord. The new birth precedes saving faith. Jesus taught spiritual rebirth was absolutely necessary to see (to enter) God’s kingdom: “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3).

Spiritual regeneration is an inward change in man performed solely by the Holy Spirit and is not dependent upon man's help or cooperation (John 1:12,13; Romans 9:16; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 5:4; Titus 3:5). Repentance and faith are divine gifts that are the result, not the cause of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:31, 11:18, 13:48, 16:14, 18:27; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:25, 26).

We can be assured that those called inwardly by the Spirit will respond to the outward call of the gospel: “Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel” (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 31).

God’s work gives you and I confidence that our efforts in evangelism are not futile. Next week we will address our part.