ROMANS 10
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
(Rom. 10:14).
You will often hear opponents of the Reformation view of predestination say, “If predestination is true there would be no need to be engaged in evangelism because those who are elect will be saved one way or another.” They will also say, “Those who believe in election do not care about the lost.” The second comment is easiest to answer. The greatest revival in history, the Great Awakening of the 1740s, was mainly brought about by the preaching of three men: Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and George Whitefield. Two of these three (Wesley being the exception) were staunch believers in the doctrine of election. We can even go back into the Reformation, one of the most life-changing and cataclysmic periods in the church, and find preaching that was steeped in the doctrine of election. Even today, the program Evangelism Explosion, which is active in every country in the world, adheres to the doctrine of election.
As to the first objection, “Why engage in evangelism if God has already decided who will be saved?” we can simply answer that God has commanded us to proclaim the Gospel. That is reason enough why the church should be engaged in evangelism and should be a motive to any who try to use the doctrine of election as an excuse not to evangelize. God has issued a command, and we are to obey. But God does not command us to evangelize because He is in any way dependent upon our efforts. He has ordained means—those means being the proclamation of the Word.
God not only foreordains the ends (salvation of souls) but the means to bring about those ends: “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” God chooses to use the foolishness of preaching to bring in the lost. As Paul said, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). This saying has been entrusted to the church and is the mission of the church. It is not only the duty but the privilege of every Christian to be used by God as a means to bring about His purposes. It is such a high privilege that those who are obedient to this command are called “beautiful” (Rom. 10:15). God uses the beautiful service of His people as a means to bring about His ultimate purposes.
CORAM DEO
1 Samuel 25–26
Luke 17
WEEKEND
1 Samuel 27–31
Luke 18:1–17
God used someone to bring you into His Kingdom. While thanks for your salvation should go to God, you should certainly be thankful for His means. Who was instrumental in your salvation? Pray for them. If you are able, write them a note, thanking them for telling you of the “Gospel of peace.”
For further study: Isa. 52:7–10 • Rom. 3:5–17 • 1 Cor. 1:18–25
WEEKEND