For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10
If I asked any Christian if they agreed with Ephesians 2:8-10 they would most likely say - "Of Course".
If I asked those same people if when they shared their faith did they do their best to convince the hearer of the truth of their words. Most would likely say - "Yes". In fact, there are a number of "sure fire" ways of sharing the Gospel that have been used over the years. 4 Spiritual Laws - Evangelism Explosion - The FAITH method, to name a few. But those methods do not save people.
If I reminded those same Christians of Jesus' great commission in Matthew 28
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:18-20
They would agree that Jesus told us to Go. We are to share our faith, baptize new Believers and teach them Biblical truth.
So I would ask - So then we are to share our faith with the lost? They would answer "Of Course"
Then I would ask - when it comes to the lost understanding the Gospel message what do you think Paul meant when he wrote
For Christ did not send me [Paul] to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. - 1 Corinthians 1:17-19
The Gospel - the message of the Cross - is foolishness to the lost and there is no way that I can convince them that it is wisdom and truth.
The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
The fact is that truth of the Gospel is hidden from the lost - it must be spiritually discerned and the lost are spiritually dead.
If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
It is God who brings about understanding - salvation - new birth - not me.
He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples] , “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 16:15-17
And then I would tell those Christians that our role in making disciples was to share the Gospel - . Planting seed - like Paul not argue people into heaven.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. - 1 Corinthians 3:6
In the parable, the ground is the heart of the lost person hearing the Gospel. We can't see the heart of man - but God can. And so we are to be like Paul and Apollos.
Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” - Mark 4:3-8
Our responsibility is to go and tell - to cast the seed not to persuade.
How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, - Isaiah 52:7
My mom planted seed in my heart for 7 years to no avail. And then one Sunday a pastor watered that seed and God brought the increase. I knew the words I had heard them many times - I saw changed lives in my family - but that did not rend my heart to salvation. None of us know the part that we play on the journey someone may take on the path to salvation. And not all will be saved. We can't save anybody but we can tell everybody.
Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
