The Gospel and Persuasion

A few observations:

1. We must accept the biblical truth that the Gospel message is the height of idiocracy and foolishness to the unbelieving world (Note: 1 Cor. 1:18 “μωρία” or moronic). Ironically, an essential part of sharing the Gospel message is persuading people otherwise.
2. We must also understand the place of persuasion in relation to the Gospel. Although the Holy Spirit works with the Gospel content and how it is presented, the Gospel is exclusively God’s means of salvation and wholly dependant upon His mercy and power (1 Cor. 1:18; Rom. 9:15-16; Tit. 3:5). What is presented is more important that how it is presented.
3. This is not to denigrate persuasive argument or apologetics. These are important as a means to breaking down barriers and clearing the pathways of the mind and heart in demonstrating the relevance of the Gospel message. However, persuasive argumentation, illustrations, and life experiences are merely subjective human expressions apart from the Spirit’s implantation and application of the Gospel message upon the heart. In essence, sharing the Gospel is neither an art form nor a formula; it is the power of God for salvation.
4. The ability to believe, therefore, is granted by God alone (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; Eph.2:8-9; Philip. 1:29; 1 Tim. 1:14; Heb. 12:2; 2 Pt. 1:1). A dead person cannot choose to believe the Gospel truth.
5. It is reasonable that God requires faith of those who cannot believe (cf., 2 Cor. 4:4, NIV, NASB). In the spiritual and moral economy of the universe, it is essential to distinguish between de jure and de facto; or the way things ought to be vis-à-vis the way things are. For instance:
   • The universal call of the Gospel does not exhibit what humans are able to do, but what they ought to do (contra Kant, ought does not necessarily imply can). Example: The civil law requires of those who are legally drunk not to drive, even though, in their impaired condition, they are unable to do so. The civil law exhibits what people ought to do, not what they are able to do.
   • God’s commands, not human ability, are the measure of our duty. God commands everyone everywhere to love Him with heart, mind, soul, and strength, even though He knows that self-centered unbelievers are not capable of doing so. God commands everyone everywhere to love his or her neighbor as herself even though the hateful in heart are guilty of murder.
   • In God’s economy the Law exhibits his moral perfections and knowing what those are does not entail abiding by them (cf., Jm. 4:17; see also Jn. 12:37-40 where unbelievers “cannot” because they “will not” and they “will not” because they “cannot”).