Riff's Christian Journal

I have heard numerous times the question, “If God has already chosen those who will be saved why, then, do we need to do evangelism?” Actually, that is a really good question. Let us see how this works out. It is quite simple, actually.

From 2nd Timothy we read this:

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 

Here we see that the saving comes first then comes the calling and all of this was planned before the world began.

Then from Ephesians 2: 8,9 the following:

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Knowing that the act of saving by God’s grace comes first only because man, in his sinful state, is dead spiritually to anything that would draw him to God. So, the act of saving, of being born again, has to happen first before anyone can hear the gospel and have the ability to respond to it according to God’s will.

The second thing we should notice is that it is through faith that is given to us as a gift by God that we are saved. How do we get this gift of faith and in what are we to have faith?

In Romans 10: 9, 10 we read about what it is in which we are to have faith:

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

In order to believe in something one must have faith that it is true. In order to confess that Jesus is Lord and to believe that He was raised from the dead you must have faith with which to make this confession. It is a confession of faith to believe in something.

Again, faith was given to us as a gift by God, but by what means is faith given?

In Romans 10: 17 we are told exactly how faith is given:

Rom 10:17  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Then, In Romans 10: 13, 14,15 we see how the word of God is given:

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Rom 10:14  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 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent?

In short, the gift of faith is given through evangelism, in telling people the good news about Jesus, and God brings the one who is sharing the gospel to His elect people as a group or as a singular person. He then saves them so that they have the ability to hear the gospel and then He calls them and gives them the faith with which to believe on Jesus through the message that they hear.

The story of the conversion of Paul is a good example of the saving of one person. Although it is exceptional, it is a good example of how talking one on one is used by God to save someone. Here is the story of Paul’s conversion from the book of Acts:

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 

Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it ishard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 

Act 9:7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

Act 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 

Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 

Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 

Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 

Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 

Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 

Act 9:19  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 

Act 9:20  And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 

Act 9:21  But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 

Act 9:22  But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 

Now, as for the saving of a large group. The story of Barnabas and Paul at a place called Antioch in which they were asked to preach in a synagogue. Here is what happened as recorded in Acts 13:

Act 13:38  Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 

Act 13:39  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 

Act 13:40  Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 

Act 13:41  Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. 

Act 13:42  And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 

Act 13:43  Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 

Act 13:44  And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 

Act 13:45  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 

Act 13:46  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 

Act 13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 

Act 13:48  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained (appointed) to eternal life believed. 

Here we see that all who were chosen by God to be saved believed in a large group setting. After being saved, born-again, they believed in Jesus through the preaching of the word that gave them the faith, given to them by God as a gift, with which to believe.

In short, God has chosen those who will be saved. At their appointed time God saves them – born-again -calls them through the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus that gives them the faith with which they believe in Jesus and they call upon Him to be their Lord and Savior.

Therefore, you see that election and evangelism works well together. It is quite simple, actually.