The Epic Failure of the Unbeliever
The promise of salvation is limited to whosoever believes (Jn 3:16). Believers are those people who hear Christ calling them to faith, by the preaching of the Word of Christ. The Gospel is proclaimed to all people to whom it is sent. Obviously, there are mass numbers of humanity who have never heard the Gospel.
The apostolic missions, as seen in the book of Acts of the Apostles, show no discrimination in preaching. The hyper-Calvinist is one who erroneously believes that the Gospel is only for believers, therefore, it should only be preached to believers. The trouble with this exclusivity is the fact that man cannot search the heart to know who believes and who does not believe. In the same way, the preacher cannot see who is elect and who is reprobate.
The preacher preaches Christ and Him crucified, which is the Gospel message of salvation, for all who place their trust in Christ alone, for forgiveness of sins. Promiscuous preaching is the Gospel proclaimed to all creation (Mk 16:15).
As we proclaim Him to every man with admonishment for all men everywhere to repent and believe the Gospel (Acts 17:30, Col 1:28), we know that some believe and some do not believe. The difference between these two groups of people is that one has the Spirit of Christ and the other group does not have the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, who preaches the Gospel, from within the soul of the called man of God, causes the elect soul to be born again to a new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit brings faith with Him, as He gives life to whomever He chooses. The elect become the regenerate, and the regenerate become believers, exclusively by the work of the Trinity.
Why is the Gospel heralded to all people, even to those God knows will never believe in Christ Jesus? It is the full responsibility of all people to repent and believe Christ. Unbelievers are told what they must do, in order to be saved. They willfully reject the Gospel and die in their sins.
The Gospel saves some by God’s grace unto salvation, proclaimed by the Spirit. The same Gospel hardens the heart of the non-elect, unregenerate, unbeliever. The message, requiring submission to Christ as Savior and Lord, is despised and rejected. Men love religion, with its blessing and curse for obedience or disobedience. The natural man hates Christ, however, because of the exclusive claims of the one and only Savior of sinners. Only one obeyed God, and He is Lord of all.
Without the help of the Holy Spirit, the hearer of the Gospel call cannot and will not ever come to Christ for salvation. Thus, the preaching, that actually results in salvation for some, demonstrates its power to give life or not give life, according to God’s will and decree in sovereign election and sovereign reprobation.
In conclusion, we have considered how the Gospel is preached to all people, indiscriminately, to those to whom it is sent. Some hear Christ, and with the power of the Spirit and the Word, these trust Christ. In the same manner, some hear the Gospel, and the call to repentance and faith, to no effect. Hearing does not save. Logical arguments do not save. A rote presentation of four man-made spiritual laws does not save. Only Jesus Christ saves, and the people He saves are known to Him from eternity.
The Gospel has its negative effect in hardening the heart of the unbeliever, who can never generate the saving faith, which is an exclusive gift of God’s grace, given by God’s indwelling Spirit.
If God calls a man to Christ, that man will absolutely come to Christ because of election and irresistible grace. If God calls a man to Christ, who does not belong to Christ, but who is numbered among the reprobate, then that man will never come to Christ, regardless of his exposure to preachers and preaching. It is an epic failure to not believe, but it takes epic Savior to transform the unbeliever, and He chosen some for that undeserved benefit. O victory in Jesus! A victory that is only by a faith given to us (1 Jn 5:11), which is God’s epic success story.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 13, 2021
