Evangelism - Part 4: Proclaiming and Persuading

Not only must the gospel be proclaimed to the lost, the lost must be persuaded to believe what God has done for them in the atoning death of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The label of a fanatic is quickly placed on those who speak passionately and persuasively about the gospel. My response to such criticism is this: How can we who believe that died to save us from our sins and not be passionate about exhorting others to believe such good news?

Pentecost Sunday ushered in the era of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit empowered and equipped the apostles for their unique ministry. Holy power worked through Peter's proclamation of the good news about Jesus to the thousands who had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast:

Pentecost Sunday ushered in the era of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit empowered and equipped the apostles for their unique ministry. Holy power worked through Peter’s proclamation of the good news about Jesus to the thousands who had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast: “With many other words” Luke tells us, “he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand souls were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:40-41). Peter’s task was not finished once he told the message about the crucified and risen Lord; people needed to be persuaded to believe the message. And many did. So proclamation and persuasion is the apostolic procedure.

The church in Thessalonica was composed of some who were once idolaters. How do you convert an idolater to be a follower of Jesus? Here’s how Paul did it. Recalling his time among them he says, “our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” He goes on to speak of how they “turned from idols to serve the living and true God.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5, 9). Not only did Paul convey the gospel through words and the power of the Holy Spirit, but “with deep conviction.” Paul’s conviction is not only a reference to his personal belief about the gospel, but also a reference to his persuading them to believe the gospel. Later we see Paul engaging in proclaiming the gospel to Festus and persuading him to believe. Luke records the event. “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen” Paul said, “-- that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:23-28). Agrippa was in no doubt that Paul was not only telling him why the Jews had arrested him –because of the gospel - he also knew that Paul was trying to convince him about the truth of the gospel. It’s not enough to tell the message, we must persuade people to believe and be baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who forgives sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 18:8). This was certainly the apostolic pattern:

"He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews." (Acts 9:29)
"As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures." (Acts 17:2)
"Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks." (Acts 18:4)
"Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God." (Acts 19:8)
"From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe." (Acts 28:23-24)

Persuading someone to response to the gospel when the gospel has neither been fully proclaimed or correctly understood is nonsense; yet a lot of that goes today under the mistaken belief that this is evangelism. It’s nothing of the kind. The persuasion engaged in by the apostles always followed a clear and definitive declaration of the gospel, only then was there an appeal made to people to believe. Persuasion has nothing to do with coercion, manipulation or applying pressure with a view to producing a convert for Christ. Jesus poured out his scorn on the Pharisees who engaged in such a procedure. “You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he become one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15). Persuading people to believe a “gospel” that is not apostolic has terrible consequences for those who proclaim such a message and for those who embrace it. Only through the atoning sacrifice of God’s Lamb upon the cross can sins be forgiven. In his death is remission of sins. That is the good news we must proclaim and in true apostolic fashion say to those who have heard, "We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20). And, yes, people will, like Lydia, "respond to [the] message" and be baptised. (Acts 16:15). True apostolic evangelism always involves proclamation and persuasion.

"With many other words" Luke tells us, "he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand souls were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:40-41). Peter's task was not finished once he told the message about the crucified and risen Lord; people needed to be persuaded to believe the message. And many did. So proclamation and persuasion is the apostolic procedure.

The church in Thessalonica was composed of some who were once idolaters. How do you convert an idolater to be a follower of Jesus? Here's how Paul did it. Recalling his time among them he says, "our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." He goes on to speak of how they "turned from idols to serve the living and true God." (1 Thessalonians 1:5, 9). Not only did Paul convey the gospel through words and the power of the Holy Spirit, but "with deep conviction." Paul's conviction is not only a reference to his personal belief about the gospel, but also a reference to his persuading them to believe the gospel. Later we see Paul engaging in proclaiming the gospel to Festus and persuading him to believe. Luke records the event. "I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen" Paul said, "-- that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:23-28). Agrippa was in no doubt that Paul was not only telling him why the Jews had arrested him –because of the gospel - he also knew that Paul was trying to convince him about the truth of the gospel. It's not enough to tell the message, we must persuade people to believe and be baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who forgives sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 18:8). This was certainly the apostolic pattern:

"He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews." (Acts 9:29)
"As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures." (Acts 17:2)
"Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks." (Acts 18:4)
"Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God." (Acts 19:8)
"From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe." (Acts 28:23-24)

Persuading someone to response to the gospel when the gospel has neither been fully proclaimed or correctly understood is nonsense; yet a lot of that goes today under the mistaken belief that this is evangelism. It's nothing of the kind. The persuasion engaged in by the apostles always followed a clear and definitive declaration of the gospel, only then was there an appeal made to people to believe. Persuasion has nothing to do with coercion, manipulation or applying pressure with a view to producing a convert for Christ. Jesus poured out his scorn on the Pharisees who engaged in such a procedure. "You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he become one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." (Matthew 23:15). Persuading people to believe a "gospel" that is not apostolic has terrible consequences for those who proclaim such a message and for those who embrace it. Only through the atoning sacrifice of God's Lamb upon the cross can sins be forgiven. In his death is remission of sins. That is the good news we must proclaim and in true apostolic fashion say to those who have heard, "We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20). And, yes, people will, like Lydia, "respond to [the] message" and be baptised. (Acts 16:15). True apostolic evangelism always involves proclamation and persuasion.