Evangelism & God's Sovereignty

If the book of life was decided at creation, why do we bother evangelising? ~ Joanna.

Hey Joanna, thanks for your question! I fear it may have been prompted by a careless reference I dropped into last week’s sermon on Revelation 19-20. Here’s the passage:

Revelation 20:15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Without thinking it through, my mind jumped to the last time we’d heard about that Book:

Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come.

I say I was careless in dropping that in the sermon - not because it’s not true -but because I didn’t have time to go into it further. I’m sorry for that, and I’m extra glad for the opportunity to speak to it now…

The first thing to say is that God does, indeed, write the names of his people in the book of life long before they make their own decision to follow Jesus.

Paul, using less poetic language than John does above, puts it this way:

Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

In love. God’s chooses us in love. This is always important to establish when we have the conversation about predestination. The starting point is always God’s love.

Now to your specific question, Why evangelise?

This is the right question! If God has predestined those who will be saved - and by definition that means it must happen - then why the call to evangelise? What has my fumbling attempt at sharing the gospel got to do with God’s eternal decrees???

I want to answer this question with a series of bible passages. My only authority to answer in the first place is derivative of God’s authoritative word - so let’s see where it takes us.

• God loves sinners

John 3:16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• God saves sinners

Luke 23:40-43 “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

1 Timothy 1:15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.

• God chooses whom he will save

Romans 8:28-30 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honoured the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.

• God calls all people to repent and believe

Acts 17:30 Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Romans 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Revelation 3:20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

• God uses our evangelistic efforts to bring people to saving faith

Romans 10:14–15 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

Matthew 9:36–38 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.

The word of God reveals that God loves sinners, that God saves sinners, that God chooses whom he will save, that God calls all people to believe, and that God uses us as his appointed means to bring people to saving faith.

This is actually a great encouragement to share the gospel with all people, because the power for their conversion doesn’t rest ultimately in my charisma, or intelligence, or eloquence - but on the eternal plan of God.

Ultimately, I don’t think it’s our place to understand exactly how all of this works together. It’s not an intellectual cop-out to say (and perhaps we should do this more often) “Lord, I don’t get it! These truths are too big for my mind to contain. Please increase my understanding as you see fit, but over all these things give me faith to trust you.”

The last word goes to Paul, who after wrestling with these matters for a few chapters, finishes with benediction:

Romans 11:33–36
Oh, the depth of the riches 
and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! 
How unsearchable his judgments 
and untraceable his ways! 

For who has known the mind of the Lord? 
Or who has been his counselor? 

And who has ever given to God, 
that he should be repaid? 

For from him and through him 
and to him are all things. 
To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Thanks again for your question.
Love, JS