Balancing Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Evangelism

Devotional

Day 1: The Harmony of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

In the Christian journey, believers often encounter the profound mystery of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. These two concepts, much like the dual nature of light, coexist in a way that challenges simple understanding. Divine sovereignty assures us that God is in control of all things, orchestrating events according to His will. Human responsibility, on the other hand, emphasizes our role in responding to God's call and participating in His mission. The balance between these truths is crucial for a faithful understanding of God's work in the world. Embracing both allows us to live with confidence in God's plan while actively engaging in His purposes. [08:36]

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’"

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's plan today, trusting in His sovereignty while fulfilling your responsibility?

Day 2: The Pitfall of Results-Driven Evangelism

When we overemphasize human responsibility in evangelism, we risk adopting a results-driven approach. This perspective measures success by visible outcomes rather than the faithful proclamation of the gospel. Historical figures like Finney and Moody have influenced this mindset, which can diminish the true power of the message we share. Instead of focusing solely on numbers or conversions, we are called to faithfully proclaim the gospel, trusting that God will work through our efforts to accomplish His purposes. Our role is to plant seeds, knowing that God is the one who brings growth. [10:28]

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV): "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from visible results to faithful proclamation in your evangelistic efforts today?

Day 3: Avoiding Complacency in God's Sovereignty

An overemphasis on divine sovereignty can lead to complacency, as illustrated by the anecdote of William Carey. The belief that God will save without our involvement can diminish our sense of duty to evangelize. However, recognizing God's sovereignty should not lead to passivity but rather inspire us to participate actively in His mission. God's sovereignty assures us that our efforts are not in vain, and He uses our actions to bring people to faith. We are called to be co-laborers with God, participating in His redemptive work in the world. [11:43]

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to actively engage in God's mission, avoiding the trap of complacency?

Day 4: Trusting in God's Wisdom

The reconciliation of divine sovereignty and human responsibility is found in the mind and counsel of God. These truths are purposefully set side by side in Scripture, and our task is to embrace both, trusting that God uses our efforts to accomplish His purposes. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, we do not need to reconcile friends. Instead, we are called to trust in God's wisdom and His ability to work through our actions. By holding these truths in tension, we can live with confidence in God's plan and our role in it. [16:09]

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's wisdom and His ability to work through your efforts today?

Day 5: The Call to Faithful Evangelism

Evangelism is a means by which God brings people to faith. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim the gospel, knowing that God works through our efforts to populate His kingdom. Much like the servants in the parable of the wedding banquet, we are called to invite others to the feast, trusting that God will draw them to Himself. This call to evangelism is not a burden but a privilege, allowing us to participate in God's redemptive work in the world. As we share the gospel, we can have confidence that God is at work, using our words and actions to bring others into His kingdom. [20:25]

Matthew 22:9-10 (ESV): "Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find. And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests."

Reflection: Who can you invite to experience the love and grace of God today, and how can you faithfully share the gospel with them?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of the profound truths of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, we find ourselves grappling with an antinomy—a seeming contradiction that challenges our understanding. Much like the dual nature of light, which is both wave and particle, these theological concepts coexist in a way that defies simple explanation. The temptation often arises to favor one over the other, leading to an imbalance in our approach to evangelism and our understanding of God's work in the world.

On one hand, an overemphasis on human responsibility can lead us to believe that the success of evangelism rests solely on our efforts. This perspective, influenced by historical figures like Finney and Moody, can result in a results-driven approach that measures success by visible outcomes rather than the faithful proclamation of the gospel. On the other hand, an overemphasis on divine sovereignty can lead to complacency, as illustrated by the anecdote of William Carey, where the belief that God will save without our involvement can diminish our sense of duty to evangelize.

The truth, however, lies in holding both concepts with equal seriousness. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, we do not need to reconcile friends. These truths are purposefully set side by side in Scripture, and their reconciliation is found in the mind and counsel of God. Our task is to embrace both truths, recognizing that God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to evangelize. Instead, it should embolden us, knowing that God uses our efforts to bring people to faith.

The Bible provides numerous examples of this balance, such as in Luke 22:22 and Acts 2:23, where divine sovereignty and human responsibility are both evident in the events surrounding Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion. Our duty is to faithfully proclaim the gospel, trusting that God will work through our efforts to accomplish His purposes. As we engage in evangelism, we are participating in God's plan to bring people into His kingdom, much like the servants in the parable of the wedding banquet who invite guests to the feast.

Key Takeaways

1. The antinomy of divine sovereignty and human responsibility is akin to the dual nature of light, challenging us to hold both truths in tension without favoring one over the other. This balance is essential for a faithful understanding of God's work in the world. [08:36]
2. Overemphasizing human responsibility in evangelism can lead to a results-driven approach, where success is measured by visible outcomes rather than the faithful proclamation of the gospel. This perspective can diminish the true power of the message we share. [10:28]
3. Conversely, overemphasizing divine sovereignty can lead to complacency, as seen in the anecdote of William Carey. Recognizing God's sovereignty should not diminish our responsibility but rather inspire us to participate actively in His mission. [11:43]
4. The reconciliation of divine sovereignty and human responsibility is found in the mind and counsel of God. Our task is to embrace both truths, trusting that God uses our efforts to accomplish His purposes, as illustrated in Scripture. [16:09]
5. Evangelism is a means by which God brings people to faith. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim the gospel, knowing that God works through our efforts to populate His kingdom, much like the servants in the parable of the wedding banquet. [20:25]
** [20:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:20] - The Antinomy of Light and Theology
[09:19] - Human Responsibility in Evangelism
[10:58] - The Temptation of Overemphasizing Sovereignty
[12:42] - God's Method of Salvation
[13:50] - Balancing Truths in Scripture
[15:22] - Spurgeon's Wisdom on Reconciliation
[16:25] - The Secret Things of God
[17:04] - Biblical Examples of Sovereignty and Responsibility
[18:33] - The Duty to Evangelize
[19:34] - God's Way of Saving Sinners
[20:25] - The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
[20:41] - Our Role in God's Kingdom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Luke 22:22 - "The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him."
Acts 2:23 - "This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross."
Deuteronomy 29:29 - "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."

Observation Questions:

How does the sermon describe the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility? [08:36]
What examples from history were mentioned to illustrate the overemphasis on human responsibility in evangelism? [09:55]
How does the anecdote of William Carey highlight the potential pitfalls of overemphasizing divine sovereignty? [11:43]
What biblical examples were given to show the coexistence of divine sovereignty and human responsibility? [17:04]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon suggest we should view the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in our daily lives? [15:22]
In what ways does the sermon propose that an overemphasis on either divine sovereignty or human responsibility can impact our approach to evangelism? [10:28]
How does the sermon use the parable of the wedding banquet to illustrate our role in God's plan for salvation? [20:25]
What does the sermon imply about the importance of holding both divine sovereignty and human responsibility with equal seriousness? [16:09]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your own approach to evangelism. Do you find yourself leaning more towards human responsibility or divine sovereignty? How might you strive for a better balance? [10:28]
Consider a time when you felt responsible for the outcome of sharing your faith. How did that affect your approach and what might you do differently now? [09:55]
How can the understanding of divine sovereignty embolden you in your efforts to share the gospel, rather than lead to complacency? [11:43]
In what ways can you actively participate in God's mission, knowing that He uses your efforts to bring people to faith? [20:25]
How can the examples of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the Bible encourage you to trust in God's plan while fulfilling your duty to evangelize? [17:04]
Think of a specific person in your life who does not know Christ. How can you apply the balance of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in your interactions with them this week? [19:34]
How might the concept of "not needing to reconcile friends" change your perspective on other seemingly contradictory truths in the Bible? [15:52]

Sermon Clips

An over emphasis first of all on human responsibility in relationship to evangelism almost inevitably leads to an approach whereby we are tempted to regard ourselves as responsible for securing converts. If you come down on this side of the equation you will feel constantly that unless you adopt a certain style of approach unless it is gone at in a particular way people will not be saved because we have this human responsibility to get at the question. [00:09:19]

On the other hand to fall down as it were on the other side of the fence the opposite temptation is to so emphasize Divine sovereignty that we're tempted to lose sight of the church's responsibility of our individual responsibility to evangelize at all. And Packer in his book uses the illustration which is familiar to us from other sources where Kerry as a Young Man attending a Minister's fraternal in the south of England suggested to all these baptist ministers present that he thought it was an excellent idea to establish a missionary society. [00:10:58]

The minus largely is this that it seems that the man in making that statement was forgetting that God's way of saving people is by sending out his servants to tell others the gospel. So he was in danger of emphasizing one truth to the exclusion of the other. Christ's command means that we should all be devoting all our resources of Ingenuity and Enterprise to the task of making the gospel known in every possible way to every possible person. [00:12:42]

For if you try that you will find yourself all the time trying to explain verses away in your Bible every time you come to a verse that falls down on the side of God's sovereignty for example this is if if you're a human responsibility uh individual this is how you you read these verses in John 6. Okay and this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me but raise them up on the last day for everyone who looks to the son and believes in him shall have eternal life. [00:13:50]

The only way to come through this is the way I'm about to tell you, that is we must hold to each truth with equal seriousness, for that is what the Bible does, and we have no right to seek to dilute one by a heavy dose of the other. They once asked Charles Haddon Spurgeon how do you reconcile the notion of divine sovereignty and human responsibility and Spurgeon replied I don't you don't have to reconcile friends. [00:15:22]

And we may expect that one day when we get to heaven we may understand how they are reconciled but today as we live life down here we must realize that this notion these truths must certainly be under the orb of Deuteronomy 29 29 the secret things belong to the Lord our God and here is one of God's secrets that is how to reconcile the plain truth of human responsibility and the clear truth of God's Divine sovereignty. [00:16:25]

Man's responsibility for his actions and God's sovereignty in relation to those same actions are equally real and ultimate facts. Let me illustrate it in another arena in Luke chapter 22 verse 22 you find this uh plainly stated concerning the matter of the Betrayal of Christ verse 22 of Luke 22 the son of man will go as it has been decreed, decreed by whom by God when in his eternal purposes that is divine sovereignty but woe to that man who betrays him, that is human responsibility. [00:17:04]

Acts chapter 2 and verse 23 after the events have taken place you find the same thing being proclaimed concerning what happened to Jesus this man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge and you with the help of wicked men put him to death by nailing him to the cross. Now we could go all through our Bibles dealing with this we don't have time to do it tonight but let's just try and answer this question how then does a robust faith in the sovereignty of God affect our duty to evangelize. [00:18:33]

The sovereignty of God in Grace does not affect anything we have said about the nature and duty of evangelism he has just spent two chapters saying we better evangelize. Now he comes back to his question that he is posited in the opening chapter and he says the fact of God's sovereignty in no way negate the previous two chapters God's secrets in relation to Salvation have no bearing on our clear duty to evangelize. [00:19:34]

God's way of saving Sinners is to bring them to Faith through bringing them into contact with the gospel. That's how he saves. Matthew chapter 22 and verse 1. Jesus spoke to them again in Parables saying the Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared A Wedding Banquet for his son and he sent his servants to those who had been invited to tell them to come but they refused to come. [00:20:41]

The banquet which God has prepared in heaven for us all will be populated as a result of the activity of his servants as a result of us going out in evangelism into the highways and byways and compelling people to come in. It Is by this means that God will bring to Faith those who me his purpose. [00:20:41]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Balancing Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Evangelism

Devotional

Day 1: The Harmony of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

Day 2: The Pitfall of Results-Driven Evangelism

Day 3: Avoiding Complacency in God's Sovereignty

Day 4: Trusting in God's Wisdom

Day 5: The Call to Faithful Evangelism

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Balancing Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Evangelism

Share