Predestination Problems: Uncaring? (Romans 10:14-21)

Romans 9-11 3 Options      =1. Satan (Rom. 8:38-39) 2. Us (Rom. 3:10-11)  3. God

• #5 questions/objections
• (Duck Duck Doom free ebook @ hello@realfaith.com)
• If God does not need us to pray, give, or serve why should we?

Age 25, core group mtg of 30ish w/list of 40 vision goals & 1 grumpy guy

Question #5: Why should we evangelize if people are predestined?

Romans 10:¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

How God saves

1.    Hearing about Jesus Christ (Sermon & Life Groups)

·         Information – Holy God, human sin, Jesus work (we announce a finished event)

·         Invitation – agree w/God, repent, commit

2.    Believing in Jesus Christ (call for a decision TTC)

3.    Calling on Jesus Christ (prayer, song)

-NOT enough to A. hear (Judas) or  B. believe (demons) = PERSONAL RESPONSE 

-The gospels has social implications, is not a social message, but a salvation message

How God sends

1.    Who has God sent & called you to support?

2.    Who has God sent you to deliver His message to (1-1, small group, large group, burden for particular people e.g. kids, men, women, students)?

3.    How can you help them hear about Jesus (speak, podcast, Bible, church invitation)

-Paul – walked 20 mil day, preach hated message, poor, alone, imprisoned, hurt

-My calling & the support I am grateful for (TTC lightbulb; RF lighthouse)

People are Not Seeking God. God is Seeking People

Romans 10:¹⁸ But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” ¹⁹ But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” ²⁰ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” ²¹ But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

·         God’s Word is for the world – “words to the ends of the world”

·         God’s Word is not always understood – “not understand”

·         God’s grace is often taken for granted by believers – “jealous”

·         God’s people don’t like everyone He saves “angry”

·         God finds people who do not seek for Him

·         God speak to people who do not ask for Him

·         God is good to all but not all respond to Him “all day long I have held out my hands”

-Unburden you – story of person who’s mom and dad died unsaved

Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Evangelism

-God’s sovereignty & human responsibility = like 2 train tracks

-Spurgeon asked to reconcile these 2, “I wouldn’t try. I never reconcile friends.”

Romans 10:20 Divine Sovereignty in Evangelism

Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

God as Father King – Good & Highest Authority

–       Option #1 – control outcome (SAVED)

–       Option #2 – allow human choice (UNSAVED) – Rom 1:24,26 “God gave them up”

= We all choose Hell. God chooses to save some but not all.

Romans 10:21 Human Responsibility in Evangelism

But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

God as Judge – rules through laws everyone is under

Romans 2:12 “all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.”

–       Option #1 – Jesus is judged for us

–       Option #2 – Jesus judges us

Evangelism

Conversations – Happy for me; Worried for them

Evangelism = faithfully & lovingly delivering God’s message of salvation through JC

1. Ministry is God working through you
2. Formal (organizational) & Informal (personal) = work together!
3. Some XN’s have the gift of evangelist. All XN’s do work of evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5)

= E.P. lifestyle evangelism (love, generosity)

Error #1 – God doesn’t use you – Divine Sovereignty

God’s sovereignty over-emphasized & human responsibility under-emphasized

1. God responsible for evil
2. Indifferent or lazy believers (vacation, retirement, country club)
3. Urgency & personal responsibility ignored

William Carey founding missions society board chair said, “Sit down, young man. When God is pleased to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine!”

Error #2 – God needs you – Human responsibility

Human responsibility over emphasized & God’s sovereignty under-emphasized

1. Works & legalism (JW’s)
2. Heavy burden on people leading to religious burnout
3. Manipulation to control the outcome of evangelistic efforts (Baptist Grandma)