Encouragement in Preaching the Gospel
Jim Byrd

Our unshakable confidence in the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation does not diminish our zeal to proclaim the gospel of free grace to sinners. I realize that one accusation against "sovereign-gracers" is that believing God unconditionally chose some sinners unto salvation before the foundation of the world will cause us to become less enthusiastic about preaching the gospel and urging men to close with Christ. I can tell you that it has been my happy privilege to proclaim the grace of God for over thirty-five years and to be acquainted with many who likewise love the truth that, "salvation is of the Lord." I have never met anyone whose belief in sovereign grace has lessened their eagerness for setting forth salvation for unworthy sinners through the person and work of Christ. Knowing that God will save "the vessels of mercy, which He afore prepared unto glory" (Romans 9:23), encourages us to preach the gospel, for we are assured that the Lord who ordained the salvation of His people will reveal to them the blessed Savior.

Actually, if I did not believe that the Lord will save His chosen ones, I would cease preaching because the Bible clearly declares the inability of the natural man to receive anything except it be given him from above (John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 2:14). Fallen man has been rendered spiritually dead by the transgression of Adam. He has an unregenerate mind and deaf ears toward the gospel. Paul declared "the carnal mind is enmity (hostile) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7). And if man’s natural condition was not bad enough, it is written that Satan holds all men captive at his will (2 Timothy 2:26). Were it not for the sovereign, effectual grace of the Lord, declaring the gospel to spiritually dead sinners would be the most useless of all endeavors. It would be a waste of time and energy to preach if the salvation of the lost was dependent upon their freewill-response to the message.

Do you not see that far from discouraging us, the truth of divine election fills our hearts with encouragement and zeal to go forth and declare the gospel of redeeming grace to every creature? We are assured that the mighty Shepherd, by His Word, will seek, find, rescue and bring His wandering sheep safely to Himself. Rather than lessen our zeal, the sovereignty of God in grace gives us our only hope of success in preaching the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.