Can You Reason Someone Into The Kingdom?

Do reasoned arguments work in apologetics? Some suspect that using reason isn’t spiritual. “After all, you can’t argue someone into the Kingdom,” they say. “Only the Spirit can change a rebel’s heart. Jesus was clear on this. No one can come to him unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). No intellectual argument could ever substitute for the act of sovereign grace necessary for sinners to come to their senses.”

Of course, this last statement is entirely true as far as it goes. The problem is, it does not go far enough. There is more to the story. It doesn’t follow that because God’s Spirit plays a vital role in conversion (which he does) then reason and persuasion play none. In the apostle Paul’s mind there was no conflict.

 

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. (Acts 17:2-4)

 

Simply put, you can argue someone into the Kingdom. It happens all the time. But when arguments are effective, they are not working in a vacuum. When people say you can’t argue someone into the Kingdom, they usually have an alternative approach in mind. They might be thinking that a genuine expression of love, kindness, and acceptance, coupled with a simple presentation of the gospel, is a more biblical approach.

If you are tempted to think this way, let me say something that may shock you: You cannot love someone into the Kingdom. It can’t be done. In fact, the simple gospel itself is not even adequate to do that job alone. Many people who were treated with sacrificial love and kindness by Christians never surrendered to the Savior. Many who have heard a clear explanation of God’s gift in Christ never put their trust in him.

In each case something was missing that, when present, always results in conversion. What’s missing is the that special work of the Father that Jesus referred to , drawing a lost soul into his arms (John 6:44). Of this work Jesus also said:

 

Of all that He has given me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. (John 6:39)

 

According to Jesus, then, two things are true. First, there is a particular work of God that is necessary to bring someone into the kingdom. Second, when present, this work cannot fail to accomplish its goal. Without the Spirit, no argument – no matter how persuasive – will be effective. But neither will any act of love nor any simple presentation of the gospel. Add the Spirit, though, and the equation changes dramatically.

Here’s the key principle: Without God’s work, nothing else works; but with God’s work, many things work. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, love persuades. By the power of God, the gospel transforms. And with Jesus at work, arguments convince. God is happy to use any and each of these methods. This is because both love and reason are consistent with God’s own character. That same God who is the essence of love also gave the invitation, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). Therefore, both approaches honor him.

 

Understanding this truth makes our job as ambassabors much easier. We can be confident that every time we engage, we have an ally. Our job is to communicate the gospel as clearly, graciously and persuasively as possible. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to do the heavy lifting. We may plant the seeds or water the saplings, but God causes whatever increase comes from our efforts.

I like to call this principle “100% God and 100% man”. I focus on being faithful, but I trust God to be effective. Some will respond, and some will not. The results are his concern, not mine. This lifts a tremendous burden from my shoulders.

 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)

 

 

Taken from Tactics by Greg Koukl.