Evangelism & The Sovereignty of God

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  Chapter 1: Divine Sovereignty

  I was very impressed by the way the author began this book with kind of a shotgun approach, very straight and to the point, (which is good for people like my self with such a short attention span).
  I find that a lot of books have slow beginnings, and reading them could be properly compared with pushing a large truck , once you get it moving and momentum kicks in it is quite simple to keep it going ,
  But until that budging point it feels like a grueling task. I d... (show more)

  Chapter 1: Divine Sovereignty

  I was very impressed by the way the author began this book with kind of a shotgun approach, very straight and to the point, (which is good for people like my self with such a short attention span).
  I find that a lot of books have slow beginnings, and reading them could be properly compared with pushing a large truck , once you get it moving and momentum kicks in it is quite simple to keep it going ,
  But until that budging point it feels like a grueling task. I did not find that in this book.
  With that being said, let me give a few examples of how Packer explains his views and opinions on God’s divine sovereignty, and gives great illustrations and makes numerous beautiful points that quite frankly can not be argued. First of all, I want to focus on the two general foundations of truth that Packer lays out before the reader. The first is the general truth that {1} “God is sovereign in His world”, Packer uses a very simple method to prove this, he explains how every Christian prays, and in prayer they acknowledge God’s complete sovereignty and ability to answer our prayers and petitions, In fact he states that {2} “the recognition of God’s sovereignty is the basis of our prayers”. The second is the General truth {3} “that God is sovereign in salvation” again Packer uses the illustration of Christian’s form of intercessory prayer, specifically for others to be converted. He states the fact that {4} “you do not save yourself”. Therefore we know that God is completely responsible for our salvation. For example Ezekiel 36:24-27 demonstrates this in the most potent way, the Lord makes statements such as “I will cleanse you from your impurities”, v-25
  And “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” v-26, and “ I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws” v-27.
  These verses that appear above state that it is more than just a simple coincidence that a person has come to the knowledge of Christ and has believed and repented. The only reason this person has received salvation is because God has done an amazing work in his heart and therefore is a “new creation”.
  Packer also states that not only do we as humans hold no responsibility for attaining salvation , but that we also hold no responsibility in sustaining ourselves in salvation. To emphasize this point Packer refers a conversation between Charles Simeon and John Wesley on Dec 20th 1784, their dialogue begins with Simeon stating that he is a Calvinist and acknowledging that Wesley was an Arminian. The conversation then leads to a series of questions asked by Simeon to Wesley these questions consisted of {5}“Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?” “Yes” replied Wesley. “And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through Christ?” “Yes, Solely through Christ” Wesley said. “But, sir, Supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works? “No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.”
  Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power? “No.”
  Simeon then proceeds to ask questions concerning our complete dependency on Christ to save us and sustain us in salvation, and then comes to the conclusion that they both believe in the same thing. Simeon then stated that their focus should be on the grounds of agreement and not on the division and arguments in which these doctrines have experienced.
  Packer uses this account as an opportunity to give an example of what the mindset of believers should portray, not division but unity. In addressing these opposite views, He states that {6}“the root cause is the same as in most cases of error in the Church – the intruding of rationalistic speculations, the passion for systematic consistency, a reluctance to recognize the existence of mystery and let God be wiser then man”.
  Packer then proceeds to make the statement which follows {7} “They are not content to let the two truths live side by side, as they do in the Scriptures, but jump to the conclusions that, in order to uphold the biblical truth of human responsibility, they are bound to reject the equally biblical and equally true doctrine of divine sovereignty, and to explain away the great number of texts that teach it”.
  The author ends the chapter with the conclusion that every Christian believes in God’s divine sovereignty
  And God’s complete responsibility in salvation, but some Christians don’t know that they believe this,
  But when you hear the prayers of believers you see the trust in God’s divine ability to intervene in these things.
  {1} page 11 {2} page 11 {3} page 12 {4} page 12 {5} Horae Homileticae, Preface 17
  {6} page 16 {7} page 17

  Chapter 2: Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

  In this chapter Packer’s goal is to explain a Christian’s responsibility in evangelism, in light of the acknowledged fact that God is sovereign in salvation. He starts this procedure with the recognition of an apparent contradiction between the two subjects. Packer explains that the reason for this apparent contradiction is due to an inability to comprehend things of a divine nature. We as human beings have an finite mind, therefore we are left unable to fully understand infinite God.
  Packer describes this apparent contradiction as an “antinomy” and explains the reason for this description.
  He states that {1} “an antinomy exists when a pair of principles stand side by side, seemingly irreconcilable, yet both are undeniable. There are legitimate reasons for believing each of them; each rests on clear and solid evidence. You see that each must be true on its own, but you do not see how they can both be true together.”
  Packer also states that {2} “an antinomy is not the same as a paradox”. He then explains the difference between an antinomy and a paradox. He says that {3} “a paradox is a form of statement that seems to unite two opposite ideas.” He then uses 2nd Corinthians 6:10, 12:10 as examples of how a paradox creates the appearance of a contradiction not with facts, but with words. Packer also notes that {4} “a paradox is always comprehensible.” He says that {5} “a writer casts his ideas into paradoxes in order to make them memorable and provoke thought about them.”
  The author then challenges the reader to think of the two principles, {6} “not as rival alternatives, but as complementary to each other”. He stresses the importance of acknowledging the grounds of connection between the two principles, and to {7} “think in a way that provides for their peaceful coexistence.”
  Packer explains that the antinomy occurs between {8} “what God does as King and what God does as Judge. Scripture teaches that as King , He orders and controls all things, human actions among them, in accordance with his own eternal purpose” see Gn. 1:20, 45:8; Pr. 16:9, 21:1; Mt. 10:29; Acts. 4:27; Rom. 9:20; Eph. 1:11, etc. {9} “Scripture also teaches that, as Judge, He holds every man responsible for the choices he makes and the courses of action he pursues. Thus, hearers of the gospel are responsible for their reaction; if they reject the good news, they are guilty of unbelief.” See Mt 25; Rom 2:1-16; Rev 20:11-13, etc.
  Packer then explains the responsibility of humans to preach the gospel. He reminds Christians of the obligation that was entrusted to them when Christ gave the great commission. Packer also states the severity of neglecting this commandment. Paul wrote “woe is unto me if I don’t preach the gospel” 1st Cor. 4:16. The author then explains that both {10} “God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are taught us side by side in the same Bible; sometimes, indeed, in the same text. Both are thus guaranteed to us by the divine authority; both therefore, are true.” So after viewing the observation that both principles are true, Packer then states that Christians have no excuse and cannot use ignorance as a reason of procrastination.
  {11} “God’s word addresses each of us individually and each of us is responsible for how we respond.”
  He reminds Christians of the necessity of keeping their responsibility in mind, but not letting that thought override the mere fact that God is completely sovereign in salvation. Packer than explains that evangelism isn’t necessarily making converts, but doing our part in preaching the gospel in its fullness and relying on the Holy Spirit to minister to the individual’s heart. This principle helps the Christian to remember God’s sovereign role in making converts. Packer then warns us of the misconception which many Christians have, that because God chooses to use men to carry out His will, we sometimes get the notion that we are indispensable to God. The author writes {12} “The God who sent him, and is pleased to work with him, can do without him.” After stating these facts and stimulating much thought toward them. Packer ends the chapter with a look at the parable of the talents, Mt 25:14-30. And explains that {13} “‘the good and faithful servants’ were those who furthered theirs master’s interests by making the most enterprising lawful use that they could of what was entrusted to them. The servant who buried his talent, and did nothing with it beyond keeping it intact, no doubt imagined that he was being extremely good and faithful, but his master judged him with the ‘wicked’, ‘slothful’ and ‘unprofitable’.” Christians who know their responsibility in evangelism and ignore the calling to preach the gospel will be treated in the same manner as the servant who buried his talent.

  {1} page 18 & 19 {2} page 19 {3} page 19 {4} page 20 {5} page 20 {6} page 21 {7} page 21
  {8} page 22 {9} page 22 {10} page 22 & 23 {11} page 25 {12} page 31 {13} page 34

  Chapter 3: Evangelism

  In this chapter Packer attempts to explain evangelism by asking four general questions:

  1) What is evangelism?
  2) What is the evangelistic message?
  3) What is our motive for evangelizing?
  4) By what means and methods should evangelism be practiced?

  1. What is evangelism? The author tackles what he views as faulty definitions of evangelism, most notably that provided by the Arch Bishop's Committee, which defines evangelism {1} "in terms, not of a message delivered, but of an effect produced in our hearers" , the point with which Packer disagrees, though he admits it to be an excellent definition as far as it goes. The author notes that {2} “evangelism, according to this definition, means presenting Christ Jesus and His work in relation to the needs of fallen men and women.” He then explains how faith in Christ is not an option but a necessity, because of the desperate situation of fallen humanity. Packer defines the goal of evangelism as, ultimately, receiving Christ in all His offices, not just that of Saviour, also noting that the properly evangelized individual will become actively involved {3} "in the company of those who worship Him, witness to Him and work for Him." Packer, along with disagreeing with ABC's definition of evangelism as primarily concerned with producing converts, views {4} “evangelism is man’s work but the giving of faith is God’s.” To insinuate that we as mere men have the ability to change a man’s nature is giving ourselves a bit too much credit. Packer explains that every evangelist should desire to see conversions, but if one has never seen a conversion yet is faithful in preaching the message of the cross, he is still evangelizing despite the number of positive reactions. He sates that {5} “according to the New Testament, evangelism is just preaching the gospel.” The author explains that we should be seeking to make conversion but not basing our evangelism on whether or not there are any. He writes {6} “if you are not, in this sense, seeking to bring about conversions, you are not evangelizing.”
  Packer then focuses on the Apostle Paul’s evangelistic ministry and makes three points about it
  {7} “Paul evangelized as the commissioned representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul saw Himself as Christ’s steward.” (1st Cor 4:1). {8} “Paul seen himself as Christ’s herald, when he describes himself as an ‘appointed preacher’ of the gospel, the noun he uses is keryx, which means a herald, a person who makes public announcements on another’s behalf.”
  Paul also considered himself to be Christ’s ambassador, {9} “an ambassador is the authorized representative of a sovereign.” In stating himself to be an ambassador Paul points out the authority in which he was given to preach ther gospel and make known the message of Christ.
  {10} “Paul’s Primary task in evangelism was to teach the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  Packer emphasizes the fact that to evangelize is to preach the Gospel in its fullness. Christ’s birth, Christ’s life, Christ’s death and Christ’s resurrection and the significance and necessity of it all. Jesus is the Son of God and was completely sinless, therefore showing His value of Atonement.
  {11} “Paul’s ultimate aim in evangelism was to convert his hearers to faith in Christ.”
  Packer states that {12} “the word ‘convert’ is a translation of the Greek epistrepho, which means to turn.”
  He continues to say {13} “We think of conversion as a mark of God, and so from one standpoint it is; but it is striking to observe that the three New Testament passages where epistrepho is used transitively, of ‘ converting someone to God’ the subject of the verb is not God, as we might have expected, but the preacher. (Lk 1:16) (Jas 5:19) and (Acts 26:18)

  Packer then finishes this first point of what evangelism is, by explaining that evangelism is not limited to any one method but is completely dependent on the message of Christ crucified and that should be the main focus in evangelizing

  {1} Page 37 {2} Page 39 {3} Page 39 {4} Page 40 {5} Page 41
  {6} Page 41 {7} page 42 {8} Page 43 {9} page 44 {10} Page 46
  (11} page 49 {12} Page 49 {9} Page 49

  Chapter 3: Evangelism

  2. What is the evangelistic message? Packer says in short summary that {1} “the evangelistic message is the gospel of Christ, and Him crucified; the message of man’s sin and God’s grace, of human guilt and divine forgiveness, of new birth and new life through the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
  He then goes on to say that it is a message made up of four essential ingredients.
  The first “ingredient” Packer focuses on is that {2} “the gospel is a message about God.” It reveals to us God’s holy character and His holy standards and also what he requires of us. The gospel also declares God’s complete sovereignty and the fact that our very existence is due to Him and also that our purpose for living is to worship Him. The message of the gospel also reminds us as creatures that we are totally dependent on the Creator. Packer states that {3} “these truths are the foundation of theistic religion, and until they are grasped the rest of the gospel message will seem neither cogent nor relevant.”
  The second “ingredient” is that {4} “the gospel is a message about sin.” It refers to all human beings as fallen creatures and sinful, and as a result of our sin we stand guilty of breaking God’s holy law and therefore stand under His wrath. The gospel tells us that we have no choice but to sin because it is our nature, it has been passed down ever since Adam and Eve and in light of this fact, there is nothing we can do to redeem ourselves and bring us back into right standing with God. Packer says {5} “not till we have learned our need to get right with God, and our inability to do so by any effort of our own, can we come to know the Christ who saves from sin.”
  The third “ingredient” is that {6} “the gospel is a message about Christ.” The author states two things about this “ingredient”, that “we must not present the Person of Christ apart from His saving work.” Packer reminds the reader that an account of Jesus’ earthly ministry, healings, miracles and teachings without any mention of His work on the cross and His resurrection is pointless. People must know that the death of Christ on the cross is what paid the atonement for our sin and His resurrection is proof that he defeated sin by conquering the greatest symptom of sin, which is death.
  The second point Packer makes about this ingredient is that {7} “we must not present the saving work of Christ apart from His Person.” Packer states {8} “For the persons to whom the benefits of Christ’s death
  Belong are just those who trust His Person, and believe, not upon His saving death simply, but upon Him, the living Saviour.”
  The forth and final “essential ingredient” in the evangelistic message is that {9} “the gospel is a summons to faith and repentance.” Every person who is subjected to the gospel of Jesus Christ is summoned to repent of their sins and believe in the Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Packer then shows the necessity of preaching the gospel of faith and repentance. He states {10} “If there is to be faith, however, there must be a foundation of knowledge: a man must know of Christ, and of His cross, and of His promises, before saving faith becomes a possibility for him.” The author states that repentance is a continual process. Packer refers to Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, which states {11} “When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said ‘repent’, He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance, and he must also know what repentance involves.” To sum it up, Packer declares the evangelistic message as Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and man’s necessity for the atonement which His death offered, and also to rely on Christ through the Holy Spirit to give us the ability to have faith in Christ and repent of our sins.

  {1} Page 57 {2} Page 58 {3} Page 58 {4} Page 59 {5} Page 59 {6} Page 63 {7} Page 64

  {8} Page 65 {9} Page 70 {10} Page 71 {11} Page 72 (show less)

   

   

  by Luke on Apr 30, 2009 at 04:59PM

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  Great book! Consistently references the Scripture, which is of utmost importance. Also, Packer does not attempt to go to extremes, but rather unpacks, Biblically, the relationship between man's responsibility and the sovereignty of God. It's pretty short and gets right to the point of the matter. God alone does a work in the hearts of men leading to and accomplishing salvation; God has given men the responsibility and priviledge of sharing the truth of the person and work of His Son, Jesu... (show more)

  Great book! Consistently references the Scripture, which is of utmost importance. Also, Packer does not attempt to go to extremes, but rather unpacks, Biblically, the relationship between man's responsibility and the sovereignty of God. It's pretty short and gets right to the point of the matter. God alone does a work in the hearts of men leading to and accomplishing salvation; God has given men the responsibility and priviledge of sharing the truth of the person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ. (show less)

   

   

  by Lance Mott on Nov 15, 2009 at 04:39AM

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