Overcome Objections to the Gospel

➤ by Pastor Andy Fulson

Outcomes of Indifference

Life changes prompted by the Gospels are offensive to some people. Humbling oneself to gain eternal life and forsaking worldly pleasures seems too costly. The approaching Day of Judgment appears to be a matter of indifference to many. There is no desire to know nor hear about it. We all go to heaven - after all, God is a good God.

From the beginning, the proclamation of Christ's Good News was a contested point for the scribes and priests of Israel. The people, on the other hand, clung expectantly to His comforting words. They were like sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9:36).

Paul, to the Corinthian church, wrote: For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish, 2 Corinthians 2:15

During the reign of King David, God said: It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways, Psalm 95:10.

Nothing has changed to this day.

At the end of Israel’s 40-year wandering, only two families from the original multitude that left Egypt took possession of the promised land. Their crossing of the Red Sea, the accompaniment of the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, clothing that did not wear out, and manna that served as their bread were not impressive enough.

Doubt, complaining, and unbelief kept them from receiving the promises (Heb 3:19).
The new generation, those born during the 40-year wandering, did take possession of the promised land. Yet they too eventually ignored the Mosaic Laws. With each subsequent generation, that neglect worsened.

Finally, they were carried away into captivity because of their unfaithfulness, though they returned in later years under the yoke of foreign nations.

Overcoming Indifferences

Following the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the growth of the early Christian church, the persecution of Christian believers was extreme. The Pharisee, Saul, later called the Apostle Paul, pursued converted Jews of the Mediterranean regions, bringing them in chains back to Jerusalem (Acts 9:14).

Compared to Saul's persecution of the early Christian church, the events leading up to the time of which Jesus spoke will become steadily worse (Mt 24:6-12).

Without His predicted 'shortening of time', no one would be saved: And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened, Matthew 24:22.

The moment of that event has been set (Mt 24:36), coming suddenly and unexpectedly. Until then, the proclamation of the Gospel is urgent, and the offer of salvation remains available.
Faithfulness to the Gospel message despite persecution is a challenge and demands decisions with which Christians must deal until Christ’s return (1Thes 4:16-17).

God's Plan for Restoration

Before Pentecost, Israel burdened with daily worries, powerless, exhausted, and without God’s help, cried unto the Lord and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalms 107:19-21.

Foreseeing their repeated falling away, God sent Jesus to help them to remain faithful by the indwelling fellowship of the Holy Ghost after Pentecost.

The letter to the Philippians, reads: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7.

Fellowship with God comes through reconciliation (Rom 10:9-10). His unchanging love wants you to take hold of His outstretched hand: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28.

Allow yourself to be lifted up and your burdens removed. If you're stressed, find rest in Christ. Access to Him is still available (Rom 10:9-10). Regardless of attitudes, God's grace is offered freely to everyone.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28

However, for Him to make it available, cost God the life of His only Son: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, John 15:13-14.

Without renewal (Jn 3:3), no fellowship restoration is achievable, and being depressed, burdened, stressed out, and troubled will continue.

A once-and-for-all reconciliation grants access to all of His promises.

How valuable is this fellowship restoration? It should lead to a willing decision, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord (Jn 3:3; Rom 10:9-10). Does it, though? Or is it an obligation and not really wanted.

If Jesus' words: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls, Matthew 11:29, seem like an imposition, then an unwillingness to change is likely the stumbling block, not the Gospel!

Steps toward change

Believers should willingly follow all of God's instructions. With the help of the Holy Spirit, His commands, laws, and precepts of the Gospel are not burdensome: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light, Matthew 11:30.

Is everything ever done correctly? No.

A change must be undertaken and implemented (Rom 12:2). God is in no hurry for Christians to do everything right, quickly. Instead, He is gracious, merciful, and patient (Gal 5:22).

Paul, the Apostle, emphasizes in his letter to the Philippians: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6.

With such a resolve: The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, surely as I have thought, so it shall come to pass; and as I have purposed, so it shall stand, Isaiah 14:24.

Where lip service and indifference toward God (Is 29:13) continues, it can be reversed by the renewal of your mind (Rom 12:2), and by following the instructions given in Joshua 1:8. Be as committed as the Bereans, who searched daily in the scriptures: ... they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so, Acts 17:11.

Advantage of Transformation

God's readiness to transform every believer from glory to glory is unfailing: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Hesitation of following in Christ's footsteps can be a hurdle for Christians. How can fear and intimidation be overcome to carry out the works of Christ? Only with the help of a trainer, the Holy Spirit, resulting in new boldness and commitment.

Only actions achieve results.

Jesus prophesied to his disciples: Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father, John 14:11-13.

And again: All things are possible to him that believeth, Mark 9:23.

And why then the hesitation to carry out the words of Christ (Lk 6:46)?

The devil, as an angel of light (2Cor 11:14), tries to oppress the redeemed with discouragement in order to pose no danger to himself. The renewal of the mind (Rom 12:2) through the Gospel, brings all his deceptions recognizably into the open.
If the Gospel were not proclaimed, the world would have no hope in the finished work of Christ.

Do you know what Christ's finished work is?

Renewal is Contested

Every born-again believer (Jn 3:3) through renewal (Rom 10:9-10) receives the Holy Spirit as a personal helper, teacher, and guide. Then follows an impartation from Him with authority to break all the power of Satan (Lk 10:19) to carry out the works of Jesus (Jn 14:12).

Satan, on the other hand, in opposition to renewal of the mind uses intimidation, false doctrine, doubt, unbelief, fear, and condemnation.

In Jesus’ likeness: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, James 4:7, just as Jesus did in the temptations (Mt 4:4-10).

Resistance against Satan's opposition to renewal of the mind is essential to prevent his objective. Frustrated, he withdraws until another opportunity (Lk 4:13). Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Avoiding Neglect of the Gospel

Are you aware of the knocking at the door of your heart? How is that knocking recognized? Isn't it the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed, and what the Holy Ghost inspired to be written (2Tim 3:16), and brought to your remembrance?

On the day of Pentecost, God sent His Holy Spirit (Act 2:2), Who continues to prompt the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgement (Jn 16:8-11).

Disregard for the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures results in increasing unbelief toward the Gospel: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, Hebrews 11:6.

The importance of faith apart from grace cannot be overemphasized. Without faith, little if anything is obtained from God's promises, (Jam 1:6-7).

The lack of understanding the scriptures (stumbling blocks) leads to disappointments in daily life. However, insight into faith and hope (Heb 11:1) by the renewal of the mind (Rom 12:2) overcomes Satan's stumbling blocks, and provides access to God's promises: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8.

Jesus experienced the resurrection and ascension to God's right-hand side by His trust in God's infallible word (Is 14:24).

Be aware that Satan's rage is the root of all the world’s unrest. Some of his tactics are killing, stealing, sickness, and persecution. Decide to throw off his yoke of domination by converting to Jesus Christ (Jn 8:36).

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8

Confidence of a Mature Believer

Until the Day of Judgment: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9; (Jn 12:48)

For that reason, God has established the following offices in the community of believers: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, Ephesians 4:11-14.

A mature man is able to judge between the knocking of the Lord on the door and the temptations of the enemy. Based on the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, he will stand firm against Satan's temptations until that upward call of God in Christ (Phil 3:14-15) rings out.

And should a believer die having confessed Jesus as Lord (Rom 10:9-11) before Jesus' return, such a one is secured in eternity with Christ: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, Revelation 3:5-6.

Trust the Gospel message: But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin., Hebrews 3:13.

Embrace the transformative power of God's love today. In Christ, you have the strength to overcome every obstacle, the grace to grow in faith, and the promise of eternal life that awaits all who believe.

From the article, Anstöße in der Botschaft, by Pastor Andy Fulson 

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For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish, 2 Corinthians 2:15
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20

Unless stated otherwise, all Bible passages quoted in orange are from the KJV translation.

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