Questions and Answers

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
QUESTION.—Is it proper, in preaching the gospel, to press upon people responsibility to believe?
ANSWER.—Our blessed Master called upon men to "repent, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:1515And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15).) And when asked by the men of His time, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" His reply was, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." (John 6:28, 2928Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:28‑29).) Again, He challenges the Jews with this pungent question, "If I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" (John 8:4646Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (John 8:46).) Then, when we turn to the Acts of the Apostles, we find Peter calling upon the Jews to repent, and be converted. We find Paul also telling the Philippian jailor to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).) He tells the Athenians that "God commandeth all men everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30).) We read in 2 Thessalonians that our Lord Jesus Christ will take vengeance on them that obey not the gospel, and further that "God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth." (2 Thess. 1:8; 2:11, 128In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8)
11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11‑12).)
It is when we turn to the sacred page of God's word that we find the truth, not one side of truth, but the whole truth in all its bearings. We find, lying side by side, the truth of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Are we called to reconcile them? Nay, they are reconciled already, because they are both set forth in the inspired Word. We are to believe, and obey.