Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 1:00:04 PM
“If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” –Jesus Christ [Luke 16:31]
The greatest apologist is Jesus Christ for it is written of Him, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” [John 7:46]
Yet, in the parable of the sower He says that many who come to hear the gospel are as barren soil; the word will produce no fruit in them. These are mysteries of the kingdom of God. In one aspect the kingdom comes gradually as the sowing and growth of seed and the seed is not everywhere fruitful, but dependent on the condition of the soil.
The defect is in men, not the word. Men dead in sin cannot hear and understand the words of life. The word must be accompanied by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the heart by the Spirit or there will be no life from which springs the fruits of the Spirit.
The apostle gives us good instruction on Christ’s doctrine...
‘And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God’ [1 Corinthians 2:1-5].
It is the gospel message from a messenger submitted to Christ that is used of God as the means of grace in saving His people.