By Nick Bibile
The Apostle Paul wrote more extensively about God’s sovereign election than any other apostle. His letters repeatedly emphasize that salvation rests upon God’s eternal purpose, grace, and sovereign choice—not upon human merit or ability.
Paul also demonstrated through his own ministry that the doctrine of election does not weaken evangelism; it strengthens and motivates it.
Paul undertook three major missionary journeys, carrying the gospel across much of the Roman world. He endured extraordinary suffering for the sake of Christ and His people. He explained why:
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.”
— 2 Timothy 2:10 (ESV)
Notice Paul’s reasoning. Because God had chosen a people, Paul willingly endured imprisonment, persecution, hunger, beatings, rejection, and countless hardships so that the elect would hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ.
Paul did not reason, “If God has chosen His people, there is no need to evangelize.” He reasoned exactly the opposite: God’s election gave him confidence to preach.
The same God who ordained the end—the salvation of His elect—also ordained the means by which they would be saved: the proclamation of the gospel.
Election does not replace evangelism. Election establishes the certainty that God’s saving purpose will be accomplished through evangelism.
God’s eternal purpose includes not only the destination but also the road that leads to it. He ordains both:
the salvation of His people, and
the preaching of the gospel through which they hear and believe.
Paul understood this perfectly. He could endure suffering because he knew that God had His people, and that those people would be brought to salvation through the preaching of Christ.
As Paul wrote:
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
— Romans 10:17 (ESV)
And again:
“How are they to hear without someone preaching?”
— Romans 10:14 (ESV)
Therefore, biblical election is never an excuse for passivity. It is a reason for faithful, courageous, and confident evangelism.
Consider what happened when Paul entered Corinth. Corinth was notorious for its immorality, idolatry, and opposition to the gospel. Paul had every reason to become discouraged.
But the Lord encouraged him in a remarkable way:
“Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
— Acts 18:9–10 (ESV)
This statement is significant.
God did not say, “I might have some people here if they first decide to become mine.”
He said:
“I have many in this city who are my people.”
At that moment, many of those people had not yet believed the gospel. Yet God already knew them as His own.
Their future conversion was certain because God had purposed to save them. And that very truth encouraged Paul to continue preaching.
Paul remained in Corinth for eighteen months, teaching the Word of God among them (Acts 18:11).
Here we see the beautiful harmony between divine election and human responsibility:
God chose His people.
Paul preached the gospel.
The
people heard the gospel.
God brought His chosen people to faith
in Christ.
Election did not make preaching unnecessary. Election gave Paul confidence that his preaching would accomplish God’s purpose.
Although salvation belongs to God’s sovereign purpose, the gospel must be proclaimed freely and indiscriminately to all people.
We are not called to determine who the elect are before preaching to them. We do not possess God’s secret decree. We possess His revealed command:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
— Mark 16:15 (ESV)
Jesus commanded His disciples:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
— Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
The gospel is therefore proclaimed to all. Everyone is commanded to repent and believe in Christ.
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
— Acts 17:30 (ESV)
We preach Christ to everyone because God alone knows His elect, and because He has ordained the preaching of the gospel as the means by which His people are called to faith.
Paul could preach to everyone without contradiction because he trusted God’s sovereign purpose.
If salvation ultimately depended upon fallen human beings making the decisive choice by their own natural ability, evangelism would rest upon uncertain human will.
But Paul’s confidence rested elsewhere.
God saves.
God calls.
God regenerates.
God grants faith and repentance.
God preserves His people.
And God uses the preaching of the gospel to accomplish His saving purpose.
Therefore, the doctrine of election does not produce evangelistic laziness. Properly understood, it produces evangelistic confidence.
Paul endured everything “for the sake of the elect,” because he knew that God’s chosen people would obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.
That should encourage every faithful preacher, missionary, and Christian witness today:
We do not preach because we know who the elect are.
We
preach because Christ commanded us to preach to everyone.
We
preach because God has ordained preaching as the means of
salvation.
We preach because the gospel is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes.
And we preach with
confidence because God will gather every one of His people to Christ.
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
— Romans 10:13 (ESV)
Election is not the enemy of evangelism. Election is the foundation of evangelistic hope.
Soli Deo Gloria!