In the past, when people have asked me how evangelism and election can co-exist, I have pointed them to Romans 9 and 10 where Paul teaches election clearly (chapter 9) and follows it with the notion that they will not hear the good news without a preacher (chapter 10). God has His ends (His elect coming to faith in Christ) and achieves those ends through the use of means (prayer and the preaching of the word).
I have pointed people to Luke’s writings in the book of Acts where in commenting on the outreach of the apostles as they preached the word, it was noted “and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48
I have also pointed out how Luke again makes clear that Lydia’s heart was opened by the Lord as she heard Paul’s words (Acts 16:13, 14) – 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
Other passages could and should be cited in this regard and taken together, this should surely be enough for us. God has made His truth clear. However, God has been especially gracious to us in that He has revealed these same truths from the lips of Jesus Himself. John’s gospel seems to be especially full in describing Jesus’ view of election and evangelism. I think of passages in John 3, John 6, John 10 and the prayer in John 17.
However, recently I was reading Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 11 and noticed something I had not seen before. Here, Jesus is grounding evangelism in election and once again sees no contradiction between the two…
Matthew 11: 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Notice that Jesus teaches us:
(1) God hides some things from some and reveals them to others (election)
(2) Come to me all…. (the evangelistic call)
For decades I had read these words but I think what I had done before was see these verses (25-27):
Matthew 11: 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
unrelated to the next verse (28):
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Now I see they are said in the same breath, so to speak, and of course, there’s no contradiction.
Its so good to see Jesus preaching these things. As much as I admire the Luthers, Calvins, Edwards, Whitefields and Spurgeons of this world, it is the fact that Jesus preached these things so clearly that seals the issue for me.
We don’t know who the elect are; they are not running around the countryside with the letter “E” for the elect stamped on their forehead. Nor are people stamped with the letters “NE” so that we avoid them as the “non-elect.” No, we are to preach the gospel to everyone, commanding all to come to Christ, yet at the same time, knowing in the back of our minds, only the elect will be enabled to come. “All the Father gives Me will come to Me” Jesus said (John 6:37).