“Persuasion” is a Problem for Calvinism? | #reformed #theology #apologetics

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]Welcome to another theological clip.

[00:00:02]Today, I want to address this so-called undeniable problem for Calvinism. At the end of the day, it all comes down to why preach the gospel if God has already decided who will be saved. Why bother to convince anyone if faith is a gift and the elect will be saved anyway. Why would God command people to do something if they can't, etc. Basically, non-Calvinists are asking, "What is the point? Why even bother?

[00:00:25]Persuasion is not going to change anything and it certainly won't convince the non-elect."

[00:00:31]The answer is simple. Persuasion belongs primarily to the external call and it's one of the means God uses to internally call his people to himself. Our words are the instrument, the Spirit is the power. We persuade, argue, reason, and plead just as Paul did, but we do so in full dependence, knowing that only the Holy Spirit can open the heart. That's the biblically concise answer. Now, let us look at the biblical data.

[00:00:57]In Acts 17, Paul was at Thessalonica and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scripture. Paul wasn't using modern persuasion tactics of any kind.

[00:01:05]He was simply reasoning from Scripture.

[00:01:07]There was no sign, wonder, or miracle being performed. Keep this in mind. Some of the people there were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, but some were not persuaded, becoming envious.

[00:01:19]Same message, yet two different outcomes. One group finds Paul's reasoning to be persuasive, the other finds it to be foolish. Why is this? Was it because Paul didn't use the right method to convince those who were not persuaded? Not at all. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:3, "Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing." In other words, the problem is not the message nor the messenger, but the one hearing.

[00:01:45]While Paul was proclaiming the gospel, God made the message persuasive to Lydia by opening her heart. The Thessalonians were no exception. If you think I'm making this up, then turn to 1 Thessalonians 1:5. It reads, "Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."

[00:02:03]Note what it says, "Our gospel came to you." That's the external call. And the external call alone can't persuade or save anyone. But the external call becomes effectual when the Spirit opens the heart. And that's what happened to the Thessalonians. The gospel came in power and in the Holy Spirit. Isn't that what Paul is essentially saying in 2 Timothy 2?

[00:02:23]It's our duty to persuade others, but whether they will be persuaded or not is entirely up to God. A person becomes persuaded when God opens the heart. If you deny everything that is said in this clip, then you have to explain why Noah, a preacher of righteousness, couldn't persuade a single soul outside of his family.

[00:02:42]What answer can non-Calvinism provide for why Noah couldn't persuade a single soul? I'll give you a hint, the heart.