Using The Gospel To Persuade

by Chris Simmons

When we read in Ephesians 6:10-18 of the need to “put on the full armor of God” in our “struggle” (wrestling, ASV) against Satan, we read of the need for both defense (i.e., “the breastplate of righteousness,” “the shield of faith,” and “the helmet of salvation,” etc.) and offense (i.e., “the sword of the Spirit”). Our stewardship of the gospel not only includes the need to “make a defense” (I Peter 3:14-15), as Micky wrote about last week, but to go on the offensive seeking to persuade others with scriptural evidence and reason.

We read in Acts 17:1-3, that when Paul “came to Thessalonica … according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence” that “Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” The Greek word for “reasoned” is dialegomai which Zodhiates defines as “to speak back and forth or alternately, to converse with, reason, present intelligent discourse … present intelligent arguments.” Our duty as “stewards of the mysteries of God” (I Corinthians 4:1) is to reason or present intelligent arguments from the scriptures to help others come to a knowledge of the truth. Such reasoning is part of our duty in “handling accurately the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). We are never to call upon others to exercise a leap of faith without scriptural reasons. Rather, it is through the presentation of sound textual reasoning from the scriptures that we hope to instill faith and obedience. Such “reason” is to lead to one becoming “persuaded.” Repeatedly we read (Acts 17:4; 18:4; 19:8) of those who Paul reasoned with who “were persuaded” and reflect Paul’s “custom” (Acts 17:2), or usual practice, in presenting the scriptures. The word for “persuade” (3982) is from the Greek word peitho which means “to convince by argument” (Strong) in “bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral considerations” (Vine). We don’t reason just so we can win an argument or so they will be impressed with our great oratory skills (I Corinthians 2:4-5). We reason with others, based on the wisdom of God, to bring about a change of heart and mind.

Our efforts to reason and persuade are to bring about change (repentance) and action (obedience). Scriptural persuasion seeks to help others become something they presently are not. Saul of Tarsus, understanding the need to act and change, having been persuaded that Jesus was the Christ, asked “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). Paul’s mind had been changed and he knew his walk of life needed to change also. When Paul later reasoned with King Agrippa in Acts 26:27 about believing “the Prophets,” Agrippa replied to Paul in verse 28 that “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” We know that in verse 29, Paul replied, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these chains.” Agrippa understood that Paul’s persuasion called for action and change that would result in him becoming a Christian. We must note that it’s very difficult to persuade someone regarding something that you are not fully persuaded of yourself. Paul’s efforts to persuade were to make others “such as I am.” As Paul closed his life, he was still “convinced (peitho) that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (II Timothy 1:12).

Reason and persuasion are not only about “what” but “when” and the urgency of addressing one’s spiritual needs immediately. Continuing with the example of Saul of Tarsus, Ananias found it necessary to reason with Saul regarding when, asking of him in verse 16, “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” We need to use the gospel to reason and persuade that now is the time to act in obedient faith and that the scriptures warn us of the need to be ready at all times (Matthew 24:44). The scriptures reason with us regarding the importance of “today” (Hebrews 3:13-15; 4:7). As Paul quoted in II Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation.’” We need to persuade others that putting off what the scriptures call us to do is both dangerous and foolish.

Acts 17:3 uses another word regarding Paul’s use of scripture. Luke records that Paul was “explaining” the scriptures. We might equate what Paul did with what we read of Ezra doing, who not only “read from … the book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:1-3) but was also “translating,” or explaining, “to give the sense so that they understood the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8). Our efforts to reason and persuade will depend on our ability to explain and help others understand what they read. We think of the Ethiopian eunuch, who, reading from Isaiah chapter 53, was asked by Philip, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch replied, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” Philip, understanding his duty to reason and persuade, “beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.” There is evidence that indeed Philip explained the scriptures and the prophecies of Isaiah 53 and gave “the sense” so that when they came to some water, the eunuch asked “what prevents me from being baptized?” Philip reasoned and persuaded his way from Isaiah 53, to Jesus Christ and the need to be baptized for the remission of sins. Micky’s efforts in the Tuesday morning Bible study are geared towards helping each one of us to better persuade others by being able to tie the Old and New Testaments together and so that we can also “guide” others through the scriptures to Jesus Christ and His church.

We need to appreciate our duty as stewards of the scriptures to persuade others regarding the truth of God’s will, the need to act upon it and to do so today.