Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer

J. I. Packer’s Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God remains a staple in the field of evangelism fifty years after it was first published.  Packer walks the line between an overemphasis on God’s sovereignty, which leads some to deny any need for evangelism, and an overemphasis on human responsibility, which rests the eternal destiny of individuals on the persuasiveness of a gospel presentation.  A correct understanding of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility provides the proper motivation and approach to evangelism.

Packer begins the book by disarming any potential objections to God’s sovereignty.  He explains that all Christians believe that God is sovereign as evidenced by their prayers.  Thankfulness for personal conversion and prayer for the conversion of others also demonstrate the all Christians hold to the sovereignty of God in salvation.  No Christian can take credit for his or her conversion, and no Christian claims that others will be converted apart from a miraculous work of God.  Our actions demonstrate a belief in God’s sovereignty even if our lips do not.

God’s sovereignty does not relieve humans of responsibility with regard to evangelism.  Packer carefully details how God’s sovereignty and human responsibility form an antimony.  These two truths work together in perfect harmony despite apparent contradiction.  Packer urges, “Accept it for what it is, and learn to live with it” (21).  Appropriately, maintaining both of these realities proves crucial to biblical evangelism. Keep Reading...