Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that a non-believer's possible response to the gospel message is not ours to judge, or something on which we should base our evangelistic efforts, but is the work of the Holy Spirit.

In addition, as indicated in the Bible, God has given witness to Himself to all humans in nature and in the human conscience (Psalm 19; Romans 1-2), by which criteria all humanity stands condemned for unbelief. 

To respond to this situation, believers have unmistakably been commanded by Jesus Himself (in passages such as Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; and Acts 1:8) to share the gospel of the forgiveness of sin through faith in Christ as widely as possible, even if the message will be rejected by some.

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Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

I believe it is the purpose of Christ's ministers of reconciliation to make the effort to share the Truth, whether "in season or out".

2 Cor 5:18-21
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

2 Tim 4:2-5
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

It may be that the unbeliever is such because of never hearing the correct gospel of God's grace, which is Christ crucified for them. Faith may come once they have been exposed to the knowledge of the Truth.

1 Tim 2:3-6
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

God knows who will believe and will increase their faith once the seed, the correct "foundation", has been planted (1 Cor 3:8-15).

1 Cor 3:5-7
"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

We may never know if the efforts of the Spirit working through us have made any progress while living, but we are to work out our salvation (out of ourselves towards others) with "with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12), remembering the penalty that awaits those who will not believe.

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