Part Eleven: The Holy Spirit Empowers the Gospel—but What About Apologetics and Law?

This week’s blog article ends my eleven week series on how, when, and with whom do we apply gospel or law or apologetics. I want to close the series by stressing that all three avenues of evangelism work together. Although I developed each independently, they complement one another. In evangelism, they are mutually inclusive. Here’s how this plays out.

We should always try to initiate a witnessing opportunity with the gospel message. If objections are raised, we switch to apologetics. When we have overcome an unbeliever’s objections, we switch from apologetics back to gospel. However, if the person persists in rejecting the gospel in spite of the evidence, we apply law. We point out (gently as possible) that he or she is an unsaved sinner and the consequences of willfully rejecting Jesus Christ. Thus, all three facets of evangelism work together.

We must never forget, however, that whether we share the gospel, use apologetics, or apply law, the Holy Spirit is always the agent of conviction and conversion. I want to end this series by stressing this, because apologetics is sometimes criticized as either ignoring the Holy Spirit or at least not relying on Him.

I fully realize that many agnostics, atheists, and followers of non-Christian religions have responded to the gospel without apologetics. This is because the Spirit of God prepared them to respond. However, it needs to be seen that the Holy Spirit can work through any avenue He chooses, including avenues other than the gospel. If God has not prepared a person to respond to gospel or law, apologetics comes into play. Indeed, apologetics is often used by the Holy Spirit to lay a foundation for future conversion. In other words, apologetics is planting and watering (pre-evangelism; see 1 Cor. 3:6-7). This is a necessary first step on the road to salvation for many people .

One final thought before I end this blog series. Even if we succeed in removing a person’s intellectual objections to Christianity, or even if we have demonstrated the fallacious nature of his presently held religious or secular worldview, this alone may not be sufficient to compel an individual to accept Christianity.

Nevertheless, we have done something of great value. We have brought that person face-to-face with Jesus Christ. He (or she) is at a point where it is clear his rejection of Christianity is not for intellectual reasons. Rather, it’s willful and irrational. Why? Because the decision to reject Christianity in spite of the evidence is a choice one makes against the facts. That makes it willful and irrational. And if it’s willful and irrational, then the real reason for rejecting Christianity is a moral or emotional commitment to unbelief. The unbeliever does not want to accept the lifestyle changes that will naturally occur once Jesus is accepted as Lord and Savior, and once he begins to live a Christian life. In short, he does not want to be accountable to God.

Sadly, an unbeliever who refuses to accept Christ for this reason does not realize that any lifestyle changes that occur are because God Himself places the desire to change (and the ability to do so) within him. This is the work of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:17; 1 Cor. 6:19; Gal. 5:24-25; 2 Tim. 1:7). Unbelievers do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit prior to conversion. They do not understand that it is the Holy Spirit who makes the changes, not themselves (1 Cor. 2:14). ©