Responses to the gospel

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. – Acts 17.32-34

As we share the gospel we must realise that not everyone is going to jump at the chance to be saved. People are going to respond in different ways. Even Paul, probably the greatest missionary and soul winner who ever lived, did not see everyone saved.

When Paul finished his talk on Mars Hill with a mention of the resurrection we read that ‘some mocked, other said ‘we will hear more’…but some joined him and believed. The response to the gospel was mixed.

Of course some mocked him. That was to be expected. The notion of resurrection from the dead and the resultant eternal life doesn’t make any sense to a world that is trapped in darkness. The Bible says, after all, that their natural eyes are blinded. For anyone who has done much sharing of the gospel we know well this response. Whether is actual blindness or not wanting to hear a lot of folks are just going to reject our message out of hand.

Then there are some folks who just need to hear more. This is where most of the folks I have shared my faith with are. They don’t dismiss it, they know something must be there, but it is too much to process at the moment. They need to hear more. These friends and coworkers and family see there is a difference. They take in what we say. Some of these may even be previous mockers who have watched us and have their curiosity piqued. People like this need our continued witness and contine to need to see Christ.

But then, a few believed. It doesn’t sound like a great crowd here get saved. We read of Dionysius, Damaris, and others believing. Some mocked, some wanted to hear more, but a few received message and were saved.

I think the key lesson here is this. All we can do is share the gospel. The results are in God’s hands. God will open their hearts, but we must give them the message. A lot of folks are not going to be saved, at least not now, but that doesn’t change what we do.

What if Paul had said ‘I’m just going to wait here for Silas and Timothy? Would Dionysus and Damaris been saved. Would others have had the seen of the gospel planted in their hearts. Even those who mocked were not a waste of time.

One thing is certain – whatever we do to proclaim the gospel is better than nothing.