IN THE COURSE OF THIS LIFE, many have at one time or another felt the effects of persuasion. Human nature is often pliable; on the other hand, some folks have dispositions unaffected by persuasion.

Persuasion indicates the changing or enlightening of the mind through the efforts of another. Not only has this method been used of men, but when we turn to the Holy Scriptures, we find God employing the same method, and the reason is obvious. God seeks to enlighten and change our mind for our own eternal good.

Because man is a sinner by birth and by conduct, the judgment of God awaits him. God has provided a means of escape through the death of His Son. Through faith in Christ, sinners can be in heaven instead of the lake of fire for eternity. This fact is foreign to man’s carnal mind, so God seeks to persuade him to believe these truths that he might be saved.

"FULLY PERSUADED"– ROMANS CH. 4

Abraham was a man fully persuaded! One clear night, God said to Abraham, “Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be” (Genesis 15:5).

Imagine a man one hundred years old and his wife of ninety years of age being promised a child by God! The promise was staggering and unnatural, but Abraham, “being not weak in faith . . . staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform” (Romans 4:19-21). What was the result? Romans 4:22 says, “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

In other words, Abraham was justified, reckoned righteous, in the sight of God simply because he believed God — not through keeping the law! “For the promise . . . was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law” (Romans 4:13). “Because the law worketh wrath” (Romans 4:15), not salvation as some believe. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20). Neither was justification through works. “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture?” No-tice, God points us to the scripture for the answer. He doesn’t say, “What saith the Church,” or “What saith our conscience?” Oh, no! That will never do! “What saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:2,3).

The ways of God have not changed! “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it (justification, righteousness) was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:23-25).

I would that you could be fully persuaded that you are in need of righteousness (justification) and that you cannot obtain it through Moses’ law or good works. It is only by believing God and placing your trust in the finished work of Christ accomplished on Calvary’s cross for sin. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

"ALMOST PERSUADED" ACTS CH. 26

Paul the apostle stood before King Agrippa, telling him of his need to repent and turn to God (Acts 26: 20). He was faithful in his preaching and feared not the King. Would to God there were more preachers of this character today! Paul was also scriptural in his preaching, “saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead” (Acts 26:22, 23). He sought to impress the fact that “Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3), and that salvation from God’s wrath could be obtained by accepting Christ as his own Saviour (John 3:36). Even though Agrippa knew the Scrip-tures to be true, his reply was sad; “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). Today Agrippa is in hell, almost persuaded — but lost!

NEVER PERSUADED LUKE CH. 16

Our Lord gives us the sobering account of a man in hell. This man requested that Lazarus be given liberty to reap-pear on earth to his five brethren in an effort to persuade them to repent “lest they also,” as he says, “come into this place of torment” (Luke 16: 28). The reply came — If they won’t hear the Word of God, “neither will they be per-suaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

How sad to think that many today refuse to read or hear the Holy Bible. Religious prejudice has closed the minds of some. Worldly pleasure has occupied the minds of others. They have no time or patience for the gospel. What will their end be? God says “But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured” (Isaiah 1:20). In what class are you? Fully — almost — or never persuaded? Like Paul, I can say, I would to God, that all that read this tract “were both almost, and altogether such as I am” (Acts 26:29). Think these truths over, dear soul — it’s for eternity!

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31