When we preach the gospel correctly, there should aways be the risk that our hearers could take it the wrong way. It is to be preached as an unashamedly free gift, a salvation conditioned solely upon the work of Christ at Calvary. It should be emphasized that this gift cannot be earned, nor is it possible by any human effort to earn it, however extreme or simple that effort may be.
Most will not or cannot bring themselves to Preach a message like that because there is a high probability that the hearer will abuse God's gift of free grace. He will use God's grace as a cover-up for his sin. This is labeled cheap grace because there is no cost associated with the gift and it is assumed that people will do as they please without regard for holiness or righteousness. Honestly, this is a risk we must be willing to take as evangelists.
The message of God's free gift of grace is the message of the gospel. It is good news. It demands nothing other than faith, and the faith it demands it also creates. If this message meets with one who is called of God to salvation, there is no risk involved. There is no chance that such a person is going to abuse God's grace. We can be sure of this because God promises it.
In Romans 8, Paul tells us this:
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (V. 29)
This predestination for conformance to the image of Christ occurs prior even to our calling. This Paul makes clear as he continues in verse 30:
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
So the one who is predestined for justification by faith is not predestined to use that faith as an excuse for sin, but is called to faith as a means of being conformed to the image of Christ. That is the ultimate goal of our salvation - not our happiness - but the transformation of our lives for the glory of God. The more famous verse that opens the thought explains that when coupled with verses 29 and 30:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
That all things work together for good does not mean that all things work together to suit us or our idea of what is 'good' for us, but that all things work together to conform us to the image of Christ.
Again, Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Vs. 8-10)
Here, once again, Paul couples the idea that grace is an absolutely free gift, not of our own doing, not the result is any work (including the mythical "give your life to Christ" demand) which leads to good works which God prepared for us to do before we were saved. There are no good works which earn us our salvation, but good works are evidence of our salvation. And these are not arbitrary works but the very works for which God has justified us and gifted us.
This enables the evangelist to do two things. The first is that he may stop juggling law and grace as a means of insuring that the one he is preaching to is 'sincere' in his decision. We don't have to wonder if someone has believed 'with all their heart' - if they have there will be long-term evidence. We don't have to instruct them to 'give their life to Christ' because those whom God has called will be in Christ already when they believe.
Secondly, it frees us to preach to whomever we will. I am not limited to sharing with only the ones with whom I have continual contact, but with anyone with whom I make contact. It would always be preferable to continue a relationship with someone to whom we have witnessed, but it is not necessary because God is faithful to complete that which he has started.
All of this leads back to the importance of what it is that we preach. If we do not clearly and concisely help people to identify their sin and the severity of their sinfulness and then just as clearly identify God's ridiculously free gift of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit through trust in the finished work of Christ alone, they cannot be justified by faith. If they are not justified by faith and empowered by the Spirit, they will not be conformed to the image of Christ. If they are not conformed to the image of Christ, being fruit-bearers, they will not be saved. Even if we do everything right, some will believe in vain, and that is beyond our control.
I guess the bottom line in all of this is that the outcomes are beyond our control. We are responsible to preach the gospel - to plant seed and to water - but it is God who brings the increase. So preach the free gift of God in Christ with reckless abandon knowing that if God begins a good work any of your hearers He will be faithful to complete it.
