Should we expect people to accept the message of salvation in Jesus Christ with open arms? If people reject our message, is it because we have not presented it in the right way or because we have not done a good enough job of explaining it? Should we expect everyone, or even the majority of people to welcome the gospel message and receive it? The Bible is clear that most people will reject the truth and will persecute those who bring the message. John MacArthur addressed this on his Grace to You daily radio broadcast on January 13.
“No, it doesn’t mean that at all. It is possible that you have used a wrong approach. It is possible to give an erroneous explanation of the gospel, but the fact that someone rejects it doesn’t mean that it was a bad presentation. The fact of the matter is we should expect after having given the best possible explanation of the gospel that most likely, most commonly it will offend, it will trouble, and people will reject it. That’s a promise. That is a promise. That’s what, you remember, God said to Isaiah back in Isaiah 6, “Nobody is going to believe you. Nobody’s going to believe you. They’re going to hear but not hear. They’re going to see but not see. Their minds are blinded.” That’s what Jesus said to the apostles, that it’s given to you to understand these things, but it is hidden from everyone else. That’s what the apostle Paul said, “The god of this world has blinded their minds lest the light of the gospel shine unto them.” The most common reaction to the truth is rejection. That’s because people resist the true assessment of their own sinfulness, the coming judgment of God, eternal punishment. Until they come to grips with that there’s no real openness for the gospel message.”