Episode Focus: Evangelism, missions, God’s sovereignty, the Great Commission
Audience: Christians concerned that Calvinism undermines evangelism

One of the most common criticisms of Calvinism is the claim that belief in God’s sovereign election makes evangelism unnecessary. If God has already determined who will be saved, why preach the gospel at all?

In Episode 3 of The Closet Calvinist Podcast, we examine this objection in light of Scripture. Rather than discouraging evangelism, biblical Calvinism teaches that God saves His people through the proclamation of the gospel—making evangelism not optional, but essential.

Does belief in God’s sovereignty:

• Remove the need for evangelism?
  Or

• Provide confidence and hope in gospel proclamation?

• Christ’s clear command to evangelize

• God’s use of means to accomplish salvation

• Jesus’ own evangelistic ministry

• Paul’s theology of election and missionary zeal

• The distinction between biblical Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism

• Why God’s sovereignty strengthens evangelistic confidence

• Matthew 28:18–20 — The Great Commission

• Mark 16:15 — Proclaim the gospel to all creation

• Acts 1:8 — Witnesses to the ends of the earth

• Romans 10:14–17 — Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ

• 1 Corinthians 1:21 — God saves through the preaching of the gospel

• John 6:37 — All given by the Father will come to Christ

• John 6:40 — Everyone who believes will have eternal life

• Luke 19:41 — Jesus weeps over Jerusalem

• Mark 1:15 — Call to repentance and faith

• Romans 9:16 — Salvation depends on God’s mercy

• Romans 10:1 — Paul’s desire and prayer for the lost

• Acts 18:9–10 — God has many people yet to be saved

• 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 — God gives the growth

• 2 Corinthians 4:6 — God opens blind hearts to see Christ

• Ezekiel 36:26 — God gives new hearts

• Acts 17:30 — God commands all people everywhere to repent

• 2 Peter 3:9 — God’s patience toward sinners

Calvinism does not kill evangelism.

Biblical Calvinism teaches that:

• God sovereignly saves

• The gospel must be preached

• Evangelism is the ordained means by which God calls His people

We evangelize because Christ commands it, sinners need it, and God uses it.

The confidence of evangelism does not rest in human persuasion—but in God’s power.