Most People Who Hear The Gospel Won't Believe It

Hebrews 4:1-2, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

Like many Christian believers, I used to errantly think that if we can just get the Gospel out to as many people as possible, they get saved. Although we certainly should get the Gospel out to everybody we can in obedience to The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), the reality of the situation is that most people will not believe the Good News when they hear it.

In our text passage of Scripture from Hebrews 4:1-2, the inspired King James Bible says that the Jews who wandered in the Wilderness of Zin for 40 years heard Moses preach the Gospel unto them, but they simply didn't believe it. Tragically, that means they are burning in the fires of Hell today and forever. That is heartbreaking. What was that Gospel which Moses preached? We read in Acts 10:38a and 43, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power... To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” The Gospel has always essentially been the same (although they lacked the full details we have today) that remission of sins comes through faith in Christ.

Can you imagine the Jews hearing the Gospel preached unto them for 40 years, and still not believing one word of it? When the Apostle Paul taught the Word of God to a group of Jewish leaders, the Bible says in Acts 28:24, “And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” You will find this situation to be true in every corner of the earth. Humans are so predictable. No doubt a few of the Jews believed Moses' Gospel message, but most of them tragically did not believe.

I wrote this blog, not to discourage Christians from sharing the Gospel with everyone; but rather, so that you will understand we simply cannot lead everyone to Christ. I have often heard Bible preachers say that we cannot save anyone, only God can save a sinner. But that is not entirely accurate. What saith the Scripture?

Jude 1:21-23, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

Did you read that? We are to “save” some people with fear. That is, warning them of the judgment to come upon them if they refuse to get saved (Hebrews 10:31; Revelation 21:8). 1st Corinthians 3:9b says, “we are labourers together with God.” Without us to preach the Gospel, NO ONE will ever get saved. So, we DO help save lost sinners, by preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen from the dead unto them.

We need to understand that it is quite normal for only a few people to receive the truth (the light) of the Gospel to be saved. What did Jesus say? Luke 13:23-24, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” The Bible foretold that only a few people would ever be saved. It's not because God doesn't want them to be saved (2nd Peter 3:9); but rather, it is because “ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40b).