Removing the Barriers to the Gospel

When we speak of spiritual warfare and the battle of the mind, we tend to think of passages in which Paul encourages believers to be transformed by the renewing of their minds and to put off their old ways of thinking (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:22-24). That represents the personal struggle each believer faces with the memory of sin's power, the influence of the world system, and the enemy of our souls. It is a personal conflict of surrender that precludes a greater battle for the souls of lost people. In Second Corinthians, Paul refers to this battle:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, or the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

In this passage, Paul addresses false apostles who were undermining his authority and distracting the Corinthian believers from the essentials of saving faith and the truth of the gospel. Like these self-proclaimed apostles, many people today are trusting in good works to gain entry to heaven. They are trusting that their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds on judgment day. 

When we engage in conversations with lost people about salvation by grace through faith, we are waging warfare for their souls. The battle takes place in their hearts and minds. The gospel message we proclaim is a divinely powerful weapon that demolishes their fortifications (v. 4). Fortifications are the smoke screens, resistance, arguments, philosophies, and false beliefs that keep them from knowing God and obeying His gospel.  

Instead of using manipulative or dominating tactics, our primary strategy is to lovingly and patiently challenge what they are trusting for eternal life. The power of the gospel destroys the fortress of pride that keeps them in bondage (v. 5). As we pray, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and share the truth, we are fighting this sacred battle for their soul. The battle is waged through in-person conversations, phone calls, and online dialogues, where we raise questions and present answers.

Through conversations about God’s grace, redemption, and the sufficiency of Christ, we defeat the prideful, self-righteous thinking that is in opposition to the plan of God for the salvation of all who will believe. We are capturing their rebellious thoughts and teaching them to obey Christ by placing their trust in Him alone for eternal life (v.6). 

In Christ,

Derrick Poston

Evangelism Catalyst, NAMB

President, Great Adventure Missions