Exhortation To Sinners: God And Man Working Together

In inviting those in Corinth to be reconciled to God, Paul was making use of the gift of exhortation: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore (parakaleo- para, to the side, kaleo, to call, to call to one’s side, to summon) you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2Cor. 5: 20.

Paul did the calling, but it was as if God gave the invitation: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead (parakaleo) with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2Cor. 6: 1-2.

Rev. 22:17: “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” The invitation is issued by both the Spirit and the bride, God and man working together to bring the lost into the Kingdom of God. As man exhorts sinners to come to Christ, the Holy Spirit draws them to Christ. It is the evangelistic preacher’s duty to gather souls for Christ. As the seed (the Word) is sown publicly, it must be reaped publicly. The sow only is to leave the job undone. A public invitation is an integral part of evangelism. Failure to harvest souls for God is not with the Lord of the Harvest, but with those who are supposed to be laborers in God’s field.
From The Effective Invitation: A Practical Guide for the Pastor by R. Alan Streett.

Biblical Quotations from the NKJV