by Bobby L. Graham
I have heard preachers in the Church of Christ say that we decide for ourselves whether we will believe the gospel and obey Christ, but doesn't the Bible teach that the Lord opened the heart of Lydia in Acts 16:14?
Yes, you probably have heard preachers of the Gospel make the statement that the Lord allows each to decide to believe and obey the Lord, and I would expect no less from men careful to teach what the Bible teaches. Every case of conversion recorded in Acts of the Apostles (1) began with the sinner hearing the Gospel of Christ and (2) indicated such freedom of will in the individual. Whatever influence used by God to move the sinner to be converted is a moral influence, serving only to convince and persuade, never to coerce; to draw, not to drag against one's will (John 6:44-45).
In this same way, Lydia heard the Gospel of Christ preached by Paul and thereby became open to His will. Note the order in Acts 16: First, "Lydia… heard us" (v. 14). Second, "the Lord opened her heart" (v. 14). Third, "…so that she heeded the things which were spoken by Paul" (v. 14).
Lydia did not open her own heart; the Lord did this work. He accomplished it using the Word proclaimed by Paul.
The Word of God is designed to instruct the intellect and persuade the will of each person, but the individual decides whether and when to respond to the Word. Not a single person in Acts was ever moved by the Lord to do anything to be saved apart from hearing the Word of God. For this reason, Paul affirmed that the Gospel of Christ is God's power unto salvation to every person who believes it (Rom. 1:16). Several verses in the Book of Psalms testify concerning the potency of the Scriptures. Let no man try to gainsay it.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul (Ps. 19:7).
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (Ps. 19:8).
Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way (Ps. 119:104).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps. 119:105).
The entrance (opening, ASV) of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (Ps. 119:130).
Consider the words of Abraham to the Rich Man in Luke 16:29: "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." Hearing Moses and the prophets was done by hearing their words (i.e., writings). In the same way, because God is the author of the Bible, whatever the Word of God is said to accomplish is also accomplished by God. He did open Lydia's heart by means of His Word preached to her by Paul.
Author Bio: Bobby L. Graham preaches and is an elder for the Old Moulton Rd. church of Christ. He and his wife, Karen, have three children: Richard, Mary Katherine Winland (Darren), and Laura Paschall (Jeremy). He can be reached at bobbylgraham@pclnet.net.
