What Is The Purpose Of The Preaching To The Non-Elect?

by Arthur Pink

“It is to be noted that God has other purposes in the preaching of the Gospel than the salvation of His own elect. The world exists for the elect’s sake yet others have the benefit of it. So the Word is preached for the elect’s sake yet others have the benefit of an external call. The sun shines though blind men see it not. The rain falls upon rocky mountains and waste deserts as well as on the fruitful valleys; so also, God suffers the Gospel to fall on the ears of the non-elect. The power of the Gospel is one of God’s agencies for holding in check the wickedness of the world. Many who are never saved by it are reformed, their lusts are bridled, and they are restrained from becoming worse. Moreover, the preaching of the Gospel to the non-elect is made an admirable test of their characters. It exhibits the inveteracy [habitual or deep-rooted nature] of their sin; it demonstrates that their hearts are enmity against God; it justified the declaration of Christ that “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19. – Excerpted from “Objections to God’s Sovereignty Answered”
 
Obviously only God knows who “the elect” are, and the Gospel preacher has no need to worry about that when engaged in evangelism. God’s sheep will hear their Shepherd’s voice and follow Him (John 10:27) when God sees fit to regenerate them.