The change of the gospel:
Believing in the preached gospel leads to eternal life. The evidence that the gospel leaves behind is undoubtedly undeniable. After listening to the preaching of God’s word, people have witnessed a change in their physical and spiritual well-being. The scriptures tell us that God’s word is sharper than any two-edged sword that cuts through the thoughts, the soul, and the bone marrow (Heb 4:12). God’s words are spirit, they transcend man’s spirit (Jh 6:63), and bring life to man. And when there are messengers who will go against all odds to share the gospel, the evidence it leaves behind cannot be doubted (Is 52:7). But faith plays a major role in the effects the gospel leaves behind. The scriptures call out, asking who will believe the report, because he came in weakness and frailty (Is 53:1-2).
Luke 16:14-16
14 Afterward, he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
There cannot be resistance to the evidence the gospel leaves behind. Resistance to evidence starts with the hardening of the heart. And the disciples wrestled with their hearts in believing what was happening before their eyes (Mark 8:17-18). The hardening of the heart means becoming resistant, emotionally and spiritually unresponsive. The scriptures warn us not to harden our hearts like the people of Israel did in the wilderness (Heb 3:8). Jesus appeared to his eleven disciples after the resurrection, and called out their unbelief and the hardening of their hearts. 4 women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, Peter, and the disciples were the first to see Jesus after the resurrection. They bore witness to the rest of the disciples, and still, there were some whose hearts were hardened and could not believe. So, to fix the problem of faith and hardening of the hearts of the disciples, he gave them the great commission. Our hearts will become tender and believing when we witness firsthand the evidence the gospel leaves behind. Faith comes by hearing and the hearing of the word of God (Ro 10:17)
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Isaiah 52:7
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Isaiah 53:1-2
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Mark 8:17-18
17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Hebrews 3:8
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.