This last Sunday, Pastor Obie preached on an evangelism method modeled by the Apostles of Jesus Christ. By definition, “Evangelism” is the promulgation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To “evangelize” is defined as: To instruct in the gospel; to preach the gospel to, and convert to a belief of the gospel; as, to evangelize heathen nations; to evangelize the world. If you identify yourself as a “born again” Christian and disciple (student / follower) of Jesus Christ, then evangelism is both Kingdom work and a way of life to seek and save the lost in sin.
The word gospel means “good news,” so the gospel of Christ is the good news of Jesus being sent from Heaven to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe in Him (Colossians 1:14; Romans 10:9). Since the first man’s sin, mankind has been under the condemnation of God (Romans 5:12). Because everyone breaks God’s perfect law by committing sin, everyone is guilty (Romans 3:23). The punishment for the crime of sin is physical death (Romans 6:23) and then an eternity spent in a place of punishment – in Hell’s Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:46). This eternal separation from God is also called the “second death” (Revelation 20:14–15). The bad news that all are guilty of sin and condemned by God is countered by the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. God, because of His love for the world, has made a way for man to be forgiven of their sins (John 3:16) by grace through saving faith. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the sins of mankind on Himself through death on a cross (1 Peter 2:24). In placing our sin on Christ, God ensured that all who will believe in the name of Jesus will be forgiven (Acts 10:43). Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the justification of all who believe (Romans 4:25). Do you accept and believe?
Ephesians 4:11-13 “His (the Holy Spirit) gifts to the church were varied and God Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives, some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].”
Not every Christian saint [those who have been sanctified (made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services) by the Holy Spirit], are appointed to hold the godly position and vocation of Evangelist, but every Christian saint is called to evangelize. The word “evangelist” literally means in Greek as a “bringer of good news”. We have all been a spread of good news to someone in our life and you can spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in what He has done in your life. Tell your personal story of your faith journey and how much it means to you, letting all know that the same Good News is available to them also.
It’s called the Great Commission, where in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” And in Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This is the Christian’s “seek and save” matching orders commanded by our Lord, that which He has called us to do. The advancement of the Kingdom is the intent through the Good News Gospel of Salvation. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 tells us, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” As citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, our desires are to be the same as God’s desires. Be a witness for Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
James 5:19-20 says, “My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns them back [to God], let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of their way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been restored].”
Let's continue Pastor Obie's message on evangelism in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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