A Biblical Call to Evangelism

Evangelism is an ancient biblical term that simply means to share the good news. What greater gift can any human being give to another than the message that God has made a way for us to be reconciled with Him? All Christians are called to participate in sharing this wonderful news with others. Here are three key Biblical reasons we have and will continue to focus on evangelism:

1. Evangelism is about making known God’s goodness

Psalm 105:1
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.

The word “Gospel” literally means “good news.” The news about God is good because God’s character is good. If He was not a good God, then there would be no Gospel. The news brought to us through the scripture is that our God is a loving Creator who would rather show mercy than justice toward undeserving sinners.

God has provided for all people, at all times, and in all places, not because He has to, but because He is good, and that truth is the very heart of what we call the Gospel. Mankind is not left to be slaves to what sin and death bring – judgment and wrath. Every single morally accountable person has, at some point, the opportunity to be reconciled to God.

Romans 10:12-13
For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The Gospel is the truth that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord (by seeking Him in faith) will be saved (Ps. 145:18; Joel 2:32; Ps. 18:3; Zech. 13:9; Acts 2:21).

2. Evangelism reveals the only way to salvation

Isaiah 45:22
Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

God and God alone has provided the way of salvation. It is not narrow minded or intolerant to tell people this truth. In fact, it is horribly cruel to withhold this truth from others if indeed God’s way is the only way to be saved. If you were trapped in a burning building would you call a firefighter intolerant or narrow minded if he told you the only way to escape? No. You would be grateful for his help in finding safety.

Jesus told his followers, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). He also said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Notice that Jesus does not hesitate to clearly speak the simple truth so all would know the only way to salvation.

We must really consider what is at stake when it comes to evangelism and prioritize our lives accordingly. If indeed the only way to salvation is through Christ then we must spread the news to all people!

3. Evangelism is our God-given responsibility

Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Clearly Paul understood the urgency of evangelism and made it the priority of his life. He knew the task the Lord had given him:

Matthew 28:19–20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey…

These are Jesus’ marching orders and no one who calls themselves a Christ follower is exempt from this greatest of all commissions. Jesus also said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matt. 9:37-38).

There is no more disappointing sight for a farmer than ripe fruit rotting on the vine simply because there are not enough harvesters to gather the harvest. Likewise, there is nothing more tragic in a world of lost sinners than a shortage of willing evangelists to deliver the good news.

The Lord has given all of us the responsibility to share the good news of Christ with others. The harvest is ready for more harvesters, so will you join in the greatest and most rewarding work anyone could ever do? The work of an evangelist!