Evangelism
by Greg Walker
The Great Commission
The Gospel is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Evangelism is the oral or written proclamation of the Gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to evangelism.
Before ascending back to Heaven, Jesus gave His disciples a command that extends to all believers from all times, cultures, and places:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.” Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
Jesus first tells His disciples that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. How encouraging to know that the One sending you out into a dark and fallen world has authority over all of creation!
The Evangelism Command
“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.”
A proper rendering from the greek is “while going". While we are going around the world making disciples (students of Jesus), some will turn and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. After salvation, new converts are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and continue being taught everything that Jesus commanded. Discipleship implies evangelism. While making disciples, some will hear the Gospel and trust in Jesus. From here the cycle continues generation after generation. People get saved, baptisms happen, new converts are discipled, and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is proclaimed to all nations for eternal salvation.
The Lord then concludes with very comforting words:
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The One who has all authority in heaven and on earth is with us as we spread His Gospel to every nation, even until the end.
Evangelism Verses to Know
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” Mark 8:34-35
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
Go Therefore…