What Is Christian Evangelism?
This article covers God's mandate for evangelism, the essential components of the gospel, and three tactics to employ in evangelism.
The Christian Basics series covers the basics of Christianity. This article summarizes the basic truths of the call to evangelism.
Article Content
- The Call to Evangelism
- The Good News of Evangelism: The Gospel
- The Essentials of Evangelism
- Strategy for Evangelism
1. The Call to Evangelism
“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 28:19–20 ESV)
Making disciples involves (1) going, (2) baptizing, and (3) teaching.
“And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46–47)
We need to proclaim Christ to all nations. Christ suffered and died, and he rose again on the third day. Because of Christ, our sin can be forgiven if we repent and believe.
“For you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:15)
Paul was a faithful witness for Christ, proclaiming everything that he had seen and heard. We are to do likewise.
2. The Good News of Evangelism: The Gospel
Paul summarized the gospel in 1 Cor 15:3–4.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel because it is God’s power for salvation.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
3. The Essentials of Evangelism
A person must believe two truths about Jesus.
Jesus is God
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
- “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)
Jesus alone is our Savior
- “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
- “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Other key truths about the message of salvation.
Man’s condition
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Man cannot save himself
“And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:26–27)
God is holy and hates sin
“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.” (Psalms 5:4–5)
God’s free gift in Jesus
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
God’s unconditional love
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Christ’s atoning death
- “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
- “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18)
Our response in faith
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Our new position
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” (John 1:12)
4. Strategy for Evangelism
A. Our Life Testimony
We shine as God’s light to the world through our good works and blameless lives. We also proclaim graciously the truth of Christ.
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” (Philippians 2:14–15)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)
B. Our prayers
We pray that others will be saved. We pray that God gives us opportunities to share. We pray that God gives us boldness.
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1)
“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (Colossians 4:3–4)
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,” (Acts 4:29)
C. Our use of God’s word
We prepare ourselves to share the message of salvation using God’s word.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” (Acts 17:2–3)
“And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
(2 Timothy 3:15)
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15)