“Why We Must Evangelize”
Larry Acuff
Part One
Evangelize! Evangelize! The word itself sounds exciting. “And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelist; and some pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). Webster gives several definitions of the word evangelist: “a writer of any of the four Gospels; a person who evangelizes; specifically : a Protestant minister or layman who preach-es at special services; an enthusiastic advocate ” This article will focus on the lat-ter. “An enthusiastic advocate.” We are to be an enthusiastic advocate for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why must we evangelize?
THE BIBLE TEACHES IT
We must evangelize because The Great Commission teaches us, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15). Matthew records it, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations…” (Matt. 28:19). The Apostle Paul puts it another way when he wrote to the young preacher Timothy writing, ”And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). We have a clear mandate to carry the message to a lost world.
John’s record of the Great Commission is in fewer words but just as meaningful. He wrote, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). We have been sent. In the prayer of Jesus our Lord said, “As thou hast me sent into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:18). He did not send them into the world to build a business but to preach the gospel and they did just that. After the establishment of the church the apostles began to obey the Lord’s command. They were commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus but Peter and John answered them by saying, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). On another occasion they were thrown in prison and charged not to preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 5) but they followed the Lord’s command and replied, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Luke goes on to record, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). Jesus said, “…So send I you” and they responded by going.
There are four reasons why we must evangelize, one being, the Bible teaches it. There are more articles to follow.
There are four reasons listed as to why we should evangelize:
1) The Bible teaches it.
2) To save others and ourselves.
3) The world is lost and separated from God.
4) To show our love for God and man.