Sunday, May 22, 2016 pm
EVANGELISM 2016
What does one need to know?
The
past 2 years we have devoted the fourth Sunday night to a study of
evangelism, aka personal work or reaching the lost.
We are reminded continually in scripture of the importance of
this. We have addressed many
things including the qualities of a personal worker (that we need to
develop), why we need to do this, attitudes and perspectives that help
us understand this work, tools that will help us (such as prayer, faith
and courage), obstacles to reaching the lost, seeking prospects and a
realization that at some point we need to persuade them.
That just about covers the basics of our part in evangelism.
But
what do we teach? Where do
we start? Beginning with
this lesson we want to address what to teach!
This includes a knowledge of what one needs to know, determining
where to begin with someone, finding a study that works for you (there
are many courses out there), preparing to use that study, anticipating
and answering objections, determining when one is ready, offering the
invitation, and other matters associated with this aspect of seeking the
lost. Tonight we start
addressing what one needs to know.
There is much discussion about what one actually needs to grasp BEFORE
he obeys the gospel. Some
believe that as long as one knows they are a sinner and baptism is the
act that saves them they are ready.
I would describe that as the bare minimum, and if one
demonstrated enough of an understanding of these things, I would baptize
him. Acts is filled with
examples of those who responded immediately including on the day of
Pentecost (Acts 2), Cornelius and his house (Acts 10), Lydia and the
Philippian Jailer (Acts 16), and even Saul (Paul – Acts 9).
BUT even this requires judgment.
I have baptized some who I thought were ready only to see them
for the last time when they left the building.
Clearly, they knew the plan of salvation but not the cost
involved in it. We need to
do something about that if we can. (That having been said, I would
rather err by baptizing someone whom I believe was ready but in reality
he was not, than to refuse to baptize someone who was ready).
There are other things that if one fully grasps BEFORE they obey the
gospel, their chances of remaining faithful are increased.
In the explanation of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:18-23)
Jesus taught there are four different types of hearts.
Three of them have problems.
Two of them receive the word (obey the gospel) but have problems.
One of them, the stony ground, falls away at the first sign of
trouble (vs. 20-21). This is
a heart not adequately prepared to receive the word.
IF we have opportunity to prepare the heart beforehand, we
should.
If
we have opportunity to study in-depth, these are some things we should
seek to establish.
a.
One must first
understand that the Bible is the word of God (inspired) and the only source where we can find what we need
to do to be saved (Romans 1:16-17).
b.
NOTE: We cannot assume
anymore that someone believes these things. AND before you
begin, there are some pointed questions you need to ask: 1) Do you
believe in God? 2) Do you believe the Bible is the word of God?
Do you believe it is the ONLY source of salvation?
An answer of NO to any of these questions requires further
discussion before you begin to discuss what one needs to know to be
saved.
c.
They need to understand
how authority is established – one must know that Jesus is the source of
our authority – Matthew 28:18.
Hebrews 2:1-2 tells us in these last days God has spoken to us
through His Son.
One must understand that God means what He says and says what He means!
2 John 9, Revelation 22:8-9
d.
There are many false
sources out there that people appeal to.
Parents, tradition, human wisdom, popularity, the majority,
conscience, even the Old Law.
One must understand that these sources will not save you.
e.
There also need to be an
understanding that we MUST do what it says – Matthew 7:21-23, 28:19-20.
a.
The better one
understands what sin is helps.
In summary, sin is failing to follow God’s laws.
1 John 3:4 describes it as lawlessness (acting without law),
transgression. Also
James 4:17 speaks of failing to act when you should.
b.
Romans 3:23 tells us
that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
c.
Romans 6:23 tells us the
wages of sin is death. Genesis
2:15-17 ties death to our sins.
This death is both physical (man dies because of sin – cf. Romans
5:12), but even more it is spiritual death – Ephesians 2:1 speaks of
being dead in your sins.
Isaiah 59:1-2 speaks of sins separating us from God.
Therefore, we need a plan that will take care of our sins, and the
consequences of sin.
d.
Furthermore, man must
realize that he cannot save himself (i.e. he cannot earn his salvation).
He needs help.
a.
John 3:16 – God loved us
and sent Jesus to die for us.
Romans 5:6-8 - God
demonstrates His love in the death of Jesus.
b.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 –
this is the message of the gospel (good news).
An understanding of the life and work of Jesus demonstrates why
we must believe in Him.
One needs to understand that Jesus is Immanuel (God with us),
that He lived a life without sin, that He died for our sins, that He
arose from the dead as prophesied and that now He reigns at the right
hand of God in heaven. Each
of these can be clearly documented in scripture.
c.
Jesus shed His blood and
died for us – Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 15:3 says He died for our
sins.
d.
Through His word, God
has revealed to us what He expects. In essence He has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of
Him who called us by glory and virtue…” (2 Peter 1:3).
e.
We sometimes describe
these things as God’s part of salvation or GRACE.
Ephesians 2:8 tells us that it is by the grace of God that we are
saved. If one gains a good
grasp of what grace is, it will help him understand his need for
salvation, how much God loves us and cares, and what He has done to
solve the problem of sin in our lives, giving us true hope.
NOTE: Many use this as the primary appeal to reach others.
When man understands the love of God and the work and sacrifice
of Jesus, it can humble him.
Last year (August – September 2015) we presented a handful of lessons
dealing with the scheme of redemption. They
help us understand this and can be very effective in converting the
lost.
a.
Acts 16:30-31, when the
Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What
must I do to be saved?”, Paul answered him, “Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
But what exactly does this mean?
NOTE: Typically, when I am studying with someone I bring this out and
use it to answer the question about what we must do to be saved.
This removes a key passage used by advocates of “faith only.”
It can very easily lead into a discussion of what we need to do
to be saved.
b.
Back in Ephesians 2:8-9,
we noted that grace is God’s part in salvation.
The term “faith” is a reference to man’s part.
This term, while at times means simply believing, at other times
it is a reference to action as a result of that belief.
Faith can be an inclusive term of all that man does because he
believes what God says. We
can illustrate this with the examples of Hebrews 11.
Also James 2:14-26 helps us understand these things.
c.
Man’s part includes:
i.
Responding to what he
hears – Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing.
ii.
When we hear we
believe – John 8:24 – Jesus emphasized this saying if we do not
believe in Him we will die in our sins.
John 3:16, Mark 16:16.
iii.
We must repent of
our sins – Acts 2:38, 3:19, cf. Luke 13:3 & 5.
Salvation involves putting to death the man of sin (Romans 6:3-4)
which means a change in our lives.
iv.
We need to confess
Him as the Son of God and Lord – Romans 10:9-10, cf. Acts 8:36-37.
v.
He must be baptized
– Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 22:16, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Galatians 3:27, Romans
6:3-4, etc.
NOTE: While only one passage is needed (in context) for a point to be
true, because of the emphasis on “faith only”, I would quote several
passages emphasizing what baptism is and what it accomplishes.
Know these passages well!
And be prepared with more should the need arise in your
discussions! More on this
later.
a.
One of the challenges we
face in studying with others is to make sure they understand what
repentance is. There is
great misunderstanding about this in the religious world, and even among
brethren. The result is the
tolerance and practice of error and other sins.
Therefore, special attention
needs to be given to this subject.
b.
One needs to understand
that true repentance involves the mind and heart of a Christian.
It is more than saying one is sorry or regret.
It is a change of mind that results in a true change of conduct.
c.
It is needed to become a
Christian as seen above (Acts 2:38), and needed as a Christian when we
stumble and sin (Acts 8:22).
d.
2 Corinthians 7:10-11
describes the depth of true repentance.
a.
From time to time, we
emphasize what the church is and what it involves.
That has been one of the derivatives of a study of Ephesians, as
it addresses Christ and His church.
We intend to study the church in much greater detail in the
future.
b.
It is imperative that
one understand there is only one true church (Eph. 4:4, 1:22-23).
Jesus died to build His church (Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28).
When we are saved we are added to His church (the universal body
of all who are saved). Yet
scripture demonstrates there are congregations (or local churches) that
must follow God’s pattern and design for her.
c.
As one obeys the gospel
they need to understand that not every church teaches the truth.
As you study scripture, you begin to learn what the church of
Christ is and does. Through
study you can eliminate those that are not the one true church.
d.
Christians ought to seek
to join themselves to a body of Christians that seek to do His will.
This is done by following His word (1 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy
3:16-17). The true church
will teach God’s plan of salvation, worship God as He dictates (John
4:24), respect its organization and work to the boundaries we find in
scripture, etc.
e.
Before one obeys the
gospel, they need to know something about the one true church.
a.
Finally, before one
obeys the gospel, they must realize that their responsibilities do not
end when they come up out of the water.
That is just the beginning.
b.
When one comes up out of
the water they are a new creation, walking in “newness of life” (Romans
6:3-4). 1 Peter 2:2
describes one as babes desiring the sincere milk of the word that we may
grow thereby.
c.
The Bible is clear that
you must remain faithful – Revelation 2:10.
1 Corinthians 15:58 tells us that we are to be always abounding
in the work of the Lord.
The epistles in general are written to churches and the Christians who
comprise them.
d.
Continually we are
warned against apostasy and falling away – Galatians 5:4, 2 Peter
2:20-22, Hebrews 10:26-31, etc.
e.
It is imperative that
when one obeys the gospel they understand they need to learn more.
That is why we will ALWAYS offer to continue studying with a new
Christian. As
one obeys the gospel, they NEED to understand that they need this
further study! Their
faithfulness depends on it.