Evangelism Ministry
Our purpose is to glorify God by proclaiming the gospel to all people. Jesus commissioned His disciples to make disciples of all nations by baptizing them and teaching them to follow Jesus Christ (Matt 28:19–20). We believe that evangelism is the role of every Christian because of our love for God (1 John 4:19), our concern for the lost, our desire to obey Him (1 Thess 2:4), and as a reflection of our gratitude for the salvation we have in Jesus Christ. Evangelism is ultimately for the glory of God and the growth of His church. Yet, we are all servants who must plant and water for the increase that comes from God (1 Cor 3:5–7).
Our Evangelism, Outreach, and related ministries seek to fulfill this commission in the modern-day world.
Evangelism should be one of the highest priorities of the church. Why? Because Christ commanded it. We typically refer to the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 as our evangelistic and disciples-making command. But there are many other places in the New Testament where the priority of evangelism is clear. Christ commanded it. We must do it. We must go and make Disciples. “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.” (Matt. 28-20)
Because Christ is the only way of salvation.
There is no way around it. Salvation is exclusive. There is only one way. Jesus could not have made it clearer in John 14:6: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Jesus had an urgent message. He had an exclusive message. We must be conveyors of that narrowly defined hope. Because Christ died for the world. There is a reason John 3:16 is the most familiar and most quoted verse in the history of humanity. Jesus died for the world. He is the only way, but He has provided a way for everyone. That is a message that is urgent and worth telling. It’s the greatest message ever. We must not overlook that discipleship is everyone’s job. The members of the early church took their responsibility to make disciples very seriously. To them, the church wasn’t a corporation run by a CEO. Rather, they compared the church to a body that functions properly only when every member is doing its part. Paul explained the function of the church in Ephesians 4:11–16: 11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
For us to be forgiven of our sins, and therefore receive eternal life, we must accept salvation according to the plan which Christ has made possible. There are five steps which we must take to enter the saved relationship with Christ.
Hear
First, we must hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). One is not a Christian because his parents are. Just as sin is not inherited, neither is faith (Ezekiel 18:20). Each person must believe in Jesus Christ for himself. Christianity is a religion of teaching (Matthew 28:19,20). Unless one has heard the Gospel and learned that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and arose from the dead, he cannot be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The apostle Paul wrote: “How shall they call Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14)? One must first hear and understand the
Gospel before he can believe it.
Believe
Second, one must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus said: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). The jailor at Philippi asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30,31). Jesus also said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). One comes to believe in Jesus Christ when he hears the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This is the reason it is so important that the Gospel be preached to the whole world (Mark 16:15).
Repent
Third, one must repent of his sins in order to be saved (Acts 17:30,31). Jesus commanded that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Repentance is a result of being sorry for one’s sins (2 Corinthians 7:10). When the Jews on Pentecost Day learned from Peter that they had crucified the Son of God, they “were pricked in their heart” (Acts 2:37). They wanted to be forgiven of their sins, so they asked, “What shall we do?” They were told to “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37,38). When one repents, he turns away from his sin (1 Thessalonians 1:9). He shows he has repented by doing good works (Matthew 3:8).
Confess
Fourth, one must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). This great truth is the very foundation upon which the church of Christ is built (Matthew 16:18; Acts 4:11,12; 1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus said that we must be willing to confess Him before men if we want Him to confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32,33). The apostle Paul wrote: “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10). When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch responded, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Philip told him he could be baptized if he believed. The eunuch then confessed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:35-38). We must make this important, yet simple confession also to be saved.
Be Baptized
Fifth, one must be baptized to be saved. Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;” (Mark 16:16). Please note that baptism follows belief. One who does not believe that Gospel cannot be truly baptized. Therefore, babies cannot be baptized for they are too young to (1) have sin, (2) hear the Gospel, (3) repent of sins, and (4) confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Baptism also follows repentance. On Pentecost Day, Peter told those who asked what to do to be saved to “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized…” (Acts 2:38). One cannot be truly baptized who has not truly repented. Baptism is a burial in water (Romans 6:3,4; Colossians 2:12). Therefore, sprinkling or pouring are not proper baptism. Baptism is to be saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21). One is not saved before he is baptized! Baptism is “for the remission (forgiveness) of sins” (Acts 2:38). Just as Jesus shed His blood for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28), so we are baptized to receive the remission of sins. In baptism, the sinner’s sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Acts 22:16; Revelation 1:5). What does one have to do to be forgiven of his sins? He must:
1. Hear the Gospel of Christ
2. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
3. Repent of all his past sins
4. Confess that Christ is God’s Son
5. Be Baptized for the remission of sins
When he does this, he is added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:41,47). He is born again (John 3:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). He is in Christ where all spiritual blessings are to be found (Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 3:26,27). In short, he is a Christian (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
Are you saved from your sins? Have you taken these simple steps to salvation? If not, why not do so today?