New Testament: Handbook for Evangelism
Over the last 40 years a dozen or more personal work handbooks and techniques have been developed by our brethren. Across the land numerous congregations have sponsored evangelism workshops. Clinics have been conducted at our college lectureships to stimulate interest in this vital work. All of these efforts are to be highly commended for no greater need exists among our people. Yet it is paradoxical that a people who profess to be New Testament Christians, governed by that book, need to be taught that they must be soul winners. It is like teaching a doctor that his field is ministering to the sick; or teaching a truck driver that it is his job to drive; or a school teacher that it is his job to teach. Who has heard of such a thing? Why is it so in Zion? Have we read The Bible to no profit?
The Soul Winner's Manual
Our Bible is itself a manual on evangelism. The following thoughts will bear out this assertion. That we have studied it for lo these many years and yet need special materials and programs to convince us of this, reflects seriously on our comprehension of the message.
In the Bible as an evangelistic textbook we find:
- The evangelistic thought in God's heart (John 3:16).
- The evangelistic message is Christ's atonement (Rom. 5:6-8).
- The evangelistic duty in our Lord's commission ( Matt. 28:18-20).
- The evangelistic motive in the nature of the redeemed life (Matt. 10:8).
- The evangelistic task in a world lying in the evil one (I John 5:19).
- The evangelistic power in the gospel message (Rom. 1:16).
- The evangelistic goal in "the Day of the Lord Jesus" (II Peter 3:11-12; Rev. 22:20) (Carver).
The Bible doctrine of world wide evangelism destined to one day bring salvation within the reach of every men, begins in Genesis. Here we find the beginning of God's redemptive movement to be consummated on Calvary and proclaimed by every Christian. The poets and prophets anticipated that day when salvation would be afforded to all the world.
The New Testament
Yet, it is the New Testament that interests us most since it is our Christian standard. The observing student immediately is impressed with the central place that soul-winning occupies in it. The New Testament is a product of the evangelistic work of the early Christians and was produced primarily to meet the needs of that work. If there had been no commission or no obedience to its spirit, there would have been no need for the New Testament writings and no occasion for their production. A product of evangelism, the New Testament can only be truly interpreted in the light of the evangelistic idea!
Messiah was named Jesus because he would save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). His purpose in coming was to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). The gospels are biographies of Jesus. They are designed to inspire faith. But they are also a chronicle of Jesus' seeking and saving the lost. Without doubt, Christ was the world's greatest preacher. Yet, God wishes us to see him also as the soul-winner, teaching the individual. Time forbids that we note the whole four gospels, so we will concentrate on John.
Christ the Soul Winner in John's Gospel
In chapter one we find John the Baptist pointing two of his disciples to the lamb of God. They heard Jesus speak and followed him (1:35-38). "One of the two that heard John speak and followed him was Andrew...He findeth first his own brother, Simon (Peter) and saith unto him, we have found the Messiah...He brought him to Jesus" (1:40-42).
Jesus found Philip, and then Philip found Nathaniel. Nathaniel confessed, "Thou are the Son of God" (1:43-45, 49). In John 3, Jesus teaches Nicodemus, privately, and he later becomes a committed follower. The fourth chapter reveals Jesus grasping an opportunity at a roadside well to teach a lost soul. She was a Samaritan, but Jesus broke through racial barriers and taught her anyway. That he taught a woman was surprising to his disciples, since women occupied such a lowly place in the public life of society. She was a morally degraded woman, yet Jesus taught her, and won her. This new convert spontaneously returned to her neighbors to tell them of her great find...the Christ. She brought them to Christ "and from that city many of the Samaritans believed on him because of the word of the woman" (John 4:1-42).
In chapter 4:46-54, we see the conversion of the nobleman from Capernaum. Chapter 9:35-38 tells how Jesus won the man whose blindness he had cured. He later taught a group of inquiring Greeks (John 12:20-36). We see him ever ready to teach all men of all races in any circumstances. In chapter 12:47, Jesus stressed that he "came not to judge the world, but to save the world." This principle has to be learned by every successful soul-winner.
Heaven's method of getting God's offer of pardon to man is stated in John 13:20, "He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." To his apostles, he said, "I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit..." (John 15:16). He warned that the world would hate them and persecute them even as they had hated him (John 15:20-23). In his prayer in John 17:17, Jesus said, "As thou didst send me into the world, even so I send them into the world." Since Christ left us an example that we should follow in his steps, we have no choice but to actively seek and save the lost. This we should do both publicly and personally, even as he did (I Peter 2:21).
Acts of Apostles: The Evangelistic Record of the Early Church
The book of Acts is the history of the founding and early growth of the church. It tells how people became Christians,but it also presents a pattern of how the church fulfilled the great commission. We can not pass by the great sermons of Peter and Paul, but neither can we overlook Philip and the Eunuch, Ananaias and Saul, Paul and Lydia, the Jailer of Philippi, Apollos, Priscilla and Aquilla. These and other cases show us how they taught publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20). Though Acts focuses attention on two powerful preachers, Peter and Paul, yet in the fantastic growth, we cannot forget those that were scattered abroad who went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4).
Jesus said to the apostles, "Ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). It is remarkable that many brethren have read this verse without ever seeing the word "both". Rather they read it: First in Jerusalem, next Judea, then Samaria and then the uttermost parts of the earth. This then becomes justification for concentrating all their energies at home and in their nearby regions, rather than involving themselves in world-wide evangelism. Jesus said, ye shall be my witnesses BOTH in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Preaching the message of salvation to the distant nations was not to wait until every nook and cranny of Judea had been secured. Rather within 35 years Paul could write that the gospel had been preached in all creation under heaven (Col. 1:23). We have created a fallacious distinction between evangelism at home and abroad. While so doing, we have neglected both in a serious matter.
The Epistles Of Paul
Space does not allow us to analyze the epistles in detail, yet even a cursory study reveals that they are letters from soul-winners, to those they had won, exhorting them to do all things Christ had commanded...including, of course, preaching the gospel to every creature.
In Romans, Paul shows us that God's saving power is couched in gospel message (1:16). In chapter 3:23, he shows the urgent need for evangelism. since the whole race of man is under the condemnation of sin. Then in 3:28,he declares God's philosophy of salvation, by faith rather than by works of law. Later Paul opens his heart and shows us that great passion for souls that made him a master winner of men for Christ (9:1-3). Chapter 10:1-3 reveals the need for fervent prayer for success in evangelism. Further in chapter 10, Paul pictures the links in the chain of salvation. He asks, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" Then the exclamation, "How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things." Does not this reveal the appreciation that should exist for teachers of the gospel, by both saints and those in sin who receive the message? (10:14-18) . In 15:18-19, the apostle reminds us that the Gentiles were won to Christ both by words and deeds. His work had carried him from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum, preaching the gospel. His goal was to preach the good news to men who had never heard it, rather than build on another man's foundation. Then in 16:5 Paul salutes Priscilla and Aquila and the congregation meeting in their house, revealing that having a modern, commodious building was not essential to the growth of the church. He concludes with a commendation that includes these words; "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation...now manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations..."16:25-26. This is the Roman echo of the Great Commission.
The Corinthian Letters provide a number of evangelistic principles. Paul wrote these two letters to deal with serious moral and spiritual problems that were sapping the energy of the congregation and hindering them from fulfilling God's purpose in being the light of the world. In Chapter 1:20-31, he declares that worldly wisdom can not save man. Only by preaching the gospel can man be saved. This preaching did not depend upon those that were wise, mighty or noble after the flesh. Rather it rested upon humble hearts that were faithful to God even though they were naught in the eyes of the world. In Chapter two, he continues the thought and emphasizes the soul-winner's message, "Jesus Christ and him crucified" (2:2). Also he insists that men's faith must not rest in the wisdom of men,but in the power of God (2:3-5). He shows that it often takes the work of more than one teacher to bring a soul to the Lord, one planting, another watering while God always gives the increase. Also we can conclude that it is not our job to worry about the increase, rather we must be busy planting and watering (I Cor. 3:6-7). Later in Chapter 15, he further defines the gospel message as centering in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Too often our workers have concentrated their teaching energies on controversial issues and matters of secondary importance while virtually neglecting this cardinal message of the gospel. This explains why some have done personal work yet have failed. The first book closes with a request that they "set him forward on his journey" which is still the duty of every congregation towards those who devote their whole lives to evangelism. He then advises them of his plans to remain at Ephesus since a great and effectual door has been opened to him even though there were many adversaries (15:6-9). This suggests another principle, i.e., we should not let opposition and adversity hinder our work of preaching the word whether publicly or from house to house. To Paul, adversity was just another way to spell opportunity!
II Corinthians 4:5 states, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." This attitude must be in the heart of every worker. The motivation for personal evangelism is "the love of Christ" constraining us (5:14). The Christian, knocking on his neighbor's door should see himself as an ambassador of Christ beseeching the lost on behalf of Christ, "Be ye reconciled to God" (5:20). Once a disciple comes to truly love the lost, he "will most gladly spend and be spent for (their) souls" (12:15).
Turning to the Galatian letter, we find Paul writing to warn the young saints against the false teaching of those who would bind on them the yoke of Moses' law. First, he warns that anyone teaching another gospel than that which the apostles preached will be cut off from God. This shows us the exclusiveness of the New Testament message in soul-winning. In chapter 2:20 we see the state of heart that must control every winner of men, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me and that life which I now live in the flesh, I live in faith..." Having strongly rebuked some of their errors, he asks, "Am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?" (4:16). We must be willing to meet religious error with the same conviction as he did. The last chapter begins, "Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (6:1). Personal work does not end with baptism. We must root and ground the converts. Not all personal work deals with the alien, many weak disciples are lost along the way because no one went to restore them. Or maybe we did, but without the spirit of gentleness.
The Ephesian letter reveals the following principles related to evangelism. The mission of the church is summed up under three heads; the perfecting of the saints, the work of ministering and the building up of the body of Christ (4:12). In order to build up the body, we must speak the truth in love (4:15). For the church to grow, each of the several parts must work in due measure, making the increase of the body (4:16). Again, we must redeem the time, because the days are evil (5:16). The Christian can win souls regardless of his personal circumstances. His prison chains only served to make Paul an ambassador in chains. And he requested prayers that he might speak boldly as he ought (6:20).
Philippians was written by Paul to thank that the church for their support in his evangelistic efforts in new fields (1:5). In chapter 1:12-13, he points out that God's providence had turned his imprisonment into an opportunity for the furtherance of the gospel, opening doors for conversions among the Praetorian guard and others. The attitudes of humility, selflessness, cooperation and services are stressed in 2:2-8. These were manifested in Christ and must be seen in us, if we are ever to preach the gospel to the whole creation. He exhorts that we do all things without murmuring and questionings; that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as light in the world, hold forth the word of life" (2:14-16b). Likely a sinner will see our light before he hears our message. Women have a sphere of labor in the gospel along with the men (4:2-3). Though they may not publicly proclaim the gospel as a preacher, they may and should be actively teaching the lost privately. He closes by again commending them for their support of his work of evangelism and promises, that God shall supply every need according to his riches (4:19). The worker for Christ need never fear, for the promise of heaven is that God will supply every need.
Colossians 1:23 declares That the gospel was preached in all creation under heaven. While most believe that preaching the gospel to every creature in our generation is impossible, it is a fact that if 500,000 Christians converted one person this year and then persuaded that one to convert one and the momentum was maintained, within 20 years we would have some 5 billion Christians. In chapter 1:27, he states, we proclaim Christ, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom. To convert the lost world, we are going to have to teach all men, rich or poor, black or white, educated or ignorant, clean or dirty, American or foreign. When we take seriously the job of teaching all men, we will be amazed at the results that will follow. In his closing chapter, Paul urges them "to walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one" (4:5-6). A key to winning those snared in sin is speech seasoned with salt, saying the right thing at the right time.
The Thessalonian church quickly sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place (I Thess. 1:8). When Paul first brought them the gospel, he behaved himself holily, and righteously and unblameably toward them. (2:10). So must any man behave that would have influence on the soul of another today.
Paul wrote urging Timothy to take heed to himself and his teaching; to continue in those things; for in doing he would save not only those he taught, but himself also (I Tim. 4:15-16). What we teach and our faithfulness to our teaching mission has much more to do with our salvation than most Christians realize. The young preacher was to charge wealthy disciples to be every ready to support good works that they might lay hold on life eternal (6:18-19). To evangelize the whole world, some must be necessity go to distant fields at great expense. Preachers must be quick to teach and lead the congregation in supporting such evangelistic endeavors.
Titus is told to refuse a factious man after the first and second admonition (3:10). This principle is also stated by the Lord in Matt. 7:6. If a man shows by his attitude and response that he has no love for the truth and no respect for things sacred, then God does not want us to burden him with that which he despises. Also there are always, multitudes anxiously waiting for an opportunity to hear that they might obey.
Philemon is a letter about the conversion of a slave. Paul was pleading with his master for his release. Hebrews was written to strengthen Jewish brethren and to show the superiority of the new covenant over the old. It is invaluable today as we seek to teach prospects the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth. James in chapter 3:1 reminds us of the heavy responsibility that goes with teaching the gospel. I Peter sets forth the grand truth that all Christians are royal priests of God, thus all may share in the ministry of teaching the word (2:9). In his second letter he reminds us that there are passages of Scripture which are hard to be understood and thus warns us not to be presumptuous in attempting to answer every hard question on the spur of the moment (II Peter 3:16). The difficult question readily provides a reason for another class at a later date.
The General Epistles and Revelation
In John's letters, we are taught that there are many false prophets working in the world (4:1). The soul-winner must recognize this fact and prepare himself to meet their heresies. In chapter 4:4, we are uplifted by the truth that "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." We with God's help can win the great battle for the minds of men. In 5:13-15 we are told of the great confidence we can have by knowing that we have eternal life, and that God will hear our prayers. This gives us much encouragement in seeking the lost. Then he closes with the sobering thought that the whole world lieth in the evil one (4:19). The power of our foe and the immensity of our task is clearly set forth.
II John issues the stern warning that anyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ hath not God. Soul-winning attempted on any other basis than the teaching of Christ is in vain. Then he tells us not to encourage those who seek our help in their teaching when they abide not in the Lord's teaching, lest we partake in their evil works (II John 9-11). His third letter is written to Gaius commending him for his willingness to open his home and extend hospitality to those who were traveling away from home, teaching the lost. Also it contains a stern rebuke to Diotrephes, a brother who would discourage and hinder such support of these missionary brethren.
Jude has a message sorely needed today "on some have mercy, who are in doubt; and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" (vs. 22-23). Whether we apply this to aliens or to erring Christians, the work is clearly before us.
We could not close this survey without looking into the great book of Revelation. In this book probably few look for evangelistic principles, yet it has some very pertinent lessons for us. First we see Jesus standing in the midst of his churches, fully aware of what is going on among them. We see his commendation of Antipas, his faithful witness who had been martyred. There was Sardius who had a name that she was a church on the march, but in reality, she was dead. I hazard the guess that she was not an evangelistic congregation. Then there was Laodicea, lukewarm Laodicea, she thought she was at the top of God's list, but her blindness kept her from seeing how far she was removed from Him. Christ was knocking trying to get into her life once more. This usually is no problem for the soul-winner since his work demands that he keep one hand in God's hand in order to succeed. In chapter 12:11-12 we are told that the persecuted church overcame the mighty adversary because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death." Chapter 14:6 reveals an angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people." As Jesus sent his angel to testify the tidings of the Revelation to the churches, so is the church to issue forth the heavenly invitation, "And the Spirit and the bride say Come...he that is athirst let him come...let him take the water of life freely" (22:16-17). Then the message of vs.20 bears upon our theme as well. Jesus is coming again...soon, as God measures time...when, we do not know. But whenever that time is, there will be millions unprepared for it. We must get the word of salvation to them before doomsday arrives. The second thought is in John's response, "come, Lord Jesus." Only that servant who knows that he has done his best to do his Master's will can utter such words. Can we say it today? At the present rate of evangelistic outreach, just how soon will we be able to pray, Come Lord Jesus...the job is finished, the world has had its just chance, the righteous are ready to meet you?
With such materials and lessons spanning the whole of the New Testament, why should we need special emphasis lessons on soul-winning? As has well been said by Clayton Pepper, "If we had studied American history in our Bible classes for the last ten years, we would only have from 3-5% fewer soul winners in the church. We have studied with the proverbial tinted lenses, seeing those points and lessons we wanted to see and missing the obvious lessons set forth.
Evangelism by every saint is no option. It is part and parcel of being a Christian. If I bear no fruit, I am as worthless as a dead branch, both will be pruned away and cast into the fire (John 15:1-7).
We have done everything else except the one and only thing He told us to do. Jesus never told us to build colleges , universities...He never told us to erect hospitals, orphanages and homes for the aged. He never told us to build church buildings, to organize elaborate congregational programs, to publish papers and the like, yet these things we have done with gusto and fervor. And we do not condemn them, for this is all well and good and fit into the framework of His will. But the one thing, the main thing, He did tell us to do is the one and only thing we have left undone. We have not given His Gospel to the entire world. We have not carried out His orders!
May we who have committed our lives to the impartial study of the Bible and the full restoration of original Christianity, take to heart the evangelistic imperative and teach others to do likewise. When every Christian is a soul-winner every day, then will the word of God increase and the number of the disciples be multiplied (Acts 6:7).
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