What is the difference between these two statements?
- The minimum amount of truth to the maximum amount of people.
- The maximum amount of truth to the maximum amount of people.
The first statement summarizes the goal of contemporary evangelism. This evangelism looks at getting the most people in. It is a quick fix. On the other hand, the second statement describes the goal of biblical evangelism. This is to present the whole counsel or law of God. Our goal in this day should be to present the gospel of Jesus Christ by using the whole counsel of God.
As the church, we have been commissioned to go out and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). Unfortunately, we have been taught throughout the years to minimize the gospel to three simple truths. These truths are accept, believe and confess. However, many people do not know what they are accepting. It is important that when we share the gospel, we present the whole counsel of God. It may be impressive when we rattle off a few points but it is important that we speak to unbelievers concerning what they are actually accepting. We present the whole truth. Many people accept because of an emotional tug but then live a life that is not in accordance with God’s Word.
The gospel of Christ must be God centered. However, there are many examples of man centered gospel in the world today. Man centered gospel refers to the gospel presentation that focuses on the physical needs of man. An example being that God will provide a new house for you in the next three months. This leads persons astray as in three months, they may not receive that new house. A God centered gospel refers to the presentation of the whole law and counsel of God. It focuses on the work of Jesus Christ to bridge the gap created by sin. This gospel does not tickle ears but convicts the sinner by using God’s ownership as the beginning point of evangelism. God is the owner of everyone in this earth. He is already Lord. However, not everyone has submitted to His Lordship and His Kingdom. It is these persons that we need to reach out to and share the God centered gospel.
The man centered gospel looks at the brokenness of people and then gives them a quick fix. However, these persons are not fully whole but just patched up. They come to God just looking for what He can do for them. The God centered gospel sees the brokenness of people and gives the whole counsel of God. After they have heard it, they are then fully transformed and healed. They are transformed for God and not just for what He can do.
When we approach persons in our community, we cannot assume that everyone grew up in church and knows the gospel of Christ. We should assume that they are hearing the gospel for the first time.
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:22-34 (NKJV)
When we share the gospel, we can first ask “who is God?”. God is the maker (Owner), love giver (Father) and law maker (Judge). God has rights over us and we are accountable to Him. We can explain this by giving them the example of an inventor and the instruction book. For each appliance like a fridge, there are instructions that one needs to follow.
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:17-27 (NKJV)
There are two roads that one has to take in this life. There is the road of life, God centered living. This living is based on the following the commandments of God. This shows that there is a standard that God requires. Jesus gave us two simple commandments, to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbour. The law is the preparation of the presentation of the gospel.
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 (NKJV)
The second road is the road of sin, self centered living. When a life is centered in God, it becomes all about me (Romans 1:28-32). When we live a self centered life, we do everything in our own power and we look to please others and not God. We begin to disobey God and then sin against Him. We explain this to unbelievers and the consequences of sin.
Jesus Christ is the way back to the road of life. When we were helpless and weak, God gave us strength and grace through His Son, Jesus. It is important that we share this with unbelievers. If we do not share Jesus and His love, then we are only sharing about works towards salvation. Jesus is the only way to salvation. However, we must not only show Jesus as the Saviour but also as Lord (Acts 2:36, 16:31).
After this, there is then the response. One just has to believe and have faith in Jesus Christ. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are saved. Turn from sin and trust to Christ.
