5. The future of unbelievers
matters deeply to God.
Why Do Evangelism?
The Bible offers us many good
reasons for proclaiming the gospel.
Here are 7 reasons it’s a privilege to
share the good news of Jesus Christ:
1. God wants to see the world
healed and restored.
There is nothing like the power of Jesus
to restore a broken world and broken
lives to what God originally intended
(John 3:17). Jesus urges us to invite
others to engage in his mission to heal
individual lives, relationships, and the
world.
2. Jesus commands and commissions us.
Jesus expects his followers to let people
in on the meaning of his life, death,
and resurrection. Before he ascended
to heaven, Jesus said, “Go and make
disciples of all nations” (Matthew
28:19). When we share the gospel, we
are obeying Jesus’ command and joining
the Great Commission he entrusted to
us (John 20:19-21).
3. God desires a relationship
with every human being and
for all to hear.
Jesus repeatedly told stories of God’s
love for the lost: God is like a shepherd
searching for one lost and vulnerable
sheep. He is like a woman looking in every nook and cranny for a lost, valuable
coin. He is like a father who celebrates
when his lost and confused son returns
22
home. These parables illustrate God’s
earnest and patient search for every
person. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. Instead he is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (II Peter
3:9). Evangelism, then, is joining God’s
search to see everyone come to repentance and a relationship with him.
God is preparing for a full house in
heaven. We are blessed to work with
him toward this goal while on earth, to
“go out to the roads and country lanes
and compel them to come in” (Luke
14:23). Romans 10:14 rhetorically points
out what will happen if we don’t: “How,
then, can they call on the one they have
not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not
heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them?” Verse 15
goes on to praise the “beautiful” feet of
those who share the good news.
4. Sharing the gospel is a powerful way to love people.
We find inspiration to love others from
God’s love for us. His sacrificial love was
a free gift to you, and it’s a gift you’re
intended to pass along (Matthew 10:8).
In 2 Corinthians 5:14, it says, “For
Christ’s love compels us, because we
are convinced that one died for all, and
therefore all died.” You can love people
by introducing them to God’s love and
compassion as demonstrated by Christ
on the cross.
Humankind desperately needs the salvation Jesus offers. John 3:18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because they have
not believed in the name of God’s one
and only Son.” As Christians, our awareness that family, friends, and strangers
will otherwise be eternally separated
from God motivates us to proclaim the
hope of Christ.
Similarly, Philippians 2:3-4 encourages
us to “value others above yourselves, not
looking to your own interests but each
of you to the interests of the others.”
Witnessing to the people in your life is
a way to put the utmost value on their
lives—their eternal lives.
Even more, it brings both God and us
joy. Luke 15:7 and 15:10 tell us there
is rejoicing in heaven when even one
sinner repents. Beyond the heavenly
celebration, we too experience great joy
when we see people’s lives transformed
by Christ.
6. God is passionate about our
personal growth.
When we proclaim the good news, we
grow as Christ’s disciples. Evangelism
opens us up to the adventure of obeying
God and collaboratin