A Publication of Gospel Commission Issue 1 August 2013 Page 6
A Publication of Gospel Commission Issue 1 August 2013 Page 7
True evangelism is more than the transmission of cold religious information; it is a relational, contagious act, an impact that imparts God’s grace to a spiritually hungry world”
This Gospel
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”Matthew 24:14 The disciples having heard Jesus speak of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem assumed that would spell the end of this world and asked how they would know that this was close at hand. Jesus in response starts off by giving them a warning – “Take heed that noone deceives you.” He then lists several features of the end of time and relates to them as the beginning of labour pains. These include signs in nature and signs in the political landscape. He warns of a coming persecution and how that many will turn away from the faith. He also warns that false prophets would rise, deceiving many, wickedness would increase and the love of many would grow cold. We need only look around to see the unfolding of the grim picture Jesus painted as he spoke to His disciples. The climax to this passage begins in verse 13 where Jesus says: “…the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” This statement he joins to the proclamation in verse 14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come”
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By Mandhla Matshazi It is interesting to note that the end is not brought about so much by calamity, although calamity does point towards the end, neither is the end brought about primarily by the love of man waxing cold, though that too points us toward the end. The end is not brought about even by the rise in persecution or by the increase in deception whether by false prophets or false messiahs, these too are but way marks. The end will come only when the gospel has been preached to all the world for a witness… Let me at this point submit my conclusion: The end of the world will come only when all the inhabitants of this earth have had opportunity to know just how deep the Fathers love for us is. Hence we the apostle Peter writes, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” We wonder why we are still here sometimes, the answer is simple we have been sleeping on the job. God wants everyone to have an opportunity at salvation and as long as we do not go out, the world will not be filled with his knowledge and He will not come. The grumbling and growling, the complaining and aching of this world will go harder till we really thirst for home to the extent that we truly share Him.
rue evangelism; however is “more than the transmission of cold religious information; it is a relational, contagious act, an impact that imparts God's grace to a spiritually hungry world”.
We are blessed in that Christ demonstrated both the model and the methodology for the evangelical work that is before us. His method alone will give true success in reaching the people. “The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. “{EG White, Ministry of Healing pg. 143 paragraph 4} The evening’s talk ended with a story of a young man and an older X[? ?? ?[??\?[???H ?X[??] ?^H?[YHX????H?Y???] ?X?Y?Y[? ?X??Y[?[[YYX][ H\??\?Y?H?\??Z[?? H ?\??]??????H H ?\ ? ??K?[? HYX[?[YH H ??H ?\? X??[?[??[? H ?XH?X??Z[??[?H ?[?[? ?XX? [YH ^H ?[??X?? H [?[??X[???X?Y ]] ?\? ???H [? H\? [YK?]?[? X[ H H [?[??X[? ?ZY ? H?X[??Y? ?H????? ?H ???&]??YH?X???H?\?X[??&\? ?\???H ?\???? ?H??&]]?H ???YH?X???] ?H]\????'K???H ?? ?X??Y[?^HZ[???H ?[K?8?'?H??&]]?H ???YH?X???] ?H]\????'B??