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What scriptural authority do we have for evangelism? Evangelism is the work done by an evangelist. An evangelist is one who announces
good tidings; therefore evangelism is the work of one who announces the good tidings of God's Holy Word. There are three scriptural
references to the word evangelist: Acts 21:8, Eph. 4:11, and Tim. 4:5.
Let us make some brief observations with regard to the Scriptures mentioned above. In Ephesians 4: 11, the work of the ap0stle or
prophet was to take the unwritten word and deliver it to the people. Though there were some references made by the apostles to the writing
of the prophets of the Old Testament, without exception their writings were by divine revelation. As God spoke to or inspired them, they
delivered God's message though at that time it was unrecorded. The pastors and teachers primarily take the written Word and expound
it to the people. What God inspired to be written, the pastors and teachers then explain and teach. However, sandwiched between them
was the work of the evangelist. Philip was designated as the evangelist (Acts 21:8) not to denote an order, but to denote his work! In Paul's
admonitions to the younger minister Timothy, he exhorts him to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Tim. 4:5). Clearly it is a work that needs
to be done, and our people need to be doing more of it - simply spreading the good news of the gospel. These Scripture references are
not only our authority for evangelism but also an admonition for us to perform this needful work.
Some people have difficulty reconciling or harmonizing the doctrines of sovereign grace with the work of evangelism. They reason that
if salvation is by grace and is altogether the work of God, not man, then why spread the gospel? Such misunderstanding of Bible truth
would lead us to entirely stop all gospel preaching. However, it must be understood that one truth will not disqualify or distract from
another. All teachings of truth will fit together as finely machined gears. The doctrine of election does not destroy the doctrine of
evangelism, neither will evangelism deny election. It is evident that the Bible teaches both evangelism and election. As there are Scriptures
that teach evangelism (cited above), there are also Scriptures which teach election (Eph. 1:4,Rom. 9:11, Rom. 11:5,and 1Peter 1:2).There
can be no doubt in the minds of those who give patient and diligent study to the Scriptures that election is supported in both the Old
and New Testaments. How then does it harmonize with the New Testament teachings on evangelism? To gain this understanding, we
must have an accurate appraisal of the purpose of gospel preaching.
Many people cannot harmonize evangelism and the doctrines of grace because they misunderstand evangelism's purpose. They suppose
that to preach the gospel or bear the good news is intended to deliver people from the penalty of sin and save them for heaven. Those who
believe this generally also believe that there are people on foreign shores who will die and go to hell because the gospel was not preached
to them. This is not a correct supposition! There is salvation from sin, but it is accomplished by God's work of grace and not the works
of man (Eph. 2:8-9), such as preaching. There is a Saviour, but He is Jesus Christ the Son of God, not the man behind the pulpit with
the Bible in his hand.
What then is the purpose of evangelism? It is intended to make known the work of grace in a person's life. When a person experiences
the new birth, he possesses God's work of salvation in him. He is then able to understand the good news of the gospel. He needs to
understand what he has experienced and to realize that his belief is evidence that he has been born again (l John 5:1). Being chosen by
God (Eph. 1:4), he is predestinated to be conformed to Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). He needs to know that God gave His only begotten Son
to die for his sins (l John 4: 10). Such knowledge of grace will help him understand that heaven awaits him as his eternal home. It is good
news from a far country (Prov. 25:25), for it is heaven's message, sent by God but delivered by man. The work of evangelism then is not
to save people from sins' eternal penalty but to tell them of and point them toward the One who did save them, that they might glorify Jesus.
Notice that what we call the "great commission" of Matthew 28:19~20was not to save but rather to teach! "Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, 10, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." When the gospel is preached
and people are baptized in the name of the Trinity, God the Father is acknowledged in election, God the Son in redemption, and God
the Holy Spirit in regeneration. The total work of our salvation is declared to be by the Triune God and the glory is wholly His.
Therefore evangelism is teaching.
When Paul went about doing the work of evangelism, by preaching the good news of Jesus, he did not save the people but rather showed
them how they were saved. Of Paul and others it was said, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the
way of salvation" (Acts 16:17).Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" John 14:6).
The good news of evangelism declares Jesus ~the only way that sinners are saved or can be saved. "Neither is there salvation in any other..,"
(Acts 4: 12).
Philip the evangelist preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35). The eunuch gave evidence that he was hungry for the milk
of the Word, as a babe in Christ, born into God's family. Philip did not save him, but as an evangelist, he brought to the eunuch the
message of his Saviour, Jesus Christ. Peter also did the same as he carried the gospel message to Cornelius, who had the marks of
salvation before Peter preached to him and his house (Acts 10:2).We are therefore to go forth in evangelism, not to make children of God,
but because there are children of God in every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (Rev. 5:9).
The work of evangelism is to carry the message or good news of Jesus. The evangelist does not save people but shows them the One
who did. To those lost, the message falls on deaf ears and is foolishness; but to those objects of sovereign grace, it declares the power of God
in saving His people (l Cor. 1:18). The gospel does not give life and immortality, but rather it shines light upon life and immortality so
that we may see and understand that eternal life is God's gift (2 Timothy 1:10,John 10:28).Evangelism is intended to spread the good
news so that more of God's children may rejoice in the knowledge of their salvation. God's name is glorified, and people learn how to
serve the God who saved them by His amazing grace. By this declaration of God's grace, joy fills the hearts of God's children and
becomes their unselfish motive for service to God.
In conclusion, evangelism or the spreading of the gospel enables God's children to know how to live according to God's will. Not only
do we need the message of redeeming grace but of serving grace as well (l Cor. 15:10). By the proclamation of the gospel of the grace
of God (Acts 20:24), we are taught how we may manifest our love for God. As He manifested His love by the action of sending His Son
to die for our sins, even so we learn to manifest our love for Him by living in His will. Through the evangelism of gospel preaching,
the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) is made known; and in obedience to God's Word, His children discover the path of joy (John
13:17). Evangelism spreads the gospel beyond its present boundaries and shines into a sin,darkened world, with the blessed message of
God's Word. God's people everywhere need this message, and we should be busy doing the work of evangelism.
When we understand that through evangelism a variety of important objectives are accomplished, then we will become more interested
in it. Some desired objectives are: (1) God is glorified (Ps. 96:8), (2) His will is made known to men (Ps. 143:10), and (3) God's people
are saved from error (James 5:19) and turned from this untoward generation (Acts 2:40). Such saving does not populate heaven, but
it is part of God's purpose in evangelism. I hope that since evangelism is important to God, it will become more important to us also.
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