God’s Plan for Evangelism

This lesson is based around a book I read by Greg Gilbert called What is the Gospel?

It has always been God’s plan to redeem people for Himself – and use the believer in this process of redemption. A believer should have a lifestyle of evangelism and be prepared to share the gospel in every situation in life.

Eden was created as God’s kingdom on earth, but the fall occurred. We need God to redeem us and the first redemptive act happened in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Something would happen with their seed that would reverse this problem. Adam and Eve thought it would be Cain, whose name means “the spear”. (Thinking he would cause the fatal wound on Satan.) But he didn’t.

Noah’s Ark in Genesis 6 was a redemptive act. Although God destroyed most of the people he saved a seed through Noah and his family.

Then in Genesis 12: 1-3 God made a promise to Abraham. 12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. ² “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

In 2^nd Samuel 7:12-14 God told David He would establish the throne of His kingdom forever through David’s offspring. This is the promise that the Messiah would come through David’s line. ¹² When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son.

And in the New Testament Jesus comes to earth. God in human flesh. He died on a cross to take all our sins and offer us righteousness. And He will come again as Lord and King.

God’s people were always supposed to take part in God’s redemption. In Leviticus 19:34 the Old Testament saints were told to share God’s message too. Proverbs 11:30 says he who is wise wins souls. And in Mark 1:14-15 Jesus preached the Gospel of God. “¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus was an ambassador for God’s kingdom. Back then an ambassador was someone who goes out from an angry king to explain the terms of peace. Jesus tells us how to have peace with God, “Repent and believe!”

And we are to praise God for His redemption plan!

Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people.

And Ephesians 1:5-6 ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

God is the One who redeems. God uses His people to redeem others and His people are useful in redeeming others by practicing and proclaiming God’s salvation.