God's Plan for Evangelism Part 12

Romans 6:12-13 ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Even though we still live on earth in an age of sin – we – believers – are called to live a life worthy of the kingdom to which He has called us. This living out the kingdom life is done primarily in the church. The church is where God’s kingdom is made visible in this age.

Ephesians 3:10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹ according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The church is the area God has chosen to showcase His wisdom and the glory of the gospel. The church is where we see people who are formerly alienated; reconciled and reunited because of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit is at work remaking and rebuilding human lives it’s where God’s people have to love one another, to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows. To weep together, to rejoice together and to hold one another accountable.

Of course the world is against us. In the early days Christians who said “Jesus is Lord” were killed for it. Today saying that is considered intolerant and bigoted by the outside world. We weren’t promised easy. In fact Jesus told us we would be persecuted, reviled, mocked and even killed.

We press on because we believe God about our inheritance waiting for us in Heaven. Our present sufferings are small. They are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed when our king returns!

Some churches today are misrepresenting the Gospel. There are some who preach only that Jesus is Lord. While that’s true:

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 Corinthians 12:3 ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

It’s not all of it.

In Acts 2 in Peter’s sermon, he explains what Jesus’ Lordship means. That this Lord had been crucified, buried and resurrected. And that His death and resurrection, above all, had accomplished the “forgiveness of sins’ for those who would repent and believe in Him. He is not just Lord, but Savior! If Jesus is just Lord, this could be terrifying news to an unbeliever because it means Jesus, as Lord, has the right to judge you, which He does, but it would just be judgment. As Savior too He has given us a way out. So if you repent and believe that He is Lord and Savior that’s Good News!

Some churches preach good works more then the cross. They want people to believe and to join the church, but the cross is …. messy. But we have to remember that the Bible tells us the cross will be foolishness to some and get over it! We still have to tell it because it’s the truth. Good works will not save anyone!

1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Preach it anyway, because:

1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.