Evangelism and the Grace of God

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="040c8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B><U>Jon Zens</U></B></div> <div> <B>is an elder and teacher at the Word of Life Church in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin and editor of the journal </B><I><B>Searching Together</B></I><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>  </B></div> <div> <B>This article is from the Summer 1984 issue of  </B><I><B>Searching Together</B></I><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>To subscribe to this fine journal, contact Jon at: Searching Together, P.O. Box 548, St. Croix Falls, WI, 54024</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="7" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>Restoration Ministries</B></FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Restoration Ministries"><U>home</U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0b7f8900.jpg" border=0 width="504" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>by Jon Zens</B></div> <div> _______________________________________________________________</div> <div> The true child of God must, in some way, have a concern for evangelism. The Spirit who brought <B>us</B> to Christ is the same Spirit who draws <B>other people</B> to the Savior. A person who has no concern for those who are lost must question if he knows the gospel. What is evangelism? Essentially it is this: <B>a loving confrontation of others with the claims of Jesus Christ in light of their needs as sinners</B>.</div> <bR> <div> In attempting to discuss evangelism and God<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s grace, we will examine:</div> <bR> <div> (1) ...the <B>foundation</B> of evangelism; </div> <bR> <div> (2) ...the <B>task</B> of evangelism; </div> <bR> <div> (3) ...the <B>promise</B> in evangelism; </div> <bR> <div> (4) ...the <B>fulfillment</B> of evangelism; </div> <bR> <div> (5) ...the <B>means</B> in evangelism; and </div> <bR> <div> (6) ...the <B>fruit</B> of evangelism.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Foundation of Evangelism</B></div> <bR> <div> What is evangelism based upon? Much so-called evangelism forgets, or does not comprehend, the very foundation of evangelistic effort. The New Testament reveals that the spread of the gospel rests upon <B>the finished work of Christ</B>. In Matthew 20:17-28, we are confronted with the <B>sufferings</B> (vs.18-19) and <B>glory</B> (v. 19b) of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many (v. 28). Thus, evangelism is not related to a <B>potential</B> work of redemption, but to an <B>actual accomplishment</B> of salvation for many. King Jesus purchased the church of God with His own blood (Acts 20:28). “He Himself bore the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12). The New Testament makes it clear that Jesus has <B>done</B> something, not that He made salvation <B>possible</B> if only man will let him.</div> <bR> <div> Not only is evangelism founded on the finished work of Christ, but, flowing out of this, it is also related to <B>the purpose of Christ to build His church</B> (Matthew16:18). Evangelism, therefore, is not a trumped-up human effort, but is an aspect of Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s purpose to build a body of people by <B>calling</B> them into <B>visible</B> fellowship (Matthew 18:15-19).</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Task of Evangelism</B></div> <bR> <div> In Matthew 28:19-20, the resurrected Christ gives a commission to His chosen people. The task, which is to begin at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47), will spread throughout all the nations. In fulfilling this task they are to disciple by baptizing believers and teaching converts all that Christ has commanded.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Questions</B>: Why is it that most organizations trying to “fulfill the great commission” do not baptize converts, and only teach limited segments of all that Jesus commanded? Why do churches spend so much time maintaining the status quo, instead of reaching out?</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Promise in Evangelism</B></div> <bR> <div> In Galatians 3:8 we discover that evangelism has a covenantal dimension: it is connected with the promise in the Abrahamic covenant.</div> <bR> <div> The gospel goes to the ends of the earth because God from the very beginning (Genesis 12:3) promised that “in Abraham” the nations would be blessed. To be “blessed” is to experience by faith the status of justification (GaIatians 3:11; Romans 4:6-8). It was, indeed, significant that Abraham was justified in “uncircumcision,” for this indicated that righteousness was “without the law” (Romans 3:21), and taught that Gentiles would be the children of Abraham by faith.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Fulfillment of Evangelism</B></div> <bR> <div> In Luke 24:47 and Acts 1:8 we see the actual realization of Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s purpose to establish a New Covenant people. The book of Acts is structured according to 1:8 — Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth. In Acts 13:46-48 the wisdom of God is magnified. God used the “blindness” of Israel to bring about the Abrahamic promise of blessing to the Gentiles. All of this teaches us that evangelism takes place in the <B>historical</B> unfolding of God<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s plan in Christ (Romans11:11-14; 25-26).</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Means Used in Evangelism</B></div> <bR> <div> The Word, the Spirit, and men are involved in the process by which people are saved. These three elements cannot be separated, but for teaching purposes we will examine each one individually.</div> <bR> <div> 1.  <B>The Word</B> (cf. 1 Thessalonians1:4-5). Paul was convinced that the people receiving this letter were “elect” because “our gospel came” in power. The fact that they were “beloved of God” was also revealed in the fact that they “received the Word in much affliction.” It is clear from this passage that in evangelism we do not direct men to a <B>decree</B> (“Am I elect or not?”), but to Christ (“Believe on the Lord Jesus”). </div> <bR> <div> Nowhere in the New Testament are people told to “wait” for God to do something for them; rather, they are “commanded” to repent. We must never allow men to feel comfortable in <B>unbelief</B>. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14 and 2 Thessalonians2:13 confirm that in salvation a reception of the Word is critical.</div> <bR> <div> 2.  <B>The Spirit</B>. John 3:1-14 teaches the absolute necessity of the impartation of spiritual life in order for one to see and enter the Kingdom.</div> <bR> <div> John 16:8-11 teaches that the Spirit<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s work in this age is to testify of another, namely, Christ (v.14). The Spirit takes the things of Christ and discloses them to sinners. It is striking that in this passage non-belief in Christ is presented as if it were the only sin of which men are guilty (v.9). </div> <bR> <div> It can be put this way because, as Augustine remarked, “while unbelief continues, all other sins are retained, and when unbelief departs, all other sins are remitted.” Men can feel convicted and guilty about many “sins,” but the Holy Spirit convinces them of <B>the sin</B> which is the real problem: they do not believe in Christ.</div> <bR> <div> It must also be of interest to note that this crucial passage nowhere states that the Spirit will take the Ten Commandments and drive men to Christ. Rather, as James Buchanan pointed out, “Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s exaltation, of which the gift of the Spirit was the predicted proof, is sufficient to carry home the conviction of ‘sin, righteousness and judgment.’”</div> <bR> <div> 3.  <B>Human vessels</B>. God uses expendable people (1 Corinthians 3:7); compassionate people (Romans 9:1; 10:1); adjustable people (1 Corinthians 9:19-23); holy people (1 Peter 3:15-16); and witnessing people (Acts 8:4).</div> <bR> <div> Having looked at these three aspects separately, we can see in Acts 13:48; 16:14; 17:32-34; 8:35, etc., how the Word, Spirit and men are brought together in the salvation of sinners.</div> <bR> <div> The history of the church reveals very serious errors whenever <B>one</B> of these aspects has been over emphasized or misunderstood. Some have so emphasized the <B>means</B> that they opened the door for men to think that they can induce their own salvation; others have so emphasized the <B>sovereignty</B> of the Spirit that they have negated the importance of the ‘beautiful feet” of those who bear the gospel.</div> <bR> <div> Some emphasize the place of <B>people</B> in evangelization, but fail to see the importance of <B>others</B> in our lives as Christians. But all three factors are central in the <B>initiation</B> and <B>continuation</B> of Christian experience:</div> <bR> <div> <I>Factors in the </I><B>Initiation</B><I> of Christian Experience</I>:</div> <bR> <div> Word (1 Thessalonians 2:14) </div> <div> Spirit (John 3:5)</div> <div> People (1 Corinthians 3:5)</div> <bR> <div> <I>Factors in the </I><B>Continuation</B><I> of Christian Experience:</I></div> <bR> <div> Word (John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13) </div> <div> Spirit (Galatians 3:2-3; 5:16,18)</div> <div> People (Romans15:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:11,14)</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Fruit of Evangelism </B></div> <bR> <div> In I Thessalonians 2:17-20 we can see that the fruit of evangelism is in line, of course, with Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s purpose to “build His church.” Evangelism results in </div> <bR> <div> (I) ...local churches being established (1 Thessalonians 1:1); </div> <bR> <div> (2) ...the continual work of the Word in believers (1 Thessalonians 2:13); and </div> <bR> <div> (3) ...the continual walk of believers with Christ (Hebrews 3:6,14; 10:39).</div> <div> _____________________________________________________________</div> <bR> <div> “<B>For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?</B>”  2 Corinthians 2:15-16</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>