III. Why Evangelize and Make Disciples?
Consider the Biblical basis for evangelism and discipleship.
A. Christ Commanded It.
In each of the four Gospels and in Acts, Jesus commanded his
followers to make disciples. The Great Commission is found in the following
Scripture:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20NIV).
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news
to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever
does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15,16 NIV). He told them, “This is
what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third
day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-48 NIV).
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I
am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy
Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive
them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23 NIV).
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and
you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.” After he said this,
he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
(Acts 1:8,9 NIV).
The importance of the Great Commission is emphasized by its
appearance as part of the last instructions of Christ to his disciples in all
four Gospels. And in Acts, the Great Commission is the last words of Christ
prior to his ascension.
B. To Save Sinners.
Christ commands evangelism and discipleship so that sinners may be
saved from hell. Hell is a place of suffering (see Luke 16:19-31). Christ said
to fear God,who is able to cast sinners into hell.
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the
body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear:
Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.
Yes, I tell you, fear him. (Luke 12:4,5 NIV).
Apart from Christ, people are condemned to die and go to hell (see
John 3:16-18;Rev. 20:15). Those who are not saved during their one life here on
earth will be eternally separated from God. Scripture says that each person
lives once on earth,and then faces judgment.Just as man is destined to die
once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take
away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear
sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27,28
NIV).
Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty for sin, so that sinners
could be saved from hell. He said that he came to seek and save the lost (see
Luke 19:10). He wants people to have the joy of eternally living with God. That
joy is expressed in the following Scripture.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling
of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and
God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their
eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3,4 NIV).
Christ died to save sinners from hell, and he expects his
followers to proclaim this Good News and warn of the danger of hell. If we do
not obey the Great Commission, we are responsible for lost souls going to hell.
God held Ezekiel accountable for preaching repentance. When I say to the
wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to
dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I
will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to
turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will
have saved yourself. (Ezekiel 33:8,9 NIV). [a] Ezekiel 33:8 Or in
Just as Ezekiel was accountable for preaching repentance, God
holds his followers accountable for making disciples. The Apostle Paul
recognized this, and said that he was innocent of the blood of all men because
he proclaimed God’s word (see Acts 20:26,27).
When sinners are saved, God is glorified. God is victorious over
sin and death.Those who were opposed to God repent and worship God.
C. To Expand the Kingdom
Christ commanded that his followers evangelize and make disciples
in order to expand the Kingdom of God. At his first advent on earth, he ushered
in the Kingdom. When Christ returns, he will establish his rule over the
Kingdom. See “Kingdom of God” in the training module, “Theology.”
The church is to expand the Kingdom of God in the power of the
Holy Spirit.When the church completes this Commission, Christ will return. “
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 NIV).
As the Kingdom of God expands, God receives the worship from the
peoples of all nations. So expanding the Kingdom gives glory to God (see Rev.
5:9,10,13).
Expanding the Kingdom provides more fulfilling lives for those who
receive Christ (see John 10:10). Christ provides eternal security, love,
guidance, and hope. When people receive Christ, they see their lives
transformed. Alcoholics who commit to Christ give up alcohol. Sex addicts who
commit to Christ give up sexual immorality. Greedy people who commit to Christ
share their riches with others. Those who are spiritually poor commit to Christ
and find themselves spiritually rich.
(For details and for free
course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)
