Today’s message concludes the four-part series on what biblical evangelism is according to Jesus. So far the text has covered that soul winning involves divine nature, everyday Christians (not exclusive for leaders), preparation for Christ’s second coming, the act of harvesting, the act of few good faithful men, the act of prayer, the act of complete obedience (love for God), the act of total dependence on God (formidable enemy Christians face), and an act of urgency (many die each day).
Soul winning is an act of mediation (v 5-6). As the Lord Jesus instructed his disciples to greet whatever house they entered to say, ‘Peace be to this house’, every Christian possesses the peace of God to bring the hope of having peace with God. Between man and God, Jesus Christ was the Mediator who reconciled the sinner and God through his death and resurrection. For Christians, they bring peace with God to sinners through the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). If there is no peace with God, there is only guilt and death (Jas. 2:10).
Christians have the peace of God because they have peace with God. Christians remain in God’s blessing and rest even though they might fail in their walk with God at times and when they get rejected in their evangelistic efforts.
Soul winning is an act of hard work (v 7). Jesus commanded his disciples to “stay in that house, eating and drinking what they provide; for the laborer is deserving of his wages”. The world will call Christians hostile, dividers, and all kinds of names, but they cannot be silent because they are part of the greatest work of soul-winning. The Lord himself experienced hate from the world as the Savior who preached the kingdom of God, and it is he who blesses the work of evangelism.
Soul winning has discrimination (v 8). Soul winning is cross-cultural. The Jews at the time of Jesus were still faithful to their kosher diet. However, Jesus commanded them to eat what they provided because nothing should hinder the sharing of the gospel message. In other words, love for the lost sinner has no bounds.
Soul winning always involves the preaching of the gospel message (v 9). As Christ’s healing and miracles revealed his authority and authenticated who he was, the Son of God, he also commanded his disciples to heal so that the gospel message was affirmed. And sinners are only able to believe in the gospel by hearing from Christians the miracles of miracles; that is, the Lord and Savior Jesus came down from heaven to die and be raised up (Rom. 10:14; 10:9).
The Christians improve gospel sharing by preaching the gospel to themselves daily because Christians face temptation and sin every day. By not believing in the gospel, they will commit perjury and hypocrisy. In addition, daily preaching of the gospel helps to articulate the message and helps the Christian when sharing it with others. Most importantly, unceasing prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit will be the engine that drives the sharing of the gospel that brings about salvation.
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