Over 2000 years ago, the Old Boss, Jesus Christ, invited everyone to embrace Him and His Salvation message. Now, in the 21st century, the ‘New Boss’ is same as the ‘Old Boss’, (it’s the same Jesus), and the message is the same.
The imperative has not changed. Be saved with an eternity of happiness in heaven or be damned to a tortuous perpetuity in hell.
Last time, we watched Jesus prepare His apostles for evangelizing (seeking to convert someone to Christianity). (See Are There Limits to the Power of Christ?)
That process hasn’t changed, but the present communicative standards have. Not a lot of ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ anymore. To facilitate modern speaking, one must meet the potential Christian where their skills / culture sets are at, just as the apostle Paul did:
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win more [for Christ].To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews [for Christ]; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might win those who are under the Law. To those who are without (outside) the Law, [I became] as one without the Law, though [I am] not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.To the weak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ]. 1 Cor. 9:19 – 22. AMP
For that same reason, I suggest the Amplified Bible (AMP), Christian Standard Bible (CSB), English Standard Bible (ESV), or the New Living Translation (NLT), for the easy reading of modern-day English.
If we want to convert anyone to anything, we must first have a command of our subject matter.
So, I am going to share some concepts that you will need to retain in your head to help in your persuasive skills, and then we will have a mock conversation with a potential imaginary convert:
We love, because He first loved us. 1 Jn. 4:19 AMP
Yes, Jehovah created us in love, He loves us presently, and for all eternity.
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Rm. 3:21 – 26. NLT
God is in the business of reconciliation.
Is there anyone who doesn’t need Christ’s sacrifice?
“No one is righteous—not even one.” Rm. 3:10 NLT
Apparently not. This salvation also requires faith:
For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts. And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey]. For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. 1 Jn. 5:3, 4. AMP
What else do we need?
…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Eph. 4:22 -24. NLT
What is God asking of you as His child? It is to live in His love and teach others how to do the same. Our strength to do so is derived from our faith in the word of God.
When you evangelize, it’s not about you the speaker, but about the Gospel you speak after you pray to the Holy Spirit for His help in conveying the message to the heart of the listener.
It’s one of the ‘good works’ God asks us to do. When you do good works, it’s not to gain heavenly points. Rather it is because your ‘saved heart’ motivates you to do godly things.
Anytime you evangelize for Jesus, the ‘hearer’ needs to hear a compelling reason to convert (why they must be saved). That is where the all-too-real ‘fire and brimstone’ truth comes in.
They must also understand that God facilitated their salvation through the sacrifice of His Son and that it is the only path. In fact, Jesus said it Himself:
“You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.That is why I told you that you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am the One [I claim to be], you will die in your sins.” Jn. 8:23, 24. AMP
Everyone falls off their godly path. It’s called ‘being human’. Many of the stalwarts of faith did also, even the apostle Paul, who is the Holy Spirit – inspired author of most of the New Testament:
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 1 Tim. 1:15 NLT
How does he reconcile that? It’s because he knows that God wants to forgive you. He gave you His laws to live by to protect you from your flesh, that place where Satan tries to work against you. Jesus lays it out:
A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. Jn. 10:10 CSB
When we fall, repentance is the answer:
Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live! Eze. 18:31, 32. CSB
Our God is a God of second chances, or more, with true repentance. And He will not let anyone else snatch us from Him:
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he Is sitting In the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Rm. 8:31 – 35. NLT
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rm. 38, 39. NLT
“I, only I, am He who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins.” Is. 43:25 AMP
Let’s end where we began – with the ‘Great Commission’, Christ’s marching orders:
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” Mt. 28:19, 20. AMP
Well, our much-needed foundation to evangelize required more space than I thought. Re-read this until it is right there in your heart when you need it. We’ll have that evangelizing conversation next week.
Goodnight and God bless.