Evangelization

	"But you, be sober in all things," Paul encourages in 2 Timothy 4:5, "endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
	Paul instructs the young Timothy to do the work of an evangelist.  And what is the work of an evangelist?  Our word for this time is "evangelization."  What does it mean to evangelize?  It comes from the Greek word for "gospel."  It literally means to "spread the Gospel."  The word "gospel," in turn, means "good news."  So to evangelize is to spread the good news.
	We'll focus more on the gospel in a future discussion.  But let's take just a moment to examine its meaning.
	"Now I make known to you, brethren," Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, "the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."
	In these few verses we find the core of the gospel.  There is more to the gospel than that which we find in this passage, but here we learn the part which, according to Paul, is of first importance.  The focal point of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  This passage also provides some insight into the spread of the gospel.  It gives us some information about evangelization.
	Paul says that the gospel has been preached.  This indicates  that there must be some imparting of knowledge.  The spread of the gospel is not passive.  Someone must take an active role in its distribution.  Although this obviously makes sense, there are still many who oppose this idea.  They may not realize that they are opposing it, but they are doing it just the same.
	We live in a country where we enjoy religious freedom.  Everyone is free to believe anything that he or she wishes.  This is how it should be.  But many people misunderstand this to mean that what all people believe is right.  This is both impossible and illogical.  When two religious bodies believe and teach opposing ideas, only one can be right.  Each has a right to its own belief, but that belief may be wrong and may be unacceptable to God.
	We may believe whatever we want to about salvation.  But, unless our belief is consistent with God's will, we had better do some more thinking.
	We may believe whatever we want to about worship.  But, unless our belief is consistent with God's will, we had better do some more thinking.
	We may believe whatever we want to about how we live our lives.  But, unless our belief is consistent with God's will, we had better do some more thinking.
	So, where's the problem?  Some mistake freedom of religion with the idea that no one should try to convince anyone else about religious matters.
	"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ," Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 5:10-11, "that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.  Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences."
	Paul says that, because of the fear of the Lord, we persuade men.  It may not be popular, but we are more motivated by a concern for the eternal destiny of souls than by what others might think.
	"Therefore," 2 Corinthians 5:20 adds, "we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
	We beg people to align their lives with the will of God.
	"And it was for this He called you through our gospel," we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, "that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word {of mouth} or by letter from us."
	We are called by the gospel.  This means that it must be announced.  It must be preached.

	Evangelization requires that the gospel be preached.  As we read from 1 Corinthians 15:1, the gospel must also be received. It must be obeyed.  Contrary to popular belief, we are not saved by default.  We are not saved by simply mimicking what our parents have done.
	"Dealing out retribution," Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 1:8, "to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."
	"But thanks be to God," Paul rejoices in Romans 6:17-18, "that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."
	"So then, brethren," we have already seen from 2 Thessalonians 2:15, "stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word {of mouth} or by letter from us."
	Not only does this passage stress the importance of receiving a teaching, but it also agrees with the third aspect of evangelization presented by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:2.  We must stand firm in the gospel.  We must stand up and defend the Bible and its teachings.  We are never free to change the gospel to suit ourselves or others.
	"I am amazed," Paul expresses in Galatians 1:6-12, "that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is {really} not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.  For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.  For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but {I received it} through a revelation of Jesus Christ."
	Many today would try to claim that there are various gospels, and that all are equally valid.  Paul strongly disagrees.  Nothing is the gospel outside of that which has been delivered by Jesus.  A large number of men and women don't like to hear this.  But who are we trying to please?  Is it men or is it God?
	Evangelization requires that the gospel be preached and received.  It expects that we stand firm in the gospel.  And it promises that this gospel can then save us.
	"For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness," Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, "but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.'  Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not {come to} know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
	Remember that the core of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  We can be saved only by joining in that death, burial and resurrection.  We can be saved only by the gospel.
	"For I am not ashamed of the gospel," Paul writes in Romans 1:16, "for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
	Evangelization requires that the gospel be preached and received.  It expects that we stand firm in the gospel.  It promises that this gospel can then save us.  But there is one more condition.  We must hold fast to the gospel.  We must remain faithful to the end.
	"Do not fear what you are about to suffer," Jesus encourages  in Revelation 2:10.  "Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
	"Now I make known to you, brethren," we remember from 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, "the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain."
	It may not be popular, but we must urge everyone to examine what he or she believes.  Every person has a right hold a belief, but that does not mean that the belief is right.  And it doesn't mean that the belief will save that person.  How many are actually going to benefit from the  evangelistic call?
	"Enter by the narrow gate," Jesus cautions in Matthew 7:13-14, "for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.  For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it."
	What happens to these few who, having been taught the gospel, receive it, stand in it, are saved by it and hold fast to it?
	"We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," Paul says in Colossians 1:3-5, "praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel."
	There may be many philosophies which falsely claim to be the gospel.  But only the truth will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.lockman.org)