We Have the Only Message of Hope
Peter proclaimed, "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). There is no other Savior, no other mediator and no other Gospel (John 14:6; Gal. 1:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). If there were many ways to paradise then the Gospel message would not be that important. However the Gospel of Jesus Christ becomes the most important message any- one could ever hear because it communicates how sinners can receive the greatest gift ever offered - everlasting life in the presence of our gracious Creator and merciful Savior. Those who do not share the Gospel are only helping the devil's cause. Satan uses every- thing in his power to thwart access to Scrip- ture because he knows that the living and abiding word of God is the imperishable seed that brings forth eternal life to those he is holding captive with his lies (1 Pet. 1:23).
Witnessing is Evidence of a New Life
Christians are born again to reproduce! Whenever I see repented sinners respond to the Gospel in genuine saving faith, the very first thing they want to do is share the good news with all their loved ones. One dear lady in particular, who exchanged her Catholic religion for a relationship with Jesus, put together 17 three-ring binders with all the Scriptures that we shared to set her free. She immediately sent them to all her family members in the hopes they too would follow Jesus in the newness of eternal life.
Another friend, who left the Catholic Church after trusting Christ as her all-sufficient Sav- ior, asked if we would start teaching her son and his fiancee all the Scriptures we shared with her. This new life, that is given by God as a gift, will indeed be evidenced by a de- sire to see others come alive in Christ. Paul wrote, "Every Christian has been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God pre- pared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). A most important work God has prepared for us to do is to build His church by making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Followers of Jesus Will Fish for Men
Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mat. 4:19). Jesus gave this command to those who were professional fishermen. They had been successful in catching fish that were alive, now they were being asked to catch men who were dead. The only way to catch men who are dead in their sin is with the life-giving power of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). A disciple of Jesus will follow Him and to follow Jesus is to be a fisher of men.
There is no greater cause for rejoicing than to see those who had been enslaved to Sa- tan, sin and death, be set free by the power of God! The redeemed rejoice and all the angels in heaven rejoice when sinners repent!
May Christians everywhere develop a greater desire to glorify God through the proclamation of His Gospel. As our love for our Savior grows, might His wondrous mercy, sovereign grace and unfailing love flow from our hearts to our lips. And may we never refrain from proclaiming our Lord's sin-repelling holiness, His inescapable justice and His perfect righteousness that is required for entrance into paradise. In the power of the Holy Spirit, motivated by our matchless love for Jesus and to honor and glorify His holy name, let us all emulate the early church: "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teach- ing and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 5:42).
As we go from place to place through each day we can ask people two simple, yet pro- found questions: "Do you believe in heaven?" and "How do you hope to get there?" You will be pleasantly surprised how easily people will share their opinion about spiritual things. When their response is not "by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," you can ask them if they would like to know what The Bible says about God's one and only provision. If they say "yes" you can leave them our Gospel tract, The Greatest News Ever Told About the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived Who Offers the Greatest Gift Ever Given. It is a 6-page fold out that contains only the Word of God which has the power to convert the soul!
Peter proclaimed, "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). There is no other Savior, no other mediator and no other Gospel (John 14:6; Gal. 1:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). If there were many ways to paradise then the Gospel message would not be that important. However the Gospel of Jesus Christ becomes the most important message any- one could ever hear because it communicates how sinners can receive the greatest gift ever offered - everlasting life in the presence of our gracious Creator and merciful Savior. Those who do not share the Gospel are only helping the devil's cause. Satan uses every- thing in his power to thwart access to Scrip- ture because he knows that the living and abiding word of God is the imperishable seed that brings forth eternal life to those he is holding captive with his lies (1 Pet. 1:23).
Witnessing is Evidence of a New Life
Christians are born again to reproduce! Whenever I see repented sinners respond to the Gospel in genuine saving faith, the very first thing they want to do is share the good news with all their loved ones. One dear lady in particular, who exchanged her Catholic religion for a relationship with Jesus, put together 17 three-ring binders with all the Scriptures that we shared to set her free. She immediately sent them to all her family members in the hopes they too would follow Jesus in the newness of eternal life.
Another friend, who left the Catholic Church after trusting Christ as her all-sufficient Sav- ior, asked if we would start teaching her son and his fiancee all the Scriptures we shared with her. This new life, that is given by God as a gift, will indeed be evidenced by a de- sire to see others come alive in Christ. Paul wrote, "Every Christian has been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God pre- pared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). A most important work God has prepared for us to do is to build His church by making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Followers of Jesus Will Fish for Men
Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mat. 4:19). Jesus gave this command to those who were professional fishermen. They had been successful in catching fish that were alive, now they were being asked to catch men who were dead. The only way to catch men who are dead in their sin is with the life-giving power of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). A disciple of Jesus will follow Him and to follow Jesus is to be a fisher of men.
There is no greater cause for rejoicing than to see those who had been enslaved to Sa- tan, sin and death, be set free by the power of God! The redeemed rejoice and all the angels in heaven rejoice when sinners repent!
May Christians everywhere develop a greater desire to glorify God through the proclamation of His Gospel. As our love for our Savior grows, might His wondrous mercy, sovereign grace and unfailing love flow from our hearts to our lips. And may we never refrain from proclaiming our Lord's sin-repelling holiness, His inescapable justice and His perfect righteousness that is required for entrance into paradise. In the power of the Holy Spirit, motivated by our matchless love for Jesus and to honor and glorify His holy name, let us all emulate the early church: "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teach- ing and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 5:42).
As we go from place to place through each day we can ask people two simple, yet pro- found questions: "Do you believe in heaven?" and "How do you hope to get there?" You will be pleasantly surprised how easily people will share their opinion about spiritual things. When their response is not "by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," you can ask them if they would like to know what The Bible says about God's one and only provision. If they say "yes" you can leave them our Gospel tract, The Greatest News Ever Told About the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived Who Offers the Greatest Gift Ever Given. It is a 6-page fold out that contains only the Word of God which has the power to convert the soul!
