Why Evangelize?

The number one obligation of all Christians may be summarized as being to glorify God (1 Cor. 6:20). We glorify God in a number of ways, all of which involve living in harmony with His will (cf. Lk. 6:46). The question in the title of this article focuses on one way we must glorify God—seeking and saving the lost! How important is evangelism? Why bother? After all, we’re such a small congregation, and it seems our own members aren’t even consistently faithful. Well, no matter what the condition of others, there are at least three reasons why we must seek and save the lost.

God's Love

God’s love for us is tremendous! The Golden Text of the Bible states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). Paul wrote to the Romans, “God commendeth [demonstrates, NKJ] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). God’s love wanted to save us from sin so much that He sacrificed His “only begotten Son” for us! Sin tragically keeps us from glorifying God (Rom. 3:23). Only the Gospel can save us (Rom. 1:16). Since God loved us enough to seek and save our souls, should not His love compel us to reach others with the Gospel?

God's Labor

God’s love motivated Him to send Jesus (Jn. 3:16). Jesus, being “God with us” (Mt. 1:23), worked His Father’s will among humanity. While on this earth, Jesus Himself said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). Seeking and saving the lost was also in His mind when He declared, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4). Jesus showed us what our “Father’s business” entails (cf. Lk. 2:41-52), which includes seeking and saving the lost. Since Jesus, out of love, labored in evangelism, shouldn’t we?

God's Letter

Not only should we be motivated to evangelize because of God’s love and the example of Jesus’ labor among us, God’s word should also be a motivating factor. Before He ascended back to the Father, Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:15-16). The Great Commission is applicable to us. It is part of the Gospel that needs to “be delivered” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Just as sure as Jesus could not be faithful without doing God’s will (cf. Mt. 26:39-44), we cannot be faithful without doing the will of God, which includes seeking and saving the lost (cf. Mt. 7:21). We must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). Why evangelize? Because God loves us, Jesus shows us, and we want to obey God!