Evangelism leads us to Christ and is, also, for those who have yet to know who He is. It is a resource that believers use to remove the blinders of pain, struggles, and society; so people can actually see who God is. The principles of evangelism target the heart. They allow us to use tools to share the gospel. Although how we evangelize may differ, the foundation of evangelism is something that we can take and use anywhere we go.
The first thing we must understand about evangelism is that souls (people) are the heartbeat of God. When reading 2 Peter 3:9, we learn that God is constantly suffering because He does not want any one of us to lose our eternity with Him. God’s longsuffering, in part, is based on His heart for souls. God not wanting any to perish should be the same desire every believer has. Whether it is someone we have known for years or a stranger at the grocery line, our hearts must align with God’s by acknowledging that every person who does not know Him is one we should want to help learn about salvation. Learning about God and accepting Him as your Savior is only step one. It is important for us, thereafter, to teach the gospel.
Teaching is simply how we instruct, impart knowledge, and disseminate information to others. Jesus tells us in Matthew that we are to teach others the things He has commanded us to do. The gospel is the ingredient, the very core thing that Jesus taught often. Also, what is great about these teachings, is the promise attached to them? We see them in Matthew 28:18: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
The authority that Jesus has been given is one that we can tap into and use as a tool, and that tool is called evangelism. Evangelism is a tool ordained by God. One that is always at our disposal so we can fulfill one particular function: reach nations and tell the world who God is. Evangelism is how we direct people to Jesus. It is the vehicle that literally drives the lost to the doorstep of Jesus and is one that can look several ways.
See, the job of Satan is to keep people blind to the truth of Jesus Christ. Unless we use evangelism to remove the shades, people will continue to not only live in blindness, but also get accustomed to it and believe that is the way life is supposed to be. In Evangelism, it is imperative that we gain a better understanding of the community we serve to find the best ways to help people see the light of Jesus Christ.
The evangelism principles are what Jesus instructed us in his final moments on Earth. The heart for evangelism is why you are here, reading this article, and why many more will in the future. It is your heart’s desire to share the love of God and to be His willing vessel.