Repent and Believe in the Gospel

Latest Post

The Comprehensive Witness

A year ago (367 days past, actually!), my roommate Robbie sent me a list of Scriptures concerning how Christians should give a comprehensive witness toward those who are outside the faith. I use the word “comprehensive” because evangelism is word proclaimed and life lived. The Holy Spirit enables us to do this (John 16:13-15), and both gospel word and deed must exist together within a Christian to be a comprehensive witness for his King. A man who preaches truth but hates the people he’s preaching to or does so simply to cut them down is in violation of 1 Corinthians 13 and many of the Scriptures listed below. A man who just silently goes about being nice to people but never speak the truth of the gospel to anyone isn’t giving anyone a chance to be saved, for there is no other name given under heaven among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12), and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

By God’s grace, we don’t have to live in one of these two areas! We can trust Jesus’ prayer that we will be set apart unto God more and more: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). In the power of the Holy Spirit, we can deny ourselves and seek out the steps of Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and even David (Psalm 35:11-14) according to the Scriptures.

Word and walk must be in step with each other. For those who engage people one-to-one or through open air preaching, our reactions to the lost are usually the only aspect of our daily walk that they will ever see. How should we react when hated for the sake of Jesus? How should we respond to the scoffer, the mocker, the insolent opponent and blasphemer that we once were? To quote Paul Washer from the sermon, Busyness and Spiritual Discipline, ”Should I listen to you when your message has so little impact of their own character?”

May God bless these Scriptures for the nourishment of His people, that they may say with Paul, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and that ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

All Scripture is from the English Standard Version.

Romans 12:14-18 (Marks of a True Christian, and their witness to those outside the church) “Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not persecute them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

1 Corinthians 4:11-13 (Paul defending the true Apostolic ministry) “To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we retreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.”

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 (Paul’s commendation of the Apostolic ministry before God, as evidenced by their conduct) “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found in our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise.”

(Verse 8b – 10) “We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

Galatians 6:9-10 (Persevering in grace, not law) “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Philippians 1:15-21 (Rejoicing in Christ being proclaimed regardless of personal circumstances) “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this (Paul’s imprisonment while he wrote this letter) will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be in honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Colossians 4:5-6 (Gracious speech is weighty speech; salt prevents corrosion) “Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Titus 3:1-2 (Reminding the Cretans of the fruit that comes from pardoned sinners) “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”

1 Peter 3:13-17 (The blessing of a steadfast witness. Note regarding Christ as holy precedes making the defense). “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile you may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”