CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

Thomas P. Johnston 457
Some thoughts:
1. Signs and wonders are not noted in every city in Paul’s journey; and therefore do not appear as a
necessary or preferred preparation for the Gospel
2. Signs and wonders are misunderstood in Lystra, the focus turning to the “healer” [Paul], rather
than to God; therefore showing that a miraculous healing must be interpreted and received by the
listeners in order to have a positive effect for the Gospel
3. The Bible teaches that the role of miracles is that of confirmation of the message already given
(Deut 18:20-22), although at times God allows the miracle as a test to the hearers (Deut 13:1-5);
so in the NT, miracles confirmed the message (Mark 16:20; Heb 2:3-4), though John the Baptist
did no sign and his message was true (John 10:41).
4. Note the order of the verbs that include healing in the Gospels, healing is almost always listed
after the teaching and preaching, for example:
Matt 9:35, “And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and
proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness”
Contextual definition:
Evangelizing is that verbal proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved with the
intent of leading them to salvation, in other words, beginning their walk with Jesus Christ (Gal 3:2;
Phil 1:6; Heb 6:1):
Evangelizing is exemplified in two of the first three commands of Christ, repent, believe the
Gospel, and come follow Me and I will make you become fishers of men (Mark 1:14-17);
Evangelizing is prerequisite for a person to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, who upon verbal
confession ought to be baptized and taught to obey all that Christ has commanded
(Matt 28:19-20);
Evangelizing is distinct from and yet overlaps with the proclamation that is meant to strengthen
and exhort believers (Acts 14:22), whereas Christ crucified for sins must remain the center
of all true Christian proclamation (Luke 24:46-47; 1 Cor 2:2; 15:1-5; Col 1:28-29).
Practical definition:
Evangelizing is the verbal proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved in the
power of the Holy Spirit, to the end of persuading them to repent of their sin, to believe in the work
of Jesus Christ on their behalf, and to accept Him as their Savior and Lord, with the intent of
baptizing those who repent and teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded, as
committed members of a local NT church.
1. The bold proclamation, 530 Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, Rom 10:14-17, Eph 6:19-20
a. Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Acts 8:35, 1 Cor 15:1-4
b. To the unsaved, Matt 9:36-38
c. In the power of the Holy Spirit, Luke 24:49 (cf. Acts 4:31, John 16:8, 1 Thess 1:5, 1 Pet 1:12)
2. To the end of persuading them, 2 Cor 5:11
a. To repent of their sin, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 2:38
b. To believe (in Jesus), Acts 16:31:
1) In the work of Jesus Christ, Luke 24:46, 2 Cor 5:15
2) On their behalf, John 1:29, 2 Cor 5:15
c. To accept Him, Jean 1:12, Rev 3:20:
1) As their Savior, Acts 16:30-31
2) And Lord, Matt 10:38-39, 12:30
[Herein is often argued a dividing line between evangelism and follow-up/discipleship]
[See my notes in Chapter 26 for a brief discussion of the issues]
530 Irving Hexham wrote in the Canadian Encyclopedia, “Evangelism is an English word derived from the
combination of the 2 Greek words euangelion and euangelizomai, meaning ‘good news,’ or ‘gospel’ and ‘to announce,
proclaim, or bring good news.’ Historically all Christians have been committed to proclaiming the gospel to make
converts, and thus to evangelism. Today the term evangelical is used to describe theologically Conservative churches
and interdenominational para-church organizations” (available from: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/
index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002671; accessed 13 Nov 2006).