By Kenneth B.E. Roxburgh, Ph.D.
Professor of Religion, Samford University
A Passion to Share the Gospel
2 Corinthians 5:11; 14–21
On May 27, 1742, John Wesley made the first of countless visits to the city of Newcastle, England. His first impression was of “much drunkenness, cursing and swearing, even (he said) from the mouths of little children … surely this place is ripe for Him who ‘came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”
Here, as so often during his itinerant ministry, Wesley noted in his diary, “I offered them Christ.”
This was at the heart of Wesley’s evangelical ministry in Britain in the 18th century and it is at the heart of our ministry in the 21st century. We offer Christ as Savior and Lord to all with whom we come into contact.
The fear of the Lord motivates us to share the gospel. (11)
For Paul there were two great motivations at the heart of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first is what he calls in this verse “the fear of the Lord.”
It is a phrase found very regularly in the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. It speaks of humble dependence on God, seeking to honor Him in all our attitudes and actions. It doesn’t mean being frightened of God, but rather having a reverence for God.
The book of Acts tells us that the mark of a growing church is that they “lived in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).
Those who fear God are the people who prosper spiritually and seek the companionship of fellow believers. As Malachi says, those who fear the Lord “talk with each other.”
People who seek to revere God will seek to live their lives according to His commandments. As Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
To Paul, one of the ways in which we honor God is by being faithful to the commandment of Jesus to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
If we love Jesus, if we honor Him, if we revere Him, then we will seek to follow Him in mission. As Jesus was obedient to the Father, so we are obedient to Him.
The love of Christ compels us to share the gospel. (14–17)
The second — and related — motivation for evangelism is love for Jesus. Paul indicates that the “love of Christ constrains us.” The word could be translated “compels” or “leaves us no option.”
We cannot take or leave evangelism according to the whim of the moment and whether we feel like it or not. As William Temple used to say, “The church is the only human organization which exists for the sake of those who are not yet its members.”
God’s grace is generous. His love has no limits as to the way in which He has expressed His desire that men and women come to know Him and experience His forgiveness, His mercy, the gift of eternal life. This ought to encourage within our lives a similar generosity of desire that family members, friends and colleagues discover the Christian message for themselves.
God’s grace compels us to take this message of His love for the whole world to as many people as we can reach.
The commission of God charges us to share the gospel. (18–21)
Finally we are under orders. God charges us and will hold us accountable to share the good news of His love with a lost world.
The ultimate reason for evangelism is the life and death of Jesus Christ for us and for all humankind.
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