WHAT IS EVAGELISM?

To “evangelise” (from Greek euaggelizo), means to “bring good tidings” or to preach the gospel message. The Greek word “euaggelion” means “good news” or “good message”. {Notice that in Greek, “aggelos” means angel (ie heavenly messenger) or even any other messenger.}

In the Bible, the Greek “euaggelizo” (ie to evangelise) is translated “bring good tidings” or “preach the gospel or good news”

The core message of the Gospel of the Kingdom as taught by Christ is found in Luke 24:47 and in the Apostolic witness the Acts Of The Apostles

            “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”   (Luk 24:46-49)

            “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”      (Act 2:38-39)

            “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”   (Act 17:30-31)

            Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.    (Act 20:21)

The Evangel or Good News we preach is simply this: that there is now the blessing of remission of sins (or salvation from sin) for anyone who repents and believes in Christ. Many other things said are for exhortation and testimony to convince our hearers as stated in Acts 2:40; 18:28.

Evangelism belongs to the proclamatory aspect of the tripartite New Testament Apostolic Tradition or Paradosis 2Tim 1:13-14; Jude 3, which are:

1.     Kerygma – the preaching or proclamation of the facts of the Gospel of Christ Luke 1:2; Mark 16:15;

2.     Didache – the teaching (ie meaning or interpretation) of the Person, words and works of Christ 1Cor. 15;

3.     Praxis – the practical application of Christ in our lives following the practices and patterns left by the Apostles Matt 28:20; 2Thes 2:15; 3:6-7.

According to Gal. 3:8, the First Evangelist was God Himself. God first preached the Gospel to Abraham, as recorded in Gen. 22:18.

            “that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice.”            (Gen 22:17-18)

The next Evangelist was the Angel of the Lord at the birth of Christ.

            “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”    (Luk 2:10-11)

Jesus was the next Evangelist (Bringer of good tidings)

            “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”    (Mar 1:14-15)

            “And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,”    (Luk 20:1)

It is this divine, angelic, messianic and beautiful-footed mission that the Church has been found worthy to be commisi9ned to carry out. Both leaders and members alike  

            "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”   (Mar 16:15)

            “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”   (Act 8:4)

The feet of those who do evangelism is so beautiful before the Lord

          “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!’”    (Rom 10:15) Also Isa. 52:7.

Thus the feet of gospel bringers should not be defiled by the soil of the habitations of the stiff-necked

            “But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”   (Luk 10:10-11)

Those who oppose, discourage or neglect the preaching of the glad tidings of the kingdom, do so to their own peril, whether they be outside the church or belong to the church!

To escape this peril we must preach the Gospel irrespective of whatever constraints there may be. This is the wisdom for the saints.

            “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”    (1Co 9:16)

            “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”     (2Ti 4:2)