Luke 14:15-24, Our Objective: Evangelism (3)

The objective of evangelism, as we have noted, demands …

THE COMPLETE GOSPEL COMPLETELY PROCLAIMED!

We have considered the “complete gospel.”  There are other issues that might be raised and a local church needs to be aware of this matter.  Things added to or taken away from the gospel message make it incomplete.

Let us now consider what the Bible says about the ways in which the gospel needs to be “completely proclaimed.”

·       The gospel must be proclaimed with boldness (Eph. 6:19-20; Phil. 1:27; Col. 4:3; 1 Thess. 2:14-16).  In other words, there can be no holding back; and there can be no lack of clarity.  Boldness addresses both these issues.  Paul asked prayer that (hina) he might fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which he was in chains.  Inner fear can be a hindrance.  External chains might also be considered a hindrance.  In 2 Timothy 1 Paul encouraged Timothy not to allow timidity (a form of fear) to cause him to be ashamed of the gospel.

·       The gospel must be proclaimed to all people (John 11:52; Rom. 3:19; Gal. 1:16; 2:9).  In NT times, where there was a “Jew-Gentile” issue, it is made clear that the gospel was to be preached to both, in other words, to all.  Peter was preaching to Jews, Paul to Gentiles.  The emphasis of either man was not to mean the other was wrong.  It was all necessary and they went with blessing.  Jesus predicted this “worldwide” preaching in the parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:15-24).  Leading Jews were invited but refused.  Unprivileged Jews were invited but there was still room.  Then Gentiles were compelled so that (hina) my house will be full.  Remember that in Revelation people from every tribe, language, people and nation will inhabit heaven (Rev. 5:9).  Later in Revelation we see that the eternal gospel is preached to all people (Rev. 14:6).  Jesus said the end would not come until the gospel of the kingdom was preached to all the world (Mt. 24:14). 

o   We should note that Jesus even gave His apostles the strategy for doing this.  He had said, literally, as you are going, make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:19).  In Acts 1:8 He told them to begin where they were, in Jerusalem.  Then He told them to continue expanding to Judea, Samaria and the farthest parts of the earth.  As you read Acts you see that the expansion was aided by the persecution.  Literally, as they were being pushed out of Jerusalem, as they were going, they continued to preach the gospel wherever they went (Acts 8:1,4).  You also see the Apostle Paul use the same strategy.  He went to significant cities, and then as the Church grew in that city, the gospel went out into the countryside and to smaller towns around (Ac. 19:10).