Our Commitment - To the Gospel, Part 1

The Lord’s last words before = His ascension in Acts 1:8, were that “you shal= l be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in Jude= a and Samaria and unto t= he uttermost parts of the earth.” This commission to be a witness to unbelievers still applies to us t= oday in 2005.

When the church does not respond to this commission, many unsaved people will perish in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). Moreover, those unsaved people who= are still alive and living without Christ will live a life of no hope (Col 1:27), no pe= ace (Rom 5:1) and emptiness (Ec 2:11= ,17). Congregations who do not respond t= o the Lord’s command to witness to unbelievers will find themselves ingrown= and unable to relate to, and like Jesus be a friend to sinners (Matt 11:19).

Paul talks about witnessing in Romans 10:14-15, saying, In order for heathen to be changed into sons of God they need to hear the gospel! In order for them to hear the gosp= el there must be those who proclaim or speak it! We are those who should proclaim to unbelievers what Jesus has done for us!&nb= sp; This is to be a witness! There are people we see every day who need = to hear about Christ.

There are many reactions among Christians when the topic of witnessing comes up. Some have excuses: "I'm too busy", "It's a full-timer's job", "I don't have the gift of evangelism". Others have fears: “Oh no! He wants me to go knock on doors, or go down to campus and chase college stude= nts down!” Or, “I do = not know all the verses on salvation, organic salvation, judicial salvation, justification, transformation, sanctification! What good can I be?”

Actually our job is very easy! So take a sigh of relief and relax!= You do not have to worry about being like loud brother X, or crazy brother Y. All we are supposed to do is be wh= o we are and open up our mouth and speak.

Here is a way with four practical steps in which you can be a witness f= or Christ: