LESSON 23 CHRISTIAN WITNESSING
Dec 18, 2015
Matthew 28:19-20
• 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2 Corinthians 5:14
• 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
Why Witness?
1) It is one of Christ’s commands
and a part of our ministry.
2) Out of love for Christ, patterned
after God’s love.
2 Peter 3:9
• 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Romans 10:13-14
• 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Why Witness?
1) It is one of Christ’s commands
and a part of our ministry.
2) Out of love for Christ, patterned
after God’s love.
3) Out of love for our fellowman,
for whom Jesus also died.
Mark 5:19
• 19Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
Acts 13:2-3
2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and
Where Witness?
1) Personally, in our own lives (at home, work, school, etc.)
2) Supportively, throughout the world (missionary support)
God’s Great Exchange
Approach #1:
Our greatest need: to be in a right relationship with God …. Are you?
1) If you were to die tonight, are you sure you would have eternal life?
2) If you were to die tonight and stand before God, and He were to ask you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” what would you tell Him?
God’s Great Exchange
Approach #2:
Whatever the situation, the problem will be solved (or you’ll be given the ability to cope with it) when you are in a right relationship with God. This is our greatest need.
How can you tell if you are in a right relationship with God?
WHAT GOD DEMANDS1. There are 2 things that must happen for a person to be in a right relationship with God:
a. You must have holiness.
1) Leviticus 19:2 – “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
2) Galatians 3:10 – “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
WHAT GOD DEMANDS1. There are 2 things that must happen for a person to be in a right relationship with God:
b. You must have no sins.
1) Isaiah 59:2 – “Your iniquities have separated you from your God.”
2) Romans 6:23a – “The wages of sin is death.”
WHAT GOD SEES2. God demands that He see no sin, that He see only holiness. But what does He see?
a. Looking at us, He sees people who lack holiness.
Isaiah 64:6 – “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.”
b. He sees sinners.Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
c. He sees people who are deserving of death, not life.
MAN-MADE REMEDIES
3. What can we do about this?
a. You might think, “Guess I’ll have to try harder,” but that won’t remove sin or make you perfectly holy, will it?
MAN-MADE REMEDIES
3. What can we do about this?
b. Or you might determine to make up for every sin with a good deed. But that doesn’t remove sin.
MAN-MADE REMEDIES
3. What can we do about this?
c. Or you might think, “I’m not perfect; but at least I’m better than many others”. But God expects you to compare yourself to Him and His perfect holiness.
MAN-MADE REMEDIES
3. What can we do about this?d. All such self-help efforts are doomed to fail.
Try Harder Balancing Act Comparison
GOD’S REMEDY4. ONLY God has the remedy. His remedy might be called GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE.
a. He sent His only Son into the world to become one of us.
b. His Son lived a perfectly holy life – in our place.
c. His Son died on a cross, paying the wages of sin in our place; for “the Lord laid on Him the
iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
GOD’S REMEDY4. ONLY God has the remedy. His remedy might be called GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE.d. God has credited the perfect life of Jesus and His
death for sin to our account: 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Him who had no sin to be, sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
e. His son rose from the grave, guaranteeing our redemption: Romans 4:25 – “He was raised to life for our justification.”
f. The result: we have the holiness (Jesus’ holiness) and the removal of sin we need for life. What God requires of us – holiness and sinlessness – God gives to us.
GOD’S REMEDY
+ holiness
- sin
= LIFE
+ holiness
- sin
= LIFE
my sins
Jesus’ holiness
GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE
GOD’S PROMISE
5. This new life is yours as a gift.a. Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
b. God promises you: Acts 16:31 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (put your trust and
confidence in Him as one who lived a holy life and died for you in your place) and you will be saved.”
c. God produces faith and new life through the Gospel: Romans 1:16 – “The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
Forgiveness
New Life
Salvation
Forgiveness
New Life
Salvation
God’s Word (Bible)
“The Means of Grace”
(Baptism) Sacraments (Lord’s Supper)
Gospel
God’s Reservoir
GOD’S PROMISE
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
a. new life right now
John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”
new life right now
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
b. eternal life in heaven
John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
new life right now
eternal life
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
c. freedom from guilt
Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
new life right now
eternal life
freedom from guilt
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
d. fruits of faith
Galatians 5:22-23 – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
new life right now
eternal life
freedom from guilt
fruits of faith
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
e. power for daily living
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
new life right now
eternal life
freedom from guilt
fruits of faith
power for living
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
f. answers to prayer
Psalm 50:15 – “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.”
new life right now
eternal life
freedom from guilt
fruits of faith
power for living
answers to prayer
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
g. guidance for your daily life
Psalm 119:105 – “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.”
new life right now
eternal life
freedom from guilt
fruits of faith
power for living
answers to prayer
guidance for live
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
h. strengthening fellowship of other believers
Ephesians 2:19 – “You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”
new life right now
eternal life
freedom from guilt
fruits of faith
power for living
answers to prayer
guidance for live
Christian fellowship
BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:
i. assurance of God’s love in every situation
Romans 8:28 – “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”
new life right now
eternal life
freedom from guilt
fruits of faith
power for living
answers to prayer
guidance for live
Christian fellowship
assurance of God’s love
FOLLOW-UP
7. Since faith and new life in Jesus Christ comes and grows through the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23, 2:2), you need to stay close to God’s Word.
KEY TRUTHS
• Lesson Twenty-Three: We witness because it is one of Christ’s ___________,
• we witness out of _____ for Christ and out of ______ for our fellowman. One way to tell others about Jesus is by talking about God’s Great Exchange.
Key Truths
• 1. What God demands
• 2. What God sees
• 3. Man-made remedies
• 4. God’s remedy
• 5. God’s promise
• 6. Blessings that follow