Why Should I Share the Gospel? (Part 2)
Why Should We Share the Gospel? Three Compelling Reasons
The gospel of Jesus Christ stands as the most important message ever delivered to humanity. Yet in our daily lives, we often struggle to understand why sharing this message matters so much. What motivates us to step out of our comfort zones and proclaim truth to a world that desperately needs it?
The Command of God: A Clear Directive
The answer begins with a simple yet profound command from Jesus himself: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). These words carry both simplicity and urgency. There's no ambiguity here, no room for misinterpretation.
The word "preach" means more than just reciting facts. It involves publicly announcing theological truth with a genuine urgency for people to receive it. When we share the gospel, we're not merely presenting information—we're extending an invitation with heartfelt conviction that others would embrace this life-changing truth.
Notice the scope: "all the world" and "all creation." This universal call reveals something crucial about the human condition—we're all broken. Every person who has ever lived, who lives today, or who will live tomorrow carries the weight of sin. None of us are exempt. We all fall short of God's glory, and therefore, we all need to hear the gospel.
There is no omission in the Great Commission. Jesus doesn't create categories of people who need the message and those who don't. Before ascending to heaven, He instructed His disciples to go from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. The gospel isn't exclusive—it's personal but meant to be shared universally.
Consider those who embody this vision today. Missionaries around the world identify people groups where Christianity represents less than 20% of the population, where established churches don't exist, and where scripture remains unavailable in native languages. Some have identified 350 languages with minimal or no biblical text and have made it their mission to bring God's word to these communities. This is the Great Commission in action—reaching every corner of creation with the message of hope.
When we engage in this work, we bring delight to God's heart. Scripture tells us that God desires "none to perish but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). As we proclaim His truth, we become "a fragrance of Christ to God" (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)—a sweet aroma that pleases Him.
One crucial distinction: our job is to proclaim; God's job is to create faith. We bear responsibility for sharing the message, but we cannot control how people respond. Some will receive it eagerly, others with indifference, and still others with hostility. The outcome doesn't rest on our shoulders—only the obedience to share does. This truth liberates us from the crushing weight of feeling responsible for conversion while keeping us accountable for faithful proclamation.
The Purpose of Jesus: Why He Came
The second compelling reason to share the gospel flows from understanding why Jesus came to earth. His purpose wasn't ambiguous or secondary—it was crystal clear.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Jesus declared, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose" (Luke 4:43). The gospel wasn't a side project or an alternative plan—it was the purpose.
In John 12:27, Jesus faces the approaching crucifixion with these remarkable words: "Now my soul has become troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose I came to this hour." His death was no accident. It wasn't merely to free people from political oppression or to provide a good example of forgiveness. Jesus died specifically for sin—yours and mine.
Some attempt to reframe Jesus' death as something other than atonement for sin, but this undermines the entire gospel. The purpose of Jesus was to die for our sins, be buried, and rise again on the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This truth deserves our wholehearted embrace and proclamation.
Central to Jesus' message is the call to repentance. This word combines the ideas of changing position and reconsidering with one's mind. True repentance means recognizing the error of our ways, stopping in our tracks, turning around, and walking in the opposite direction. It involves godly sorrow—not merely regret over getting caught or facing consequences, but genuine grief over breaking God's heart and falling short of His glory.
The gospel doesn't leave us wallowing in sin. It doesn't give us license to continue wayward living under the assumption that God will automatically forgive. That's a perversion of the gospel. The true gospel calls us to repent and return—to experience transformation through the Holy Spirit's conviction.
Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God—the realm where His authority rules, His will is followed, and His desires are obeyed. Scripture describes two kingdoms in this world: the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. The gospel represents both a divine necessity (we must repent) and a human urgency (the kingdom of God is at hand).
The Example of the Church: Following in Their Footsteps
The third reason to share the gospel comes from the example of the early church. After Jesus gave the command, His followers obeyed with remarkable consistency.
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Jesus told them what to do, and Acts 5:42 records what they did: "And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."
The early Christians didn't compartmentalize their faith. Whether gathering in the temple on the holy day or meeting house to house throughout the week, they consistently taught and preached the gospel. This wasn't a special program or an occasional emphasis—it was their way of life.
Some today share this same passion. They visit college campuses with their Bibles, engaging students with open-air preaching and answering questions. Others find themselves in places like homeless missions, sharing the gospel with people at rock bottom. The settings vary, but the message remains constant.
The early church understood that proclaiming the gospel wasn't optional—it was essential to their identity as followers of Christ. They had encountered life-changing truth and couldn't help but share it with everyone around them.
A Prayer for Our Generation
As we consider these three compelling reasons—the command of God, the purpose of Jesus, and the example of the church—one prayer emerges: Let not the Great Commission become our great omission.
May we preach the gospel first to ourselves, remembering daily that we are sinners whom Jesus died to save. Then, empowered by that truth, may we proclaim it faithfully in our spheres of influence—in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and wherever God has placed us.
The message is too important, too urgent, and too transformative to keep to ourselves. The world needs to hear that despite our brokenness and sin, Jesus is the remedy. He is the reconciler, the accomplisher of our salvation. And we have the privilege of making that known.
In Christ's Service,
The gospel of Jesus Christ stands as the most important message ever delivered to humanity. Yet in our daily lives, we often struggle to understand why sharing this message matters so much. What motivates us to step out of our comfort zones and proclaim truth to a world that desperately needs it?
The Command of God: A Clear Directive
The answer begins with a simple yet profound command from Jesus himself: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). These words carry both simplicity and urgency. There's no ambiguity here, no room for misinterpretation.
The word "preach" means more than just reciting facts. It involves publicly announcing theological truth with a genuine urgency for people to receive it. When we share the gospel, we're not merely presenting information—we're extending an invitation with heartfelt conviction that others would embrace this life-changing truth.
Notice the scope: "all the world" and "all creation." This universal call reveals something crucial about the human condition—we're all broken. Every person who has ever lived, who lives today, or who will live tomorrow carries the weight of sin. None of us are exempt. We all fall short of God's glory, and therefore, we all need to hear the gospel.
There is no omission in the Great Commission. Jesus doesn't create categories of people who need the message and those who don't. Before ascending to heaven, He instructed His disciples to go from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. The gospel isn't exclusive—it's personal but meant to be shared universally.
Consider those who embody this vision today. Missionaries around the world identify people groups where Christianity represents less than 20% of the population, where established churches don't exist, and where scripture remains unavailable in native languages. Some have identified 350 languages with minimal or no biblical text and have made it their mission to bring God's word to these communities. This is the Great Commission in action—reaching every corner of creation with the message of hope.
When we engage in this work, we bring delight to God's heart. Scripture tells us that God desires "none to perish but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). As we proclaim His truth, we become "a fragrance of Christ to God" (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)—a sweet aroma that pleases Him.
One crucial distinction: our job is to proclaim; God's job is to create faith. We bear responsibility for sharing the message, but we cannot control how people respond. Some will receive it eagerly, others with indifference, and still others with hostility. The outcome doesn't rest on our shoulders—only the obedience to share does. This truth liberates us from the crushing weight of feeling responsible for conversion while keeping us accountable for faithful proclamation.
The Purpose of Jesus: Why He Came
The second compelling reason to share the gospel flows from understanding why Jesus came to earth. His purpose wasn't ambiguous or secondary—it was crystal clear.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Jesus declared, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose" (Luke 4:43). The gospel wasn't a side project or an alternative plan—it was the purpose.
In John 12:27, Jesus faces the approaching crucifixion with these remarkable words: "Now my soul has become troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose I came to this hour." His death was no accident. It wasn't merely to free people from political oppression or to provide a good example of forgiveness. Jesus died specifically for sin—yours and mine.
Some attempt to reframe Jesus' death as something other than atonement for sin, but this undermines the entire gospel. The purpose of Jesus was to die for our sins, be buried, and rise again on the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This truth deserves our wholehearted embrace and proclamation.
Central to Jesus' message is the call to repentance. This word combines the ideas of changing position and reconsidering with one's mind. True repentance means recognizing the error of our ways, stopping in our tracks, turning around, and walking in the opposite direction. It involves godly sorrow—not merely regret over getting caught or facing consequences, but genuine grief over breaking God's heart and falling short of His glory.
The gospel doesn't leave us wallowing in sin. It doesn't give us license to continue wayward living under the assumption that God will automatically forgive. That's a perversion of the gospel. The true gospel calls us to repent and return—to experience transformation through the Holy Spirit's conviction.
Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God—the realm where His authority rules, His will is followed, and His desires are obeyed. Scripture describes two kingdoms in this world: the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. The gospel represents both a divine necessity (we must repent) and a human urgency (the kingdom of God is at hand).
The Example of the Church: Following in Their Footsteps
The third reason to share the gospel comes from the example of the early church. After Jesus gave the command, His followers obeyed with remarkable consistency.
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Jesus told them what to do, and Acts 5:42 records what they did: "And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."
The early Christians didn't compartmentalize their faith. Whether gathering in the temple on the holy day or meeting house to house throughout the week, they consistently taught and preached the gospel. This wasn't a special program or an occasional emphasis—it was their way of life.
Some today share this same passion. They visit college campuses with their Bibles, engaging students with open-air preaching and answering questions. Others find themselves in places like homeless missions, sharing the gospel with people at rock bottom. The settings vary, but the message remains constant.
The early church understood that proclaiming the gospel wasn't optional—it was essential to their identity as followers of Christ. They had encountered life-changing truth and couldn't help but share it with everyone around them.
A Prayer for Our Generation
As we consider these three compelling reasons—the command of God, the purpose of Jesus, and the example of the church—one prayer emerges: Let not the Great Commission become our great omission.
May we preach the gospel first to ourselves, remembering daily that we are sinners whom Jesus died to save. Then, empowered by that truth, may we proclaim it faithfully in our spheres of influence—in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and wherever God has placed us.
The message is too important, too urgent, and too transformative to keep to ourselves. The world needs to hear that despite our brokenness and sin, Jesus is the remedy. He is the reconciler, the accomplisher of our salvation. And we have the privilege of making that known.
In Christ's Service,
Pastor Kirk Flaa
Posted in Bible, Care, Discipleship, God, Jesus, Scripture, Worship, Youth
Posted in God, Word of God, Jesus, Faith, Scriptures, Holy, truth, Trust, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Preach, Gospel, Prayer, Great Commission, Sin, church
Posted in God, Word of God, Jesus, Faith, Scriptures, Holy, truth, Trust, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Preach, Gospel, Prayer, Great Commission, Sin, church
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