Question
I need to know some verses about taking the gospel with you and not just living the word on Sundays.
Answer
Yes, we do have a moral obligation to do what we can to reach others with the soul-saving power of the gospel. Confining our Christian life to only worshipping in church buildings will not accomplish this vital activity. Where in the New Testament do we find passages that indicate we have such a responsibility to others?
First, Jesus, as He spoke to His apostles, made it clear that they, and we as His future disciples, had such a duty to the world. We are to proclaim the good news of salvation to those that are lost in the darkness of sin. We too formerly were lost also. Note Jesus’ words to them and by extension to us.
MAT 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
MAT 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
MAT 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ”
MAR 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
MAR 16:16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
LUK 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
LUK 24:46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day;
LUK 24:47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
When we read the book of Acts, we see this is exactly what they did. They taught people about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and how God had given Him authority over heaven and earth. They taught people they needed to believe in Jesus, repent of their sins, confess His name before men and be baptized (fully immersed) in water for the forgiveness of their sins. Having done this, then they could begin a new life in Jesus where their sins were no longer held against them.
ACT 2:29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
ACT 2:30 “And so, because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants upon his throne,
ACT 2:31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.
ACT 2:32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
ACT 2:33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
ACT 2:34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord,”Sit at My right hand,
ACT 2:35 Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet. “‘
ACT 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.”
ACT 2:37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
ACT 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
ACT 8:4 ¶ Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
ACT 8:5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
ACT 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
ACT 8:13 And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
ACT 22:16 ‘And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
Further, we also have passages which indicate to us that we not only should speak the gospel to others, but we should live a faithful life before them so that by our example of Christian living they might be drawn to want to know the gospel, although at first they might have been hostile toward the truth.
1PE 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1PE 2:10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1PE 2:11 ¶ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
1PE 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1PE 2:18 ¶ Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
1PE 2:19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
1PE 2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1PE 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
1PE 2:22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
1PE 2:23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1PE 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1PE 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1PE 3:13 ¶ And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
1PE 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
1PE 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
1PE 3:16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
1PE 3:17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
1PE 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
These are just some of the passages that help us understand our responsibility to share the gospel with others. However, let us make sure that we know what to share. There are many false gospels that go forth which do not save anyone. For example, many are taught simply to believe in Jesus or to confess His name without ever being taught that they should be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. This gospel although widely proclaimed, is not what the apostles or early Christians taught. We cannot find such a gospel revealed in Scriptures and find no examples of people being saved in this way. Therefore, first let us make sure we know and believe the gospel revealed in the New Testament and then commit ourselves to not only living according to it, but also sharing it with others as the opportunities appear.
By Gary Hunt
