Summary
The Call to Witness
Across the Gospels and into the book of Acts, the risen Jesus gives his disciples one consistent commission: testify. He promises them power from the Holy Spirit so that they will be his witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8. He appoints them to bear lasting fruit John 15:16, sends the Spirit of Truth to testify alongside them John 15:26-27, names them witnesses of his death and resurrection through whom repentance and forgiveness will be proclaimed to all nations Luke 24:47-48, and finally commands them to go, baptize, and teach (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). Appointed, sent, commanded—the call to evangelism belongs to every disciple, not only to the Peters who love to talk.
Why We Are Not Ashamed
Paul writes, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1:16. Shame is a kind of fear—reluctance born of the worry that we will be embarrassed or humiliated. Paul has the opposite posture: an eagerness to preach in Rome Romans 1:15. His confidence is not in his own skill but in the message itself. The gospel is good news because it is salvation: that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, entered creation, bore the full wrath of God on the cross, died the death our sin deserved, and rose victorious—imparting his righteousness to all who hear and believe.
Righteous by Faith, Not by Performance
"The righteous shall live by faith" Romans 1:17. This was the verse that tormented Martin Luther, who confessed he came not only to fear God but to hate him—because the demand of perfect righteousness exposed his every failure, no matter how many confessions, prayers, or good works he piled up. By grace, God opened the verse to him: we are righteous in Christ. Our deeds do not build a righteousness for us; Christ has already done what we cannot do for ourselves. Every believer is righteous, not because of who they are, but because of who they are in Christ—and that righteous one will live by faith.
What Holds Us Back
The sin of neglecting evangelism touches everyone, whether quiet by nature or quick to speak. Common fears collapse under examination. "I might say something wrong." But to tell someone they are saved by grace through faith is never wrong; to share God's own Word is never wrong. "I lack experience or training." Jesus gave no such caveat to the disciples; there were no seminaries. They knew who he was and who he was in their lives—and that is the same experience every believer brings. "I'm not a salesperson." Evangelism is not sales. Goods can falter and fail; the good news of salvation in Christ alone never erodes, never rusts, never fades. It is a promise eternally golden, resting in God's own love and mercy.
Love That Cannot Stay Put
There is a children's song: "I've got the love of Jesus down in my heart… down in my heart to stay." Some treat that line literally—as if the love of Jesus were locked away inside us. But it is more faithful to sing it this way: down in my heart to stay until it bubbles up and we cannot help but share it. Sharing the gospel does not deplete the love of Christ in us; it digs the roots deeper, cementing that love more firmly in the heart. The joy is not diminished by being given away.
Going Forth
Evangelism is meeting the divine appointments God places in our path—at home, at work, in the classroom, in the grocery line. The message is simple: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. As "Say What?" 3-30-25 urges, go forth this week with eyes open to those God is sending you toward, unashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation, and confident that you who speak it are already righteous in Christ.
Video citations
- "Say What?" 3-30-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the letter to the Romans, this is on page 133. If you are using a Pue edition of the Bible, page 133, we're in Romans chapter 1. While you're looking for…