November 4, 2007
Rev. Terry D. Campbell

Special Witnesses to God
Ephesians 4:11-16

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

I. How do you answer life’s key question: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is necessary for people’s salvation?

Without it, there is no real reason for evangelism or evangelist-role Christian.

The world says (and has always said):

• The Egyptians thought the Israelites were strange for worshipping only one God and no others! The Amorites, Hittites, Amalakites and Philistines didn’t understand.
• In the Roman Empire, the Romans didn’t care if Christians worshipped Jesus—but when they would worship Jesus ONLY—and not also say that Caesar is Lord—the persecution of Christians began.
• Today many in the world say that it is narrow-minded to say that there is only one God and that Jesus is necessary for people’s salvation. They say that it’s arrogant to say that. What do you say? It is life’s most basic and key question.

Jesus and the Bible say:

John 14:6-“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

John 1:12-13-“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”

John 5:24-“’I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.’”

Acts 4:12-“’Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’”

1 John 5:11-12-“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Jesus made it clear that God is both loving and just—that means that his perfect love includes being “fair”. All those questions we have about those who have never hear, ect—we can trust that God will “fairly” deal with those. But God brings the question back to us: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is necessary for people’s salvation?

What do you say?

If not, then what is the way to be saved? Any of the major religions? But we can’t be bigoted against the lesser know religions. So we come to accept that all beliefs will bring us to God and salvation because we don’t want to look narrow-minded. Then the way of Hitler is equal to the way of Mother Teresa? Stalin = Jesus?

It can’t be denied that the Bible positively affirms that the way to God is through Jesus Christ along. We can choose to believe what we will, but we need that Biblical witness as we make our decision.

If we answer the question of needing to believe in Jesus with “yes,” it doesn’t mean that you become arrogant, but that you firmly stand on it as the fact of your life! What are you willing to risk for believing it? Your life? Your reputation? Your family’s life? Rejection, embarrassment? I’ve already told my family if the antichrist takes over and we can’t get diabetic medicine unless we bow to him and reject Jesus—I’m not bowing.

Article IX-of the Justification of Man. “We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.”^[i]

II. What is a Christians responsibility?

You are a sanctuary—the Holy Spirit lives in you. People come to a sanctuary to find God and the life that God alone gives. 1 Cor. 6:19-20-“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Whether you are an evangelism-role Christian or not, you still have the responsibility to reflect Jesus Christ and be a testimony for Him in your life and words.

1 Peter 3:15 -“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

2 Corinthians 5:18, 20-“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” We are to act as bridges, helping people to make contact with God.

III. God has special praise for Good News bringers.

What is an evangelism-role Christian about?

God has special praise for God’s Good News bringers!
Romans 10:13-15-“for, ‘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? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

What will you do now?

The work of evangelism-role Christians is important and one we need to be continually reminded of in the United Methodist Church. We haven’t always treated them as respectfully as we should. But their work is God’s work. May they continually help inspire us to go and make disciples of all nations! Amen.