OUR CHARGE TO TEACH THE LOST

(King James Bible, rightly divided)

Introduction

God has already settled how the Body of Christ is to face a world of unbelief. He did not leave us to invent a mission. He gave us a clear charge through the apostle Paul. We have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation, so that we speak for Christ and urge sinners to be reconciled to God. See 2 Corinthians 5:18 to 20. Our task is to preach among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery. See Ephesians 3:8 to 9. This is not a seasonal program but a continual ambassadorship. It rests on the finished cross work and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and it operates by clear words spoken in grace and truth.

1) Our commission in Paul

When Paul says God has given to us the ministry and word of reconciliation he explains exactly what we carry and why. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has committed unto us that word. See 2 Corinthians 5:19. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech through us. The Lord made Paul a minister to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery. See Ephesians 3:8 to 9. Paul then binds that public preaching to a standing command, preach the word, be instant in season, out of season. See 2 Timothy 4:2. God wills all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth, and for this Paul was ordained a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. See 1 Timothy 2:3 to 7. From the saints at Thessalonica the word of the Lord sounded out, which shows that established assemblies do not hide the message, they broadcast it. See 1 Thessalonians 1:8. We hold forth the word of life and pray that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. See Philippians 2:16 and 2 Thessalonians 3:1.

2) What we proclaim to the lost

The saving message is specific. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. See 1 Corinthians 15:3 to 4. That death was a blood atonement in our place. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. See Ephesians 1:7. God set forth Christ to be a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins. See Romans 3:24 to 26. The sinner is justified freely by grace without works, not by deeds of the law, not by religious effort, not by ordinances. See Titus 3:5 to 7 and Galatians 2:16. We do not offer ourselves, we offer Christ. We do not promise self improvement, we announce a finished payment and a risen Saviour who saves all who believe.

3) How we carry the message

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. How shall they hear without a preacher. See Romans 10:14 to 17. Ambassadors therefore speak plainly. Paul refused enticing words of man’s wisdom so that faith would stand in the power of God. See 1 Corinthians 2:1 to 5. We preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. See 2 Corinthians 4:5. Our speech is to be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know how we ought to answer every man. See Colossians 4:6. The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. See 2 Timothy 2:24 to 26. We also pray for open doors and clarity. Pray for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. See Colossians 4:3 to 4.

4) Why the epistles are written to saints

Paul’s letters are addressed to the saints to establish them in sound doctrine so that the gospel advances with clarity and power. To Rome he writes that he longs to see them to the end they may be established. See Romans 1:11. To Colosse he explains his stewardship is to fulfil the word of God, even the mystery now made manifest to the saints. See Colossians 1:25 to 27. To Thessalonica he exhorts them to stand fast and hold the traditions taught by word or epistle. See 2 Thessalonians 2:15. To Timothy he defines the assembly as the pillar and ground of the truth. See 1 Timothy 3:15. God’s pattern is simple. Preaching reaches the lost. Epistles ground the saved. Grounded saints then sound out the word of the Lord so that others hear the same saving message.

5) To whom we go and why it is urgent

Our message is to all without distinction. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. See Romans 1:16. There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. See Romans 3:22 to 23 and Romans 10:12 to 13. God will have all men to be saved, which includes neighbors and nations, rulers and common people. See 1 Timothy 2:1 to 6. The time is always now because today is the day of salvation. See 2 Corinthians 6:2. Ambassadors do not wait for perfect conditions. They speak when doors are open and they speak when doors are narrow, always with the same Christ centered content.

6) Obstacles we expect and how we answer them

If our gospel is hid it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them. See 2 Corinthians 4:3 to 4. We answer blindness with light and error with truth. We put on the whole armour of God so that we may stand against the wiles of the devil, and we use the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God while praying always. See Ephesians 6:11 to 18. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, yet to us which are saved it is the power of God. See 1 Corinthians 1:18. We do not remove the offence of the cross. We remove unnecessary offences by a gracious manner and a clean life so that the ministry is not blamed. See 2 Corinthians 6:3.

7) Practical blueprint for everyday ambassadorship

Begin with prayer for open doors and for boldness and clarity. Keep a short list of names for whom you pray daily by name. Carry a verse ready on your tongue. First Corinthians 15:3 to 4 and Ephesians 1:7 will anchor your words. Learn to say the gospel in one minute. Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He rose again the third day, and through His blood God offers full forgiveness to all who believe. Ask simple questions that reveal need. What do you trust to deal with your sins. Would you be willing to read two verses that show how God saves. Offer scripture before opinion and let the word work. Leave people with a verse and an invitation to talk again. Follow up with patience. Remember that knowledge puffeth up but charity edifieth. See 1 Corinthians 8:1. Aim for profit and edification so that your liberty and your speech help another to take a step toward Christ. See 1 Corinthians 10:23 to 24 and Romans 14:19.

8) Guardrails that keep the message pure

Keep the content fixed on Christ and His cross. Do not add works before or after faith as conditions to be saved. To him that worketh not but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness. See Romans 4:5. By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works. See Ephesians 2:8 to 9. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us. See Titus 3:5. Keep the context Pauline so that hearers learn Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which establishes them. See Romans 16:25. Keep the tone gracious so that your words adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. See Titus 2:10.

Summary

Our charge to teach the lost stands clear in Paul’s epistles. God made us ambassadors and placed in our mouths the word of reconciliation. We are to preach Christ and Him crucified, risen, and sufficient, and we are to proclaim redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. We speak plainly, we pray earnestly, we live honestly, and we make all men see the fellowship of the mystery. This is the reasonable service of a people bought with a price and made stewards of the gospel of the grace of God.