So let’s say you wish to explain the gospel to a friend, a workmate or a total stranger: What are the basic issues you should raise as you share the gospel? What are your talking points? How can you bring an unbeliever to the discovery that he/she needs Jesus Christ as Saviour?
In this article we will look at about 6 talking points to help guide your conversation as you share the gospel of Jesus Christ to others.
Sharing the gospel should be an important part of every Christian believer’s life. You don’t have to be an ordained minister to evangelize or to share the gospel to others. The gospel must be shared by every Christian because every Christian believer has been given the mandate to share the gospel of Christ or to share the Christian faith.
You also do not need to be ashamed to share the gospel even if people try to mock you, scoff or discourage you from sharing the gospel. You do not need to fear sharing your faith or allow anyone to think that you’re not qualified to share the gospel (Romans 1:16).
The gospel is the most important message that everyone needs to hear because at its core this message speaks of the love of God and the sacrifice that He made to save humanity.
So in order to be able to explain the gospel to others, you must have some understanding of what the gospel means and you must understand the essential elements of the gospel message.
WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?
The word “gospel” means good news and so the gospel is the message of God’s redemption plan for mankind which was completed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Without Jesus Christ man faces eternal punishment and separation from God because of sin. The good news is that God offers us salvation and eternal life as a free gift because of the debt for sin which Christ paid on the cross.
The true gospel is defined in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and these scriptures clearly define the essential elements of the gospel message. The gospel message speaks about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and why His finished work on the cross is of importance to humanity.
In 1 Corinthians 2:2 it says: For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
So the focal point of the gospel message (and the entire Bible in context) is on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, so that He may save humanity from the power of sin and death.
The gospel message is important because it is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).
Therefore our explanation of the gospel must always point people to Jesus Christ and the cross. Our explanation of the gospel must bring people to a realization that they need Jesus Christ and that without Him they will face certain doom. The gospel will always exalt Christ and the price He paid with His blood for the salvation of man.
John 3:16-17 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
6 TIPS or TALKING POINTS AS YOU SHARE THE GOSPEL TO SOMEONE
Where possible it is also important use scripture as you share your faith (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Below are some talking points to guide your conversation with an unbeliever as you explain the gospel or share your Christian faith.
1. Talk about sin. Explain how sin came into the world through Adam & Eve (Genesis 3:1-24). Explain how the whole of humanity inherited the sin nature because of Adam (Romans 5:12-13, Romans 3:23)
2. Talk about the temporary and eternal consequences of sin. The ultimate penalty for sin and choosing to live without Christ is eternal punishment (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8, Galatians 5:19-21).
3. Talk about Jesus Christ coming to save sinners. In the world nobody is perfect. We are all sinners who cannot pay to God the price for our sins. So explain that Jesus was crucified on the cross to pay the debt for sin that we could not pay ourselves (Luke 19:10, Luke 5:31-32).
4. Explain that salvation and eternal forgiveness of sin is offered by God as a free gift. Talk about the love and grace of God and that one does not need to earn his/her salvation through works because Jesus redeemed us by His blood and by His sufficient work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5).
5. Explain that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven.Christ alone is the Mediator between God and man. Without Christ we cannot be reconciled to God or have a relationship with Him. Therefore explain that salvation is through no one else but Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, Acts 4:12).
6. Explain that salvation is received through believing or faith in Jesus Christas Lord and Saviour(John 1:12, Romans 10:9-13). You can ask the person to make a decision to accept Christ through faith and commit to becoming a follower of Jesus Christ.
The above are Biblical guidelines. Of course it’s always possible that the Holy Spirit may guide you in a different way or through a different method. However the focal point of the gospel will always be about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore even as the Holy Spirit guides you, His purpose will be to glorify Christ alone and to convert people because of the gospel. John 16:8 says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
Jesus says the following about the work of the Holy Spirit in John 16:14: “He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you”
Therefore the work of the Holy Spirit will always be to glorify Christ and point people to the gospel.
Even as you share your personal testimony of faith, let your testimony reflect the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour because He has redeemed you from the power of sin through His death on the cross. Let it also be known that God has adopted you to become a child of God because of His love and grace and not because of your personal effort or works.
Some Important Things To Remember When You Share The Gospel
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you during every conversation you have with anyone as you share the gospel (John 14:26, John 15:13-15, Acts 1:8)
Don’t be ashamed or afraid to share the true gospel (Romans 1:16). People might mock you or discourage you from sharing the gospel – including professing Christians – but remain steadfast in sharing the true gospel message.
Only the Holy Spirit has the power to genuinely convert a person and to bring that person to repentance (John 15:8-11). Your job is to simply share the word of God. Your job is to share the gospel and let God do the rest.
Be a person who studies the word of God and rightly divides it (2 Timothy 2:15)
Therefore the true gospel always leads back to Jesus Christ and the cross. Unlike many of the false gospels, the true gospel exalts the work of Christ and not the work of man.
Conclusion
May the Lord guide you and may the Holy Spirit equip you whenever you share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Inspired Walk is dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and providing a Biblical defense for the Christian faith. This ministry also seeks to provide answers to curious questions and alternative topics from a Biblical worldview. Read More ...
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