Preach the Good News, Not Condemnation (Bible Study)

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel (good news) to every creature.” Mark 16:15 (NKJV).

I am yet to find out where we got the kind of message we preach whenever we go for evangelism. Why should we spend one hour on a street or in a bus preaching sin? Don’t get me wrong, we must rebuke sin, but that is not our message to unbelievers.

A sinner cannot stop sinning because that is his nature. A sinner needs help to stop sinning. A sinner needs supernatural assistance to stop sinning. That supernatural assistance is salvation, and they can only receive salvation when we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2) and encourage them to receive Him into their hearts.

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According to Wikipedia, “Gospel originally meant the Christian message, but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out; in this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth, culminating in his trial and death and concluding with various reports of his post-resurrection appearances.”

The gospel is the Good News of personal salvation through Jesus Christ. It also exemplifies God’s strategy to redeem and reconcile mankind to Himself. Good news is simply announcing to the whole world God’s love towards mankind and how Jesus Christ died on the cross to redeem us; and encouraging them to receive Him into their hearts.

In the New Testament, the Greek word euaggelion, means “good news.” It also means the good tidings or glad tidings. The glad tidings of the Kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom.

After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered and died on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God.

Good news means the glad tidings of salvation through Christ. The proclamation of the grace of God that we received through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Good news is telling people about Jesus Christ, His deeds, and His death.

Whenever you stand on the street or in a bus to preach, your message is not how people will die and go to hell, but how Jesus Christ loved them so much and died for them. Of course, you should show people the danger of rejecting Jesus Christ, but the central theme of your message is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

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Let us see how the Apostles and others preached to sinners.

Talking about Philip, Luke reported;

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.” Acts 8:5 (NKJV).

Brother Philip preached Jesus Christ, not sin. He presented Christ to them and encouraged them to make Him the Lord of their lives so that they can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Believers, especially evangelists are like salespeople, and the only product we are selling is Jesus Christ. Stop selling fear and start selling the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Let’s see other places in the Bible.

“³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” Acts 8:35.

After Paul encountered Jesus on the way to Damascus, he was directed to Ananias, and this was what he said to Paul:

Acts 9:17: “¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

After the encounter, Paul started preaching. This was his first message:

“²⁰ Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” Acts 9:20.

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“²² But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 9:22.

Look at Peter’s sermon at the house of Cornelius: Acts 10:36-46:

“³⁶ The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— ³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

⁴² And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” (NKJV).

The power of God was kindled when Peter preached Christ, not how a Gentile like Cornelius was disqualified since they were considered sinners. He preached Jesus Christ and the people believed, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit with the evident of speaking in tongues.

Souls will be saved when we preach Jesus to them. Telling them how terrible sin is won’t stop them from sinning tomorrow. A sinner cannot stop sinning no matter what you tell him because he lacks the power to stop sinning. In fact, he is a sinner. He needs the transforming power of salvation to stop sinning. Telling him that sin is bad is a waste of time. He can’t help himself; he needs to receive Jesus Christ to stop sinning.

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To stop sinning, John said,

“⁹ Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9 (NKJV).

A sinner needs Jesus Christ to stop sinning. When he receives Jesus, the seed of salvation will be planted into his spirit, and the power of sin will be broken forever. He will now have the supernatural ability to resist sin.

Paul the great said;

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NKJV). 

Jesus Christ paid for the sin of unbelievers in advance. Tell them to reciprocate His love for them. Encourage them to receive the free gift of salvation. 

Above all, you need the leading of the Holy Spirit whenever you go out for evangelism. Philip joined the chariot and started preaching from the passage the man was reading. Jesus starting preaching from a discussion over water and well with the woman in John chapter 4. Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

Preach with compassion. People are going through a lot. Do not compound their problem. Your message should exemplify the love of God. They should feel His love through your words. Condemning people won’t force them to change. Rather, they will see you as an enemy. Preach Jesus Christ, not sin!

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If you want to recieve Jesus into your heart, say this short prayer and believe it from your heart:

Lord Jesus, I belive that you died to rescue me from damnation. Come into my heart and save me. I declare today that You are my Lord and personal Saviour. I am saved. I am born again. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

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