Have you ever wondered about the future of evangelism? What kind of progress are we going to make for the Gospel in the years ahead? Will we see converts? Will folks continue to accept Christ? The outcome seems bleak, doesn’t it? Even before I offer some practical helps with personal evangelism, I think it is important that you go forward with assurance. The following list offers seven guarantees for continued Gospel progress even in the 21st Century. The Christian can take these scriptural references and go forth to evangelize their neighborhoods, cities, and nations with confidence.
#1 Jesus stated unequivocally that the harvest truly is plentiful (Matthew 9:37-38).
#2 Christ promised that there would be other sheep brought into His fold (John 10:16).
#3 When we evangelize, we go in Christ’s authority (Matthew 28:18) and His presence is with us (Matthew 18:20).
#4 The Lord would not command us to do something that cannot be accomplished (Matthew 28:19).
#5 The Holy Spirit comes alongside us. He testifies even as we witness to Christ (John 15:26-27).
#6 The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-11).
#7 The Gospel is power (Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18) and so is the presence of the Holy Spirit as we declare the truth of Christ (Acts 1:8; 4:33).
As a way to conclude this article, let me give you a bonus encouragement in your own personal evangelism and support of world-wide evangelism. In the Great Commission, the Lord commanded us to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19). When the Apostle John received a vision of heaven, he saw/heard those in heaven singing a new song with the lyrics, “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10; 7:9-10, emphasis added). Here is the connection that is to be made, the encouragement to continue evangelizing with confidence, and the guarantee of continued Gospel progress: what Christ commissioned before leaving earth is ultimately seen fulfilled in heaven. There will be a great multitude of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues who will accept Christ as both Lord and Savior, and one day we will all be gathered before the throne of God and before the Lamb to shout together, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
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