Saturday, February 16, 2013

Five Bible Verses on Spreading the Good News

1. Matthew 10:33 But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

In Matthew 10:33 we see that Jesus is very serious about our mission to spread the good news. How often do we not discuss our faith because it's not considered socially acceptable? That's something I went along with for a long time. It didn't seem right though. Who is society to say what I may talk about? I have freedom of speech, or at least I used to in America by law. However free will is God given, not granted by the state. There are ways to bring up faith without offending people. The key is to discuss it from your own experience. Use "I" instead of "you." Tell them about what good it has done in your life. Don't even suggest it for theirs! People want to believe they've made their own decision. So just show them by example, but do at least mention how content you are in Christ!

2. 1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God

We are told in John that we will know God's people by how they confess the truth of Jesus. The ones who do not are not of God. So this just reinforces that as Christians we must tell others about our faith. How else will other Christians know us? We confess the truth to ourselves, to God, and to other people. We are told in this passage that by seeing others do this and doing it ourselves the spirit of God himself is revealed! How amazing is that!?

3. 1 John 4:3 And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

This is the passage directly after the one above. We are told that every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. In fact we are told those who do not are actually of similar spirit to the antichrist. The antichrist is prophesied in Revelation. The antichrist will be the direct opposite of the true Christ. He will attempt to come and deceive all the nations of the earth by attempting to fulfill the same prophecies as the true Christ will! This is why I get so heated when people tell me they don't really read Revelation or watch for end time events being fulfilled. You are told in the Bible to be watchful! It will not be as obvious as you might think in the end times. I see many in the church already being deceived in thinking that the United States can do no wrong, and all these wars are for the middle east's own good. Open up your eyes, and view with no bias the events of the end times. The antichrist and his father are cunning and will try to fool us. They are already fooling us into submission and apathy.

4. Romans 10:9-11 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

Jesus will return and judge those in the world who have not accepted him as payment for their sins. We are told in Romans to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord! We are also reminded to believe in our hearts that he was raised from the dead. Then we are saved. With our hearts, our emotional center do we believe. And through this, justified. With our mouths we confess to others the truth. We are then saved. Everyone who believes in Christ will not be judged. This is a wonderful gift!

5. 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

In Corinthians we learn that we were sent to preach the gospel. That's why I relate everything directly to scripture in these writings. We need not use eloquent words of wisdom, for this comes from us and not from God. The word of God is perfect! The power of it is shown to me more and more everyday. The perfection of the way it was written is unbelievable. Yet there it is, for us to learn from. And we must learn from it. The more we go into it, the more like Christ we become. Matching the behavior of Christ is essential, as he came and showed us that a perfect life can be lived. We are told at the end of this verse that using eloquent wisdom can empty the sacrifice of Christ of it's incredible power! That's the last thing we'd want to do. Stick to scripture, that's where the truth is. It's a gift from God, it truly is.