LESSON 23

CHRISTIAN

WITNESSING

WHY WITNESS?

Matthew 28:19-20

• 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Why Witness?

1) It is one of Christ’s commands

and a part of our ministry.

2 Corinthians 5:14

• 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

Why Witness?

1) It is one of Christ’s commands

and a part of our ministry.

2) Out of love for Christ, patterned

after God’s love.

2 Peter 3:9

• 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Romans 10:13-14

• 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Why Witness?

1) It is one of Christ’s commands

and a part of our ministry.

2) Out of love for Christ, patterned

after God’s love.

3) Out of love for our fellowman,

for whom Jesus also died.

WHERE WITNESS?

Mark 5:19

• 19Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Where Witness?

1) Personally, in our own lives (at home, work, school, etc.)

Acts 13:2-3

    2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and

Where Witness?

1) Personally, in our own lives (at home, work, school, etc.)

2) Supportively, throughout the world (missionary support)

GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE

(one way to tell a

friend about the Savior)

God’s Great Exchange

Approach #1:

Our greatest need: to be in a right relationship with God …. Are you?

1) If you were to die tonight, are you sure you would have eternal life?

2) If you were to die tonight and stand before God, and He were to ask you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” what would you tell Him?

God’s Great Exchange

Approach #2:

Whatever the situation, the problem will be solved (or you’ll be given the ability to cope with it) when you are in a right relationship with God. This is our greatest need.

How can you tell if you are in a right relationship with God?

WHAT GOD DEMANDS1. There are 2 things that must happen for a person to be in a right relationship with God:

a. You must have holiness.

1) Leviticus 19:2 – “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

2) Galatians 3:10 – “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

WHAT GOD DEMANDS1. There are 2 things that must happen for a person to be in a right relationship with God:

b. You must have no sins.

1) Isaiah 59:2 – “Your iniquities have separated you from your God.”

2) Romans 6:23a – “The wages of sin is death.”

WHAT GOD DEMANDS

+ holiness

- sins

= life

WHAT GOD SEES2. God demands that He see no sin, that He see only holiness. But what does He see?

a. Looking at us, He sees people who lack holiness.

Isaiah 64:6 – “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.”

b. He sees sinners.Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

c. He sees people who are deserving of death, not life.

WHAT GOD SEES

- holiness

+ sins

= death

MAN-MADE REMEDIES

3. What can we do about this?

a. You might think, “Guess I’ll have to try harder,” but that won’t remove sin or make you perfectly holy, will it?

MAN-MADE REMEDIES

3. What can we do about this?

b. Or you might determine to make up for every sin with a good deed. But that doesn’t remove sin.

MAN-MADE REMEDIES

3. What can we do about this?

c. Or you might think, “I’m not perfect; but at least I’m better than many others”. But God expects you to compare yourself to Him and His perfect holiness.

MAN-MADE REMEDIES

3. What can we do about this?d. All such self-help efforts are doomed to fail.

Try Harder Balancing Act Comparison

GOD’S REMEDY4. ONLY God has the remedy. His remedy might be called GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE.

a. He sent His only Son into the world to become one of us.

b. His Son lived a perfectly holy life – in our place.

c. His Son died on a cross, paying the wages of sin in our place; for “the Lord laid on Him the

iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

GOD’S REMEDY4. ONLY God has the remedy. His remedy might be called GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE.d. God has credited the perfect life of Jesus and His

death for sin to our account: 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Him who had no sin to be, sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

e. His son rose from the grave, guaranteeing our redemption: Romans 4:25 – “He was raised to life for our justification.”

f. The result: we have the holiness (Jesus’ holiness) and the removal of sin we need for life. What God requires of us – holiness and sinlessness – God gives to us.

GOD’S REMEDY

+ holiness

- sin

= LIFE

+ holiness

- sin

= LIFE

my sins

Jesus’ holiness

GOD’S GREAT EXCHANGE

GOD’S PROMISE

5. This new life is yours as a gift.a. Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death, but the

gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

b. God promises you: Acts 16:31 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (put your trust and

confidence in Him as one who lived a holy life and died for you in your place) and you will be saved.”

c. God produces faith and new life through the Gospel: Romans 1:16 – “The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

Forgiveness

New Life

Salvation

Forgiveness

New Life

Salvation

God’s Word (Bible)

“The Means of Grace”

(Baptism) Sacraments (Lord’s Supper)

Gospel

God’s Reservoir

GOD’S PROMISE

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

a. new life right now

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”

new life right now

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

b. eternal life in heaven

John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

new life right now

eternal life

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

c. freedom from guilt

Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

d. fruits of faith

Galatians 5:22-23 – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

e. power for daily living

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

f. answers to prayer

Psalm 50:15 – “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

g. guidance for your daily life

Psalm 119:105 – “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

guidance for live

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

h. strengthening fellowship of other believers

Ephesians 2:19 – “You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

guidance for live

Christian fellowship

BLESSINGS THAT FOLLOW6. Once you are in a proper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then many spiritual blessings from God are yours, such as:

i. assurance of God’s love in every situation

Romans 8:28 – “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”

new life right now

eternal life

freedom from guilt

fruits of faith

power for living

answers to prayer

guidance for live

Christian fellowship

assurance of God’s love

FOLLOW-UP

7. Since faith and new life in Jesus Christ comes and grows through the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23, 2:2), you need to stay close to God’s Word.

KEY TRUTHS

• Lesson Twenty-Three: We witness because it is one of Christ’s ___________,

• we witness out of _____ for Christ and out of ______ for our fellowman. One way to tell others about Jesus is by talking about God’s Great Exchange.

Key Truths

• 1. What God demands

• 2. What God sees

• 3. Man-made remedies

• 4. God’s remedy

• 5. God’s promise

• 6. Blessings that follow

Closing Prayer

• We all are called to service,

to witness in God’s name.

Our ministries are different,

our purpose is the same:

To touch the lives of others

by God’s fantastic grace

To spread the love of Jesus

in every time and place. Amen