TALKING ABOUT CHRIST MAKES DISCIPLES
Give the Bread of Life, not mere bread.
The only way to be saved is to seek God and ask him through prayer. Paul goes to great lengths to show that no one can know the righteousness of God by establishing a righteousness of their own (Romans 10:3). My good works, my efforts to obey God’s law all fall short of the perfection of love that God requires (Romans 3:23; 7:14-19; 1 Corinthians 13:3). What I need is the righteousness that comes from God and is a gift earned on our behalf by the perfect obedience of his Son and his atoning death on the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).
Without knowing about God’s gift, people invariably seek wisdom from spirits (powers who live in the spiritual realm) or from the human philosophies that seem to resonate with their inner questionings. As a result, they continue to live in ignorance. They follow gods that are no gods at all. They think that they have a special word from the beyond when in fact they are in bondage to authorities and powers that operate in rebellion against the one creator God. They think they know but in fact they do not. In all the noise that surrounds them, they need to listen to the voice of God. That voice is the word that comes from Christ.
The word of Christ comes to us in two ways. First, it comes to us in the Bible. We need to search the scriptures to find it and understand it. And second, his word comes to us through the testimony of believers–through sinners who repent, believe in Christ, and profess that Jesus is Lord. Paul writes, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). The follower of Christ tells others, “I know the One who came from God. I’m walking the way that he has opened for me. I haven’t yet arrived in heaven, but I see clearly the way. By his word and Spirit, Jesus is leading me day by day. I’m turning from my sin and the ways of this world, and I’m turning to God and obeying his teaching. Come, walk with me. I’ll explain how Jesus is leading me and how he’s changing me to become like him. Come, be my companion along this road.” (John 14:6; Ephesians 4:21-23; Colossians 3:1-17).
Every follower of Christ should understand that people are calling out for salvation, even though they may not acknowledge it. They are searching for help and calling out for God to show mercy to them. The problem is that a passing satisfaction is accepted as an answer to their search. When that no longer works, they search for something else. All the while, they are passing by the door that opens to the true Creator who made them.
Every follower of Christ should also understand that he or she is God’s messenger to speak about Jesus and how he is the one true Lord and Savior. Paul writes, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, 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? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? . . . Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:13-17). The sending of every believer comes from Christ himself, who on the day of his resurrection, said to his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). To equip them for this task, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). Confirming this word, Jesus told his disciples just before returning to heaven, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
To feed the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless, offer justice to victims, and protection for the weak, do not in themselves bring people to worship God and obey his commands. Many times, it only feeds human self-esteem, wants and desires. Nine of the lepers that Jesus healed walked away while only one returned to give thanks and to praise God (Luke 17:15-16). Five-thousand men ate of the fish and loaves that Jesus blessed and then multiplied so that everyone had their fill. Later, they found Jesus because they were looking for more. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval” (John 6:26-27). Jesus went on, “The bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33); and Jesus went further, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). After further explanation, Jesus told them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves” (John 6:43). “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of Spirit and life” (John 6:63).
John draws this account to a close with these words, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66). God showers mankind with his blessings, his rain and sun, and yet the evil and unjust continue their wicked way (Matthew 5:45).
The twelve disciples, however, stayed with Jesus. Jesus asked them, “You want to leave too, do you?” but Simon Peter speaking for all of them replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:67-69).
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both” (1 Corinthians 6:13). Health, family, food, clothing, and shelter all have value, but they only last for this life. Rich people do not take anything with them when they die, even though they spent their whole life working hard to accumulate for themselves as much as they could. At the same time poor people fret about the necessities of life and long for the financial security that the rich enjoy. This, too, is a seeking after that which does not satisfy. Both are serving money, not God. Greed in all its forms is nothing more than idolatry (Matthew 6:24-25, 33-34; Colossians 3:5).
Every Christian is equipped to talk about the gospel, the good news of eternal life. They are equipped because they believe. They know their sin and moral weakness and are free to confess it, as embarrassing as it is. They know that God loves them and has proved this love by sending his Son to be an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus paid the price of our forgiveness. They humbly submit to God’s will, and work to obey it even when they repeatedly fail. Their testimony is the story of God’s wonderful love. They are always pointing to Jesus Christ who is sufficient for everything. They talk about Jesus because they need God to forgive them when they fail. They talk about him when they succeed because they don’t want anyone to think that their goodness is a result of their own natural ability or valiant effort.
If you are a follower of Christ and have received his mercy, love and compassion, be sure to help anyone in need as the Lord has prospered you. Give time, money, food, clothing and helpful counsel. You are investing in eternal riches (Luke 12:33-34). That’s eternal riches for yourself, even though the gift is an earthly, passing blessing. If you would like people in need to share eternal riches with you and become part of Father’s family and dwell in his house forever, then tell them about the good news of Jesus Christ. Share how you received God’s forgiveness and grace. Urge them to turn from their worldly way, trust in Jesus, and dedicate their lives to his praise and service. There is no greater gift than that. They become heirs of eternal joy right now no matter what situation in life they are now passing through.
Chuck Uken, October 27, 2022
