eternal values ministries

GOSPEL WITNESS LESSON 101

As Christians we must learn how to be good witnesses of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. A witness is someone who gives an account of something seen or heard. In a court of law you must be an actual eyewitness or hearing witness. You cannot be a hearsay or eye say witness of what somebody saw or said. It must be a first hand account of what you saw or heard.

So it is with us who are Christians. Our message of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ must be a first hand account. We cannot just repeat what the prophets and apostles wrote down. Though their account in the gospels are actual first hand accounts of what they saw and heard :

1 JN. 1.1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

In order to be a real witness of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ you must be born again. The meaning of this new birth is to be BORN FROM ABOVE. This is a spiritual conception by the Holy Spirit in our own spirit. This is where the gospel becomes alive in us; we serve a risen Savior.

1Peter 1.3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…

Jn.1.10

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Only by this living relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ can we have first hand knowledge of HIS GOSPEL. Without this holy birth by the Holy Spirit we have no relationship with the Father.

JN.15.1

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

As the Holy Ghost moved upon these men they spoke the word of God, this is prophecy. What they wrote down is scripture. Our authority as witnesses comes from scripture. As we read the word the Holy Spirit in us gives us the understanding. It is this first hand living knowledge that is needed to be a true witness of the gospel. We were not there as the writers who were eyewitnesses, but through the illumination of the Holy Ghost who lives in us their eyewitness account becomes ours also.

2 Peter 1.16

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Tim. 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Inspiration means God breathed. We can also have this breath of God as we preach, teach and witness for the Lord. Without this you may preach, teach, witness but there is no living power of God. This is why many Christians live defeated lives.

1 Corinthians 3:1

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

2 Thes.3.10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Therefore brethren we must live our lives pleasing unto the Lord if we are to be His witnesses. Serious Christians walk with the Lord. If we should sin we quickly admit our sin, confess it and are cleansed. This then keeps us right with God and our fellow man.

1Jn. 1.6

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Now your witness has authority and power to do His work. The grace of God operates through your obedience to His word.

1 Peter 1. 22

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Pe 1:24

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

1Pe 1:25

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

GOSPEL WITNESS LESSON 102 : the law worketh wrath.

Now we have understood that good witnesses are holy people separated unto the Lord. The word of God is our guide. There is a blindness on the human soul that must be penetrated using the word of God. The scripture is clear that Satan is the prince of this world.

[Eph 2:1-10 KJV] 1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Our condition, the condition of all of mankind is dead in trespasses and sins. Their is no life of God in us; zero. Notice it is God who quickens, makes alive. You must have a solid conviction of this.

[Rom 3:10-20 KJV] 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: 14 Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery [are] in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

We also lived as the dead, separated from God. Satan laid out a course for our lives according to this world's standard. We lived for the devil, this world and ourselves.

Our lifestyle ( conversation ) could only be about our desires, our passions, our lusts. It was impossible to do anything else for we were spiritually dead to God. The LORD'S wrath was upon us. Our destination was the Lake of Fire. Rev.20

BUT GOD had a plan for our lives: [Rom 3:19-20 KJV] 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

Here is where the mercy and grace of God comes in. Condemned sinners(and rightly so)by God's holy law. The law cannot save us for we cannot keep it. The purpose of the law is to bring us to Christ.

[Rom 4:13-25 KJV] 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression. 16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

The apostle Paul in Roman 4 lays out for us why salvation must be by promise. This way the fulfillment is upon God to keep His word. If it were by the 10 commandments and our obedience to the moral law, then salvation would be upon us. One of the greatest religious deceptions that has kept men in darkness is believing that they are good.

[Mar 10:17-18 KJV] 17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God.

What is good is a matter of interpretation. To be a good witness for the Lord Jesus Christ one must put the word of God above personal feelings and receive it by faith. Goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Only God is good. Therefore the true measurement of goodness comes to us from the heights of glory, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Heb 1:3

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;...

Act 2:23

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Act 2:24

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

The deception of one's goodness is rooted in pride. No amount logical, reasonable argument can loose them from the iron grip of Satan, but the Lord himself.

[2Ti 2:24-26 KJV] 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

So how do we lose them from the enemy? Remember, it must be by grace through faith for salvation is the promise of the Lord. We must destroy ( albeit gently ) any goodness that people perceive that they have. This is the work of God to convict men of their sins against God. Without conviction of sin and repentance there can be no salvation.

Jn.16.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove ( convict ) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

Acts 20.2 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

As you witness to someone the Holy Spirit starts to show you things in a person's life that you can use to bring them to conviction. As you practice the ministry of reconciliation given to all who believe, for all believers are to be witnesses.

Heb 5:13

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

[Rom 10:12-17 KJV] 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

NOW GO AND WITNESS