Evangelism is a mission appointed to all God’s people everywhere. It is a message from the Creator to all mankind. The message is of God’s work in making His Son a Savior for sinners. Evangelism is God’s invitation to mankind to come to the Savior and find life. God commands all men everywhere to repent, and promises forgiveness to all who do.

We, as Christians are sent into the world as God’s messengers and Christ’s ambassadors, to broadcast this message as broadly as we can. This is our duty because God commands it, and also a privilege because it is a great thing to speak for God. Our job, then, is to go to our fellowmen and inform them of the gospel of Christ and try to make it plain to them; to remove, as best we can, any difficulties that they may find in it, to impress them with its importance, and to urge them to respond to it. This is our enduring responsibility; it is a basic part of our Christian calling.

Evangelism is necessary, because no man can be saved without the gospel. ‘There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek,’ proclaims Paul; ‘for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (Jesus Christ) shall be saved.’ Yes, but nobody will be saved who does not call upon the name of the Lord, and certain things must happen before any man can do this. So Paul continues, ‘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?’[Romans 10:12.] They must be told of Christ before they can trust Him, and they must trust Him before they can be saved by Him. Salvation depends on faith, and faith on knowing the gospel. God’s way of saving sinners is to bring them to faith by bringing them into contact with the gospel. Evangelism is a necessity if anyone is to be saved at all.

Men without Christ are lost. ‘Except ye repent,’ said our Lord to the crowd, ‘ye shall all perish.’[Luke 13:3] And we who are Christ’s are sent to tell them of the only one who can save them from perishing. This makes evangelism a matter of urgency for us. The world is full of people who are unaware that they stand under the wrath of God. It is a matter of urgency that we should go to them, and try to arouse them, and show them the means of escape.