Why Do Evangelism?

Mark Dever, pastor of Capital Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC and founder of 9 Marks began the 2009 Desiring God Pastor's Conference that is centering on the theme of Evangelism. Denver spent much of this initial sermon establishing a foundational and unified understanding of the Gospel. With much misunderstanding and further watering down of the Gospel, Dever worked systematically through this important truth. To summarize, the Gospel is God's redemptive work, for fallen humanity, through the substitutionary and voluntary atonement of Jesus Christ, obtained through repentance and faith of the the recipient.

Once establishing what the Gospel is, Dever shared three reasons why we need to share the Gospel. First, we share the Gospel because we want to obey the command of our Lord. Obedience to the Great Commission is essential in our motives for sharing Christ. Secondly, we share the Gospel because we love the lost. We understand that lack of purpose is not man's problem but the wrath of God, condemnation, eventual accountability to God and eternity in the torments of Hell ARE man's problems. A love for the lost evidences itself in telling them about Jesus Christ, who is the only answer to those problems. Thirdly, we share the Gospel because we desire to see God glorified. God does everything for his glory, especially the salvation of lost sinners and he uses the Gospel to bring glory to himself and we desire that more than anything.

It was a great beginning to what should be a challenging conference!