52 Bible Verses about evangelism, motivation for
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For this I was establish'd the herald, the apostle, and doctor of the Gentiles. this has drawn upon me the evils I suffer.
then he said, the God of our fathers has singled you out to be acquainted with his will, to see the just one, and to hear the words of his mouth: that you might testify to all men, what you have seen and heard.
for this I was establish'd a herald and an apostle, I speak the truth without disguise, a doctor to instruct the Gentiles in the true faith.
for in barely preaching the gospel, I have nothing to glory in: because I am under an obligation to do it; yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel. now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged.
according to the free gift of God bestowed upon me, I, as a skilful architect, have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. but let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. for no one can lay any other foundation, than what is laid, which is, that Jesus is the Messias. now if upon this foundation somebody builds gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: he that builds such work,read more.
will be expos'd. for the time of tryal will show it: it shall be discovered by the fire, which will put each sort of work to the test. if the work abide which somebody has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. if that man's work should be burnt, he will suffer loss: but should he himself escape, it will be as out of the fire.
for we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ; that every one may receive the retribution, according as his actions in the body were either good or evil. Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.
for tho' I am independent of all men, yet have I subjected myself to all, that I might gain the more. to the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; to those who are without the law, as without that law, (not as being under no law to God, but as under the law to Christ) that I might gain those who are without the law.read more.
to the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I became all things to all men, that I might save all sorts of men. and I do all for the gospel's sake, that I may share in the benefits thereof.
how I have serv'd the Lord with all resignation, with tears, and trials occasion'd by the insidious practices of the Jews: that I have conceal'd nothing that might be useful to you, but have inform'd you of it, and instructed you therein, both in publick and in private:
I owe what service I can do to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, to the learned, and to the illiterate. so, that as far as it depends upon me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also, who are at Rome.
I call Christ, and the holy spirit to witness with my conscience, that I speak the truth without guile, when I say, that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart. for I could wish to be as one anathematiz'd from the christian church for my brethren, who are of the same race as my self,
if I could by any means excite the emulation of my dear countrymen, in order to save some.
I have therefore matter of glorying thro' Jesus Christ, with respect to divine service. for I will not offer to mention any thing, but what Christ has wrought by me, to make the Gentiles christians, both in profession and practice: by virtue of the miracles and prodigies wrought by the power of the divine spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and the neighbouring country, quite to Illyricum,read more.
I have effectually preached the gospel of Christ: yet so as studiously to avoid preaching it where Christ was owned, lest I should build upon another man's foundation; for,
we then are ambassadors for Christ, and 'tis God who makes you the offers by us: we pray you in the name of Christ, to make your peace with God.
that the retrieving of a sinner from his erroneous habits, is saving a soul from ruin, and cancels a multitude of sins.
the Lord does not delay the accomplishment of his promise, as some do imagine. but he waits with patience upon our account, as being unwilling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
to this I am urg'd by the love I bear to Christ, persuaded as I am, that if one died for all, then were all in a dying state: and that he died for all, that they who are in a state of life should not live at their own discretion, but to the service of him who died for them, and rose again.
Now this is all owing to God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath made us the ministers of this reconciliation; for it is God that has reconciled the world to himself, by Jesus Christ, by not imputing their sins to them; and hath committed to us the gospel of reconciliation.
of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence:
I offer thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord, who qualified me for the ministry he has plac'd me in, for having appointed me to such a trust, who was before a blasphemer, and a violent persecutor; but I obtained mercy, because I acted thro' ignorance in incrudelity. but the favour of our Lord display'd itself by that faith and charity, which was wrought in me by Jesus Christ.read more.
it is a proposition worthy to be believ'd, and be embrac'd by all, that Jesus Christ is come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the greatest. however I obtained mercy, that Jesus Christ might demonstrate the greatness of his clemency, by making me an eminent instance of it to those who should hereafter believe in him, in order to eternal life.
for I am not ashamed of the gospel, since it is divinely effectual to salvation, to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile. There it is that divine justification is revealed to be wholly by faith: as it is written, " the just shall live by faith."
for Christ did not send me to baptize: but to preach the gospel: tho' not with the preaching of the wise, lest the cross of Christ should have been hinder'd in its efficacy. For tho' the doctrine of the cross seems folly to those that perish: yet we that are to be saved, do feel its energy is divine.
our military arms are not so defective, but divinely effectual to demolish all their ramparts; to level all the barriers they contrive for obstructing the divine doctrine, and to make their pride captive to the authority of Christ.
be not therefore asham'd of the testimony of the Lord, nor of me who am a prisoner upon his account. but share with me in the afflictions, which attend the gospel, supported as you are by the power of God, who has saved us, and by the gospel hath called us to holiness, not in consideration of our works, but in pursuance of his own resolution, and the favour, which having been promised us by Jesus Christ several ages ago,
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, arise, and go toward the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, in the desart. accordingly he departed: and met a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, and was her high-treasurer: he had been at Jerusalem, to perform the duties of a proselyte, but was now upon his return, and sat in his chariot, reading the prophet Esaias.read more.
then the spirit said unto Philip, go near, and advance to his chariot.
but after they had travers'd Phrygia and Galatia, they were order'd by the holy spirit not to preach the gospel in Asia: being therefore arrived in Mysia, they essayed to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus would not allow it: so they pass'd by Mysia, and came to Troas.read more.
there Paul had a vision in the night. a Macedonian appear'd to him, and thus address'd him, "pass on to Macedonia, and come to our relief." immediately after he had had this vision, we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, concluding from thence, that the Lord had called us to publish the gospel there. we embark'd therefore at Troas,
but an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, and having brought them out, said to them, go, stand in the temple, and declare to the people, the whole doctrine of life.
Now there was a disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, to whom the Lord said in a vision, Ananias! and he said, Lord, here I am. and the Lord said unto him, arise, and go to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus: for he is there at prayer.
As Peter was still pondering upon the vision, the spirit said to him, there are people below, who enquire for you. rise therefore, get thee down, and go with them, without hesitating: for I have sent them.
and the spirit bid me make no difficulty of going with them. these six brethren accompany'd me, and we went together to the man's house.
as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them.
then the Lord said to Paul in a vision by night, "be not afraid, but speak, and be not silenc'd: (since I am with thee, and no man shall lift up his hand so as to hurt thee:) for my people in this city are numerous." so he continued there a year and a half preaching the word of God among them.
When an opportunity was given me by the Lord to preach the gospel of Christ, upon my arrival at Troas,
when they were arrived, and had assembled the Church, they related what great things God had wrought by them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles:
for I have a very fair and promising opportunity given me of propagating the gospel, tho' there are many opposers.
put up your requests likewise for me, that God would give me an opportunity to declare the mystery of Christ (for which I am even in bonds:)
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for tho' few in number, you have kept my word, and have not renounced my name.
on the contrary, when they perceived that I had the province of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, as Peter had that of preaching it to the Jews, (for he that had wrought powerfully in Peter with respect to his apostleship among the Jews, had also wrought powerfully in me upon account of the Gentiles:) and when James, Peter, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, perceived the favour that was bestowed on me, they admitted me and Barnabas into fellowship, and agreed, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.
go, said the Lord to him: for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel.
but ye shall receive the influence of the holy spirit, which will descend upon you: and ye shall be witnesses for me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth.
but when they take you. into custody, be not sollicitous, how or what ye shall speak, for at the very instant you shall be inspir'd what to say. for it is not properly you that speak, but the spirit of your father that speaketh by you.
now when they shall lead you to deliver you up, be not sollicitous about your defence, don't premeditate upon it; but what shall be suggested to you at the very occasion, that deliver: for it is not you that will plead, but the holy spirit.
when you are brought into the synagogues, and before magistrates and rulers, be not sollicitous what to say in your own defence; for the holy spirit shall instruct you on the very occasion, what is proper to be said.
but when the advocate is come, whom I will send to you from the father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me. and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
since the gospel we preach'd, did not consist only of words, but was fully confirm'd by miracles and gifts of the holy spirit, you yourselves being witnesses, what we did among you and for you.
but they that were dispers'd, preach'd the gospel wherever they went. Philip being arrived at Samaria, preached Christ to them.
In the mean time they who were dispers'd upon the persecution that arose after Stephen's time, had travell'd as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, without preaching the gospel to any, but Jews only. some of them were of Cyprus and Cyrene, and upon their arrival at Antioch they address'd themselves to the Greeks, and preach'd to them the Lord Jesus. and as the divine assistance accompany'd them, a great number of persons believed and became converts.
but the Jews having animated the women of quality of their religion, and the leading men of the city, raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and banish'd them from their territorys. so they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and went to Iconium.
of which they were appriz'd, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, citys of Lycaonia, and to the adjacent country, where they preach'd the gospel.
where having found a Jew nam'd Aquila, a native of Pontus, who lately came from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had order'd all the Jews to quit Rome; he went to them:
