J. W McGarvey once said, “I would esteem above every other gift that could be bestowed upon me as a preacher the power to adequately conceive what sin is and to adequately set it before the people.” Why was this so vital to brother McGarvey? He knew of the horrible nature of sin. Sin, a transgression of God law (I John 3:4), has terrible consequences. Because of the end result of sin there is a great need for evangelism. To help us understand and appreciate the need for evangelism let us consider a few of the things that sin will do to us.
We need evangelism because sin separates. The Almighty, through Isaiah declared, “Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Paul said that in sin we are afar off from God (Ephesians 2:13). Thus, sin separates man from God.
Sin also separates man from a better self. Paul exclaimed, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:17). Paul experienced this very plight, for he explains, “For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practice. But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me” (Romans 7:19-20). Sin will also divide a man from his family (Luke 12:49-54), and from his brethren (Roman 16:17-18).
Paul said, “Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Corinthians 1:10). These divisions that can occur show us the need for evangelism.
We need evangelism because sin is seductive. Satan is very deceptive as is seen in the very beginning of time as he tempts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1 ff). The devil will try to snare us as a hidden trap tries to ensnare its prey (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Satan also has deceptive messengers who will try to lead us astray (2 Corinthians 11:13- 15).
Sin itself is also deceptive. Paul said sin “beguiled” him (Romans 7:11), and is a deceiver (Titus 3:3). The Hebrew writer encouraged us to “exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called Today; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). We are constantly warned throughout the New Testament not to be deceived (Ephesians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 John 3:7; et al.). We are deceived by sin when we say we have no sin (I John 1: 8-10). We are fooled by sin when we say that evil companionship do not corrupt good morals (I Corinthians 15:33). We are deceived by sin when we think we can be hearers only and not doers of the word (James 1:22-25). Sin appears to be right when it is wrong (Proverbs 14:12). Sin appears to be beautiful when in reality it is ugly (Isaiah 1:5-6). The deceptive nature of sin emphasizes the need for evangelism.
We need evangelism because sin is shattering. Sin will demolish your good name (Proverbs 22:1). Sin will destroy our bodies through such things as immorality (1Corinthians 6:18-21) and alcohol (Proverbs 20:1). Sin will destroy us emotionally with inner conflicts (Romans 1: 14-25) and guilt (Psalm 32:1-4). Sin will obliterate the church. Sin was destroying the church in Corinth and was ruining the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). We need evangelism because of the powerfully destructive nature of sin.
Evangelism is greatly needed in our day because of the horrible evils that sin can do. The separating, seductive, and shattering influence of sin must he stopped. It is the gospel message that has the power (Romans 1:16) to put an end to the destruction that sin will bring to our lives. “There is a message true and glad, for the sinner and the sad” Ring it out, ring it out!
-Tom Moore
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