Come and See: Timeless Evangelism

As believers, we are unique. That’s because God gives us multiple opportunities to serve Him each day as He leads us through His Holy Spirit. These opportunities can range from helping someone change a tire, to serving at church, to praying for someone, or just hugging someone. When you think about it, opportunities for serving God are limited only by our sensitivity to His leading.

But the greatest service God allows us to be a part of is sharing who Jesus is and what He has done for the world. Sometimes one of the best ways to tell people about Jesus is to explain to them what He has done in our lives. All believers have a wonderful story to tell about the love, goodness, mercy, and grace Jesus has extended to them for salvation and for living the Christian life.

Other times, it might be appropriate to emulate Philip in the Book of John as he explains to Nathanael that they have found the Messiah:

John 1:43-46 - The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

Philip could have tried to explain to Nathanael the details about how Jesus was the one Moses and the Prophets had written about. He could have reminded Nathanael he could trust him because they had known each other a long time. He could even have tried to tell Nathanael that Andrew and Peter were already following Jesus. But instead of any of these responses, Philip said, “Come and see.”

Come and see for yourself Nathanael. I could try to explain it all to you, but just come and see.

Sometimes, that is the best response we can offer as well. I could tell you about how amazing being a Christian is, or our great church and amazing worship music. I could even tell you about what is wrong with some other churches. But maybe the best truth I can offer you is to show you exactly what the Bible says about who Jesus is and what He has done for you.

"Come and See" Supplemental Truths

You might be thinking, but where do we start? And what are the key truths we want to be able to pass along to someone in the short ten or fifteen minutes they might give us of their valuable time?

Well, we have to start with who Jesus is in order for other truths about Him to make sense. And who Jesus is, is God. This is such a critical place to start and cannot be emphasized enough. Here are several verses you could reference that prove Jesus is God.

• John 1:1, 14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…
• John 1:18 - No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God (Jesus) who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
• John 20:28 - Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
• Titus 2:13 - Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus. (Also 2 Peter 1:1)
• Hebrews 1:8 - But of the Son He (God the Father) says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His Kingdom.”

These verses are all so good. John 1:1 is crystal clear, especially when you add verse 14. I love John 20:28 where Thomas calls Jesus his Lord and his God. If Jesus wasn’t God, he had the perfect opportunity here to correct Thomas, but he didn’t. Hebrews 1:8 is also amazing because God calls Jesus God!

There is no question Jesus is God. But, why did Jesus (God) leave heaven and come to earth? And what is the key truth we want to share with others because He did? Jesus himself explains:

John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Jesus came to this earth so that we might have abundant life in Him. Before He came, we were hostile toward God (Romans 8:7) and we were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1). But Jesus offers new life in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17) and we receive that life by believing in who Jesus is and what He has done, we call it the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He rose again on the third day, and is back at His rightful place of glory in heaven. This is the Gospel that gives life, eternal life! And Jesus offers this life as a free gift of grace to all who will receive it.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

While this new life Jesus offers is available for all to receive, it is only effective for those who will believe in Him by faith.

John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Galatians 3:26 - For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ is God. He offers eternal life through faith and belief in His finished work on the cross and in the fact that He is alive in heaven today. He is the only way to this abundant life, both now and for all eternity.

It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will bring several of these verses to memory next time God gives you the opportunity to say, “Come and see.”