The Gospel Of Salvation And Sanctification

Why do Christians engage in evangelism? By that, I don’t mean that we do so only because the Lord has ordained this as the method for reaching people or that we are simply obeying God. With this question, I mean for us to consider, what is our purpose? When we tell someone we are evangelizing, what is it that we hope to accomplish?

With those questions, I do not intend to bypass the authority of God flippantly, and I certainly do not mean to suggest that evangelism is defined by our purposes and not His. However, I know that sometimes I slight God's purposes by overlooking critical aspects of the gospel, and I need a reminder. Therefore, I find myself occasionally asking, "What do I hope to accomplish by participating in the Lord's call to evangelize?"

The most obvious answer to such a question is to see people saved, redeemed from sin, and an eternity unreconciled with God. Being just and gracious, the Lord has offered salvation and promises to save anyone who calls on His name (Romans 10:13). The Apostle Paul then asks, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14). We proclaim the gospel to see repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.

Yet, the focus on salvation sometimes overshadows the relevance of sanctification. Most of us know that the Great Commission does not urge making converts alone but also making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). However, in practice, Christians often adopt a salvation-only mentality when proclaiming the gospel. In his letter to the Colossians, not only does Paul commend transformation, but he often links it to the gospel. Early on, he unites the gospel with the exercise of daily life, suggesting that the lasting effect of the gospel is a constant hope that keeps one stable and steadfast (cf. Colossians 1:23). Paul’s own ministry goals are poignantly proclaimed shortly after that in Colossians 1:28, where he writes, “Him (Christ) we proclaim . . . that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” The preaching of Christ brings about maturity in Christ. That is to say that the gospel imparts salvation and initiates sanctification.

One of the things I love preaching about Paul is that anytime he shares his ambitions (whether to present people mature in Christ or his endeavors to go to Rome and then Spain), a study of other texts reveals the goals Paul has never originated with him. He always allows God to set the agenda, and we see that with Colossians 1:28. Paul's aspirations to present believers mature in Christ are founded in the exaltation of Christ in Colossians 1:15-20. Notice that in verses 20-22, the work of Christ is not salvation only but also sanctification, initiating a process of maturity in Christ in the life of a believer. Paul’s objective isn’t derived from Paul; instead, it originates from God.

So why do we engage in evangelism? Like Paul, we find the purpose of our labors in God's purposes. The Lord sets our agenda and defines our ambitions. Let us not forget then that the Lord has equipped us with a gospel that is sufficient not just for salvation but sanctification.