We are taking a closer look at evangelistic apologetics in this new series. It follows the popular series Evangelistic Apologetics – The Church Under Attack, which published as a 33-part series on FaithandSelfDefense.com from January 2014 to March 2020. That series is now available for free as a set of five eBooks. 

Here’s what we’ve looked at so far:

  • Evangelism is the job (work) of every Christian, not just the professionals. Jesus Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to His Church, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).
  • In the second part of our series, we looked at what Jesus had in mind when He gave His Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. What role do they play in the Lord’s Eternal Plan?
  • In the third part of our series, we looked at what real ministry looks like. A Christian’s ministry is to do whatever Jesus says we should do. Jesus said He had all authority in the universe and that we should make disciples and teach them to obey the teachings of Jesus. We also follow the example, the pattern, that Jesus gave us for life and ministry. We took several steps with Jesus from His childhood to His baptism and wildness experience to see how He ministered.

We move now to the next part of our study where we take several more steps with Jesus as He left the wilderness and began to preach and teach. Let’s see what we can learn about our own ministry through the pattern Jesus left for us.

Repent and Believe the Gospel!

Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that following His testing in the wilderness Jesus began ministering in Galilee. The Apostle John doesn’t mention the wilderness testing in his Gospel account, but does reveal more information about what John the Baptist witnessed during the baptism of Jesus.

Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:12-17

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. Luke 4:14-15

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.’ And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29-34

We see here that the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus for ministry at every step. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus during His baptism. John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:12 tells us that the Spirit of God drove Jesus into the wilderness for His testing. Luke wrote that Jesus returned from the testing “in the power of the Spirit” and that news about Jesus went out through all the surrounding region and that He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

So, what did the Spirit-empowered Son of God preach and teach at the beginning of His earthly ministry?

  • “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
  • “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus preached repentance because the “time is fulfilled” and the “kingdom of God is at hand.” What does that mean? Let’s start with the words Mark used: time, fulfilled, kingdom and at hand.

  • time .. kairos, meaning “opportune time, fitting season” .. other ways to understand the Greek is the emphasis on it being the “suitable time, the right moment” .. Jesus started His earthly ministry in the right way and at the right time to accomplish the right objective ..
  • fulfilled .. pléroó, meaning “to complete, make full, fill to capacity” .. Jesus’ ministry was a completion or a making full of the opportune time ..
  • kingdom .. basileia, meaning “royal power, a king’s sovereign rule” .. Jesus’ ministry concerned the sovereign rule of God ..
  • at hand .. eggizó, meaning “to make near, to come near, approaching near” .. Jesus’ ministry was a proclamation of the Kingdom of God approaching the people to whom Jesus ministered ..

Jesus’ ministry was timed to perfection. His arrival on earth fulfilled the many prophecies of the Word of God concerning the promise of the Messiah. Jesus did not start His ministry a minute too early or a minute too late. It was exactly as God planned.

Jesus’ preaching was also exactly what God planned: “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” These six words are the heart of Jesus’ message during His earthly ministry. He did not deviate from them, as we will see during our study.

  • repent .. metanoeó, meaning “to change one’s mind or purpose, changed after being with, think differently after, to perceive afterwards” .. Jesus came to change people’s minds about themselves and their lives and about God and His Kingdom ..
  • believe .. pisteuó, meaning “trust, have faith in, believe in, be persuaded about” .. belief follows change .. Jesus preached repentance that would lead to a new belief ..
  • gospel .. euaggelion, meaning “good news” .. the new belief Jesus preached was “the gospel” ..

These three things, repentance, belief and the Gospel, were at the forefront of Jesus ministry. They were also front and center in the ministries of the men Jesus chose to follow Him:

Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:28

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. Acts 8:22

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30

Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:19-20

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: ‘Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7

So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Acts 16:31

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16

Repent and believe the Gospel. That was Jesus’ ministry, the apostles’ ministry, the ministry of the early Church, and I believe our ministry as well. Jesus came at the perfect time with the perfect message. We cannot and should not try to change it in any way. Make sure that your ministry, at its core, contains these words: repent and believe the Gospel.

Next Time

We will take a closer at what Jesus preached and taught in the synagogues when our special series continues.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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