The first century church was a soul-winning church. From the beginning, Christians were involved in spreading the good news. In Acts 2:47, the Bible says, “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” This implies evangelistic activity. People cannot be saved without faith (Hebrews 11:6), faith which comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The fact that people were being saved daily tells us that the gospel was being preached daily. This evangelistic effort continued, and the church grew. In Acts 3:11-26 we read of Peter preaching the gospel to a crowd that had gathered because of the healing of the man who was born crippled. The result was that the number of the disciples multiplied to about five thousand (Acts 4:1-4). If you are keeping track, you know that is another two thousand converts between Acts 2 and Acts 4, and it did not stop. Throughout the book of Acts, we continue to read of many people being converted to the Lord (Acts 6:7; 8:12, 13, 36-39; 9:8; 10:48; 16:15, 31-33; 17:4, 12, 34; 18:8, etc.). Clearly, Christians in the first century knew what their main mission was, that is, to spread the Word, and we should know this too. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). That was His mission, and it is still His mission. Now He accomplishes it through us. Let us not fail Him.

One thing that should drive us to preach the gospel is the love that Christ showed us and that made our own salvation possible. This was the case with Paul. Why was he so active in trying to save souls? It was because he realized that if it was not for the love that Christ showed him, he would still be lost. This is the way he put it when writing to the church at Corinth.

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NKJV)
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;

Why do you think Paul said, “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish” (Romans 1:14)? It was because he literally felt like he owed a debt to his fellowman, not because of anything that man did, but because of the love that Christ showed for him. Paul was moved to action by the love of Jesus. We should all be compelled by the love of Christ, that is, the love that Christ showed for us when He died on the cross. If Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to give His life to saved us, should we not have that same love for the people around us. After all, Jesus died for them too. The Hebrews writer said that He tasted death for all men (Hebrews 2:9). The point of it is this—we should have the same love for our fellowman that Christ has for us. If we do, we will try to help them develop a relationship with Christ by sharing with them the gospel. Jesus is the only one who can save them (John 14:6), and the only way one can have a relationship with Him is by hearing, believing, and obeying the gospel. It is our obligation to take that gospel to them. God could have arranged another way. He could have decided to speak directly to man, or through dreams and visions, etc. Instead, it was his will to save the world through the preaching of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:17-21).

God put the glorious gospel in earthen vessels, giving man the responsibility to tell others about His Son. Let us do our job well. Do not worry about the results when you take the gospel to a dying world. How people respond to the preaching of the Word is not our responsibility. Our only job is to sow the seed and leave the rest up to God, His Word, and the hearts of men. So, allow the love of Christ to compel you to plant the seed. Preach the Word in season and out of season and the God of heaven will bless you for it.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.