Scripture: I John 4:7-11

C.I.: The Motivation for Evangelism!

Today we are going to begin a new series (timely: New Mission Statement).
If we are going to be a people who fulfill God’s mission – then we need to be equipped to do His will.
Yet what should inspire us – to reach out to others – with the gospel of Jesus? - Today we will see…

I. The Motivation Which Saves Men’s Souls

A. The Singular Motivation of God

1. That the Father is willing to save those who turned their back on Him takes great motivation!
a. (Isa. 59:1-2), “Behold, the Lord’s hand … neither is His ear… but your iniquities have made…”
1) Evangelism is not how we react to others – rather, evangelism is about how we choose to act!
2) (Isa. 59:20) - A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression.”

b. God’s MOTIVATION to save us – is His LOVE for us!
1) (John 3:16), “For God so loved the world….”
2) (Rom. 5:8), “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners..”
3) Nor did God wait for us to become worthy of His love for us - (I Jn. 4:19), “We love,
because HE FIRST LOVED US!”
4) So God the Father is motivated to save us because of His love for us!

2. Jesus was not an unwilling pawn - but an eager participant in God’s love towards for us!
a. (Jn. 10:18), “No one takes My life away from Me, I lay it down on My own initiative. – I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”
b. (Jn. 15:13), “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
c. So when Jesus said, (Lk. 19:10), He was saying He loved us enough to sacrifice Himself for us.

3. The Holy Spirit is also eager to see us saved!
a. (Jn. 16:8), “The Spirit, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin (Rom. 3:23; I Jn. 3:4; Rom. 6:23), righteousness (Rom. 3:10; 1:16-17; 4:5), judgment (II Thess. 1:7-10).”
b. So even the Spirit of God – is motivated by His love for us – to see people saved!!

So God’s Motivation for Evangelism (saving our souls) – is His incredible Love for Us!!!

B. The Two-Fold Motivation of God’s People

1. FIRST: Our Love for God
a. As we saw in the case of Jesus – our love for God must motivate us – to seek to save the lost!
1) In Jn. 14:15 – we see that if we do what Jesus commands – we will bear the fruit He desires!
2) Then in Jn. 15:1-8, Jesus tells us of the 3 Types of Fruit-Bearing…

b. No Fruit - (vs. 1-2a), “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. – Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away….”
1) “Fruit” = Can mean many things but in the context of John’s gospel its converts, Jn. 20:30f
2) There may be many reasons for a lack of fruit-bearing. But Jesus tells us- that it is probably
because people have a greater focus - on material things rather than spiritual things.
3) (Matt. 13:22), “The one on whom the seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who
hears the word, - and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, -
and it becomes unfruitful.”

c. Fruit – (v. 2b), “…every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”
1) To “prune” a branch is to remove the parts that keep it from more fruitful.
2) For the believer: Different priorities (Matt. 6:33) – getting rid of unfruitful habits/sin
(Heb. 12:1) – having a better focus in our lives (Heb. 12:2)!

d. Much Fruit – (v. 5), “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him,
he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
1) Not everyone will bear the same amount of fruit of souls…
2) (Matt. 13:23), “The one on whom the seed was sown in the good soil, this is the one who
hears the word and understands it; - who indeed bears fruit, - and brings forth, some….”
3) Indeed, it is in our fruit-bearing we manifest our LOVE FOR GOD – (v. 8), “By this is
My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

2. SECOND: Our Love for Others (this must be the motivation that drives us – to share Jesus!)

a. Love is more necessary – than having spiritual gifts
1) (I Cor. 13:1), “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have loved, I have become a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.”
2) So we do NOT need to have an evangelistic talent – IF WE HAVE LOVE!

b. Love is more necessary – than having vast biblical knowledge & or great speaking ability
1) (I Cor. 13:2), “And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge;
and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
2) We don’t have to have the Bible memorized – IF WE HAVE LOVE!

c. Love is even more necessary – than any sacrifice we might make
1) (I Cor. 13:3), “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to
be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”
2) While love demands sacrifice – it is not the sacrifice that is most necessary to reach the lost –
IF WE HAVE LOVE!

d. It is our love for others – which will last when all other things – worthy or not – have been exhausted – (I Cor. 13:13), “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; - but the greatest of these is Love.”