CALL TO GOSPEL WORK OF JESUS CHRIST John 1:35-42

The gospel work of Jesus Christ needs many workers.  It is a work that must be proclaimed from place to place.  It is a Good News of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:23) to the whole world.  The gospel is the power of God in Christ Jesus that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16).  Also, in the gospel, we find the righteousness of God revealed to the whole world.  It thrives by faith in Christ Jesus. Gospel of Jesus Christ gives righteousness of God by faith hence, the righteous shall live by faith (Romans 1:17).

However, having basic understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ will enable us to know how to recruit people to the work of the gospel ministry.  We will look critically and examine how the early disciples followed Jesus Christ into the gospel work.

What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?  When John the Baptist introduced Jesus to his own disciples, he introduced Him as the Lamb of God (John 1:35)  what does this mean, it simply means that “the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached  in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem (Lk 24:46-47). Gospel is also about Jesus Christ going about teaching and proclaimimg the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and illness among the people (Matt. 4:23).  The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is centred on repentance and believe the good news of forgiveness (Mk. 1:15).

Our focus today is that God needs people who will receive call to the work of the gospel in His Church.  Every work in the Church is gospel work hence, they are called gospel or good news workers.  Whosoever want to do any work in the church must possess the following:

(a)  The knowledge of Jesus Christ is very significant to gospel workers.  John told his disciples

that Jesus is the Lamb of God.  Jesus suffered to the point of death as a sacrificial offering for the

sins He did not commit to save those who are committing sin.  The price of gospel work of Jesus

is gravious.  This knowledge is a preparation for the readiness to lay down one’s life for the

gospel work in the Church (John 1:35-37).  The two disciples that followed Jesus Christ in this

passage had the knowledge before they made up their mind to follow Him.

(b)  They must be ready to learn at the feet of Jesus Christ (John 1:37-39).  The two disciples of John

the Baptist called Jesus ‘Rabbi’ which means Teacher, this implies that they wanted to learn

from Him as they followed Him.  Anyone who cannot be a student of the bible the word of

God cannot be a good worker for the gospel work.

(c)  The worker of the gospel must be able to share the gospel or good news to others.  The first

thing Andrew did was to find his brother Peter and share the good news of the Messiah to him

(John 1:40-42).  Every worker in the Church must not only possess the life of the gospel but be

willingly and passionately share the gospel to other people.

(d)  The gospel work of Jesus is a called work.  When Jesus decided to leave for Galilee, He finds

Philip and said to him, “follow me” (John 1:43).  Every work in the Church is a call and must be

done as a call and not grudgingly and lazily.  Do it unto the Lord who calls you.

(e)  The worker of the gospel must be a person of no deceit (John 1:47-50).  A gospel worker is a

person of no ulterior motive.  He/she is plain in the heart with God and other workers.  He/she

is not selfish but selfless in the service of the Church.

These and many other criteria are needed in the life of gospel workers in the Church today.  The workers in the Church’s work are actually gospel of Jesus Christ workers and should learn to understand the nature of the work.  They must learn from the life of Jesus and follow Him intimately.  Do the work unto the Lord and not for eye service.  God will reward you exceedingly.

JESUS IS LORD