Often Christians can feel as though they can’t share their faith because they don’t know enough or haven’t been in the church long enough. It is easy to feel like you are not qualified to take the message of the Gospel to others. Especially when you see others in the church who have been living for God and studying scripture for decades. Even though you may feel this way scripture shows us that any Christian can proclaim the Gospel. Following the example of Paul, or Saul as he was known at the time, who immediately after his conversion begin to proclaim a simple message containing what he knew to be true.
Acts 9:17–20 (ESV)
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Paul had experienced the Lord first hand which opened his eyes to the truth. He wasted no time and began to share his experience with others along with what it taught him. He knew that Jesus was the son of God and wanted to tell everyone he could that very same message. At that point, he probably couldn’t answer every question he was asked but he could still tell them the most important thing. That Jesus was the messiah, come to offer salvation to the world including sinners, like himself, who once persecuted believers.
Like Paul, we have the ability to tell others about God from the moment of our salvation. If you knew enough to give your life to God then you know enough to lead others toward salvation. All you have to do is share the truth that you have placed your faith in with them. Explaining that we have all sinned and have brought judgment upon ourselves. But that God has made it possible for us to escape this judgment by placing our faith in His only begotten Son. Then simply lay out the plan of salvation. While also sharing your personal testimony of how God changed your life.
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Acts 2:37–38 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
It is truly that simple to share the good news about Jesus with anyone and everyone. It just starts with sharing what you know to be true just as we see the Apostle Paul do after he was first converted. His first message wasn’t grand or theologically deep but it shared the important truth he learned. Which forever changed his life. You know what someone told you that opened your eyes to who Jesus is and it can do the same for someone else. So don’t worry about not knowing enough or not being in the church long enough because you know just what is needed to be saved.
Over time scripture tells that Pauls’s knowledge grew and his preaching became more powerful. In fact, we all know that God greatly used Paul and even inspired him to write many of the books that make up the New Testament. The more he learned the more he was able to share and the greater impact he was able to have. Like Paul, over time our knowledge is going to grow as well. We will be able to answer the tough questions and the way we share the Gospel will grow. Causing us to be able to reach more and more people.
Acts 9:22 (ESV)
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
But it’s important to remember that the foundation of salvation and Jesus Christ never changes. A fact that is apparent as you continue to read about Paul’s life and the messages he delivered. His knowledge grew and he was able to shed light on many different aspects of living for God. Yet, his primary message that pointed others to who Jesus is and the salvation he offers never changed. It was the same from the moment he was first converted until he the last time he shared the Gospel.
Acts 26:19–23 (ESV)
19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
It must be said that not everyone you share the truth of the Gospel with will accept it. That is a sad fact of life, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t know enough to save them. The truth is they either were not ready to accept the Lord or may never be. But that shouldn’t stop you from sharing your faith with others. Instead, trust God and have the same mindset that Paul had. Doing all you can to save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV)
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
Share the truth you have now and begin to see the lives of those you know change. Don’t attempt to wait until you believe you have enough knowledge or have spent enough time in the church. Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant and if you wait for the perfect time to share the gospel you never will. You have all the truth you need now to fulfill the call placed on the life of every believer to make disciples. Don’t hold back from those who desperately need a relationship with the Lord. Give them what they need by sharing the same message you received at the time of your conversion. It changed your life and it can change theirs too.
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