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Representing God's Character in Evangelistic Witness

Evangelistic witness, at its core, involves communicating the "good message" (Greek: evangelion) of Jesus Christ, who is presented as the promised King, a prophet, and a mighty figure in both word and deed [2, 11]. This act of witnessing is not merely a human endeavor but is deeply intertwined with the character and actions of God himself. The very word "witness" appears in biblical names like Elead, meaning "witness of God," and Ed, meaning "witness" [1, 5]. The Apostle Paul, for instance, declares God as his witness in his service of the gospel of His Son [6]. Similarly, Paul solemnly witnesses before God and the Lord Jesus Christ concerning judgment [7].

Representing God's character in evangelistic witness means conveying truths about God that are central to the Christian faith. One crucial aspect is God's role as a witness. Jesus himself is described as "the faithful witness" [12]. He bore witness to God's law, claims, and plan of redemption, even to the point of death [14]. This testimony is not merely a set of arguments but is to be received on the authority of the Giver [14]. The book of Revelation, for example, records John bearing record of "the word of God" and "the testimony of Jesus Christ," which is identified as "the Spirit of prophecy" [10]. This highlights that God's own self-revelation is a form of witness, and those who evangelize participate in this divine act.

The Holy Spirit also plays a vital role in bearing witness. The Spirit is truth and is to be implicitly received [4]. The Spirit bears witness to Christ as the Messiah, as coming to redeem and sanctify, and as exalted to be a Prince and Savior who grants repentance [4]. This divine witness confirms the first preaching of the gospel and accompanies the faithful preaching of the Apostles [4]. When the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit gives witness to saints upon their believing [4]. This suggests that effective evangelism is not solely dependent on human eloquence or persuasive arguments but on the accompanying power and testimony of the Holy Spirit [13].

The character of God as revealed in evangelistic witness also includes His judgment and His ability to reveal the "secrets of the heart" [8]. When a prophet speaks, the word of God can manifest a person's inner character, leading them to recognize their true self [8]. This manifestation of men to themselves in their true character is presented as a strong argument for the truth of religion [8]. This aspect of God's character—His penetrating knowledge and righteous judgment—is part of the message conveyed in evangelism, leading to conviction and self-awareness.

Furthermore, the character of God is represented through the boldness and faithfulness of those who witness. Holy boldness, exemplified by Christ, is a characteristic of saints and is produced by trust in God and the fear of God [3]. It is through faith in Christ that believers gain boldness [3]. Ministers are exhorted to exhibit boldness in their preaching and faithfulness to their people [3]. This boldness is not a human trait alone but is a divine enablement, often prayed for, allowing witnesses to speak God's truth without fear [3].

The message of evangelism, therefore, is not merely about human salvation but about the character of God who saves. Adam Clarke, commenting on John 8:15, notes that Jesus, in his role as an ambassador, represents the Father as bearing witness [9]. Jesus' teachings and miracles were evidence that "nothing less than infinite wisdom and unlimited power could teach and do what I have taught and performed" [9]. This emphasizes that the very acts and words of Christ, which are central to the evangelistic message, reveal the infinite wisdom and power of God.

The content of the evangelistic message itself is "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" [11]. This "blessed Story" encompasses His life, ministry, death, resurrection, and glorification, and the gathering of believers in His name [11]. The evangelist, in proclaiming this message, is essentially declaring the person and mission of Christ [2]. This declaration inherently represents God's character as loving, redemptive, and sovereign.

In summary, representing God's character in evangelistic witness involves:

The act of evangelism is thus a participation in God's ongoing self-revelation to humanity. It is a declaration of who God is, what He has done through Christ, and what He continues to do through the Holy Spirit, inviting others to respond to this divine testimony.

Sources

  1. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Elead — witness of God”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Witness of the Holy Spirit — Is truth -- 1Jo 5:6. To be implicitly received -- 1Jo 5:6,9. Borne to Christ As Messiah. -- Lu 3:22; Joh 1:32,33. As coming to redeem and sanctify. -- 1Jo 5:6. As exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to give repentance, &c. -- Ac 5:31,32. As perfecting saints. -- Heb 10:14,15. As foretold by himself. -- Joh 15:26. In heaven. -- 1Jo 5:7,11. On earth. -- 1Jo 5:8. The first preaching of the gospel confirmed by -- Ac 14:3; Heb 2:4. The faithful preaching of the Apostles accompanied by -- 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5. Given to saints On believing. -- Ac 15:”
  5. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Ed — witness”
  6. Romans “Romans 1:9 (LITV) — For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son, how without ceasing I make mention of you”
  7. II Timothy “II Timothy 4:1 (LITV) — Then I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, He being about to judge living and dead at His appearance and His kingdom:”
  8. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:25: And thus--omitted in the oldest manuscripts and versions. secrets of his heart made manifest--He sees his own inner character opened out by the sword of the Spirit (Heb 4:12; Jam 1:23), the word of God, in the hand of him who prophesieth. Compare the same effect produced on Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:30 and end of Dan 2:47). No argument is stronger for the truth of religion than its manifestation of men to themselves in their true character. Hence hearers even now often think the preacher must have aimed his sermon particularly at them. and so--”
  9. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 8:15: Ye judge after the flesh - Because I appear in the form of man, judging from this appearance, ye think I am but a mere man - pay attention to my teaching and miracles, and ye shall then see that nothing less than infinite wisdom and unlimited power could teach and do what I have taught and performed. Our Lord speaks here exactly in the character of an ambassador. Such a person does not bring a second with him to vouch his truth; his credentials from his king ascertain his character: he represents the king's person. So our Lord represents the Father as bearing witness ”
  10. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 1:2: bare record of--"testified the word of God" in this book. Where we would say "testifies," the ancients in epistolary communications use the past tense. The word of God constitutes his testimony; Rev 1:3, "the words of this prophecy." the testimony of Jesus--"the Spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10). and of all things that, &c.--The oldest manuscripts omit "and." Translate, "whatsoever things he saw," in apposition with "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ."”
  11. Mark (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Mark 1 (introduction): PREACHING AND BAPTISM OF JOHN. ( = Mat 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-18). (Mar 1:1-8) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God--By the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ here is evidently meant the blessed Story which our Evangelist is about to tell of His Life, Ministry, Death, Resurrection, and Glorification, and of the begun Gathering of Believers in His Name. The abruptness with which he announces his subject, and the energetic brevity with which, passing by all preceding events, he hastens over the ministry of John and records the Baptism a”
  12. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 1:5: the faithful witness--of the truth concerning Himself and His mission as Prophet, Priest, and King Saviour. "He was the faithful witness, because all things that He heard of the Father He faithfully made known to His disciples. Also, because He taught the way of God in truth, and cared not for man, nor regarded the persons of men. Also, because the truth which He taught in words He confirmed by miracles. Also, because the testimony to Himself on the part of the Father He denied not even in death. Lastly, because He will give true testimony of the wo”
  13. 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 2:1: When I came to you - Acting suitably to my mission, which was to preach the Gospel, but not with human eloquence, Co1 1:17. I declared to you the testimony, the Gospel, of God, not with excellency of speech, not with arts of rhetoric, used by your own philosophers, where the excellence of the speech recommends the matter, and compensates for the want of solidity and truth: on the contrary, the testimony concerning Christ and his salvation is so supremely excellent, as to dignify any kind of language by which it may be conveyed. See the Introduction, Section 2.”
  14. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 55:4: him--the mystical David (Eze 37:24-25; Jer 30:9; Hos 3:5). Given by God (Isa 49:6). witness--He bore witness even unto death for God, to His law, claims, and plan of redeeming love (Joh 18:37; Rev 1:5). Revelation is a "testimony"; because it is propounded to be received on the authority of the Giver, and not merely because it can be proved by arguments. commander--"preceptor" [HORSLEY]; "lawgiver" [BARNES]. to the people--rather, "peoples."”
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