The Heart Behind Evangelistic Witnessing Efforts in Christianity

Evangelistic witnessing efforts in Christianity stem from a foundational understanding of humanity's fallen state and God's redemptive plan, articulated through the "good message" or evangelion ^[5]. The core of this message is the belief that a Savior has come into the world ^[5].

The biblical concept of the "heart" is central to understanding the motivation behind evangelism. In scripture, the heart is often depicted as the seat of intellect, will, and emotion. For instance, Ecclesiastes speaks of applying one's heart to seek wisdom and understand the reason of things ^{[1, 2]}, and even to explore folly while still guided by wisdom ^[4]. This indicates the heart's role in guiding human inquiry and decision-making. In the context of salvation, Romans 10:10 states, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" ^[15]. This passage highlights the heart as the locus of saving faith, which then leads to outward confession.

A primary motivation for evangelism is the Christian understanding of sin. Scripture teaches that all human beings are born sinners ^[7]. Sin is not merely a transgression but a state of rebellion against God ^[10]. It is described as "vanity" or sinful acts ^[8], and those who commit sin are considered "of the devil" ^[9]. This fallen state means humanity cannot find favor with God through their own actions ^[11]. Even after conversion, the "corrupt old nature" and the guilt of past sins remain until cleansed ^[12]. God's anger is depicted not as an arbitrary emotion, but as a necessary response to sin ^[11]. This universal sinfulness underscores the need for the "good message" of salvation ^{[5, 11]}.

The "good message" itself, the evangelion, centers on the person and work of Christ ^[5]. Early Christian preachers, called evangelistai, proclaimed Christ as the promised King, a prophet mighty in word and deed, and the one who came to redeem and sanctify ^{[5, 6]}. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this witness, bearing truth and testifying to Christ as Messiah, as the one who gives repentance, and as the one who perfects saints ^[6]. The Spirit's witness is described as a "certitude of the Spirit's presence and work continually asserted within us," manifesting in comfort, prompting to prayer, reproof of sins, and drawing believers to acts of love and testimony before the world ^[3]. This internal witness of the Spirit confirms the truth of the Gospel and empowers believers to share it ^[6].

Evangelistic efforts are also motivated by the understanding that believers are claimed by Christ and ultimately by God ^[13]. This sense of belonging and gratitude often fuels the desire to share the Gospel. The apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:5, exhorts believers to "do the work of an evangelist," which Adam Clarke interprets as preaching "Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world" ^[16]. This preaching is seen as the sole means of proclaiming the "glad tidings of peace and salvation by Christ" ^[16]. The act of sharing the Gospel and seeing others respond is also a means by which God is glorified, as those who receive the message give thanks to God for the grace they have received ^[14]. The faithful preaching of the apostles was accompanied by the Holy Spirit, confirming the message ^[6].

Sources

King James Version “[KJV] Ecclesiastes 7:25 — I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:”
Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 1:13 (Geneva1599) — And I haue giuen mine heart to search and finde out wisdome by all things that are done vnder the heauen: (this sore trauaile hath GOD giuen to the sonnes of men, to humble them thereby)”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Witness of the Spirit — (Rom. 8:16), the consciousness of the gracious operation of the Spirit on the mind, "a certitude of the Spirit's presence and work continually asserted within us", manifested "in his comforting us, his stirring us up to prayer, his reproof of our sins, his drawing us to works of love, to bear testimony before the world," etc.”
Ecclesiastes “I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives. -- Ecclesiastes 2:3”
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”
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:”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto--justifying righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation--This confession of Christ's name, especially in times of persecution, and whenever obloquy is attached to the Christian profession, is an indispensable test of discipleship.”
2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 4:5: But watch thou in all things - It is possible to be overtaken in a fault, to neglect one's duty, and to lose one's soul. Watching unto prayer prevents all these evils. Endure afflictions - Let no sufferings affright thee; nor let the dread of them either cause thee to abandon the truth, or relax in thy zeal for the salvation of men. Do the work of an evangelist - That is: Preach Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world; for this, and this alone, is doing the work of an evangelist, or preacher of the glad tidings of peace and salvation by Christ. An angel f”

Ask Your Own Question