by David M. Romano

When tomorrow starts without me
And I’m not here to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
Are filled with tears for me

I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say

I know how much you love me
As much as I love you
And each time you think of me
I know you’ll miss me too

But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand

And said my place was ready
In Heaven far above
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love

But when I walked through Heaven’s gate
I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne

He said this is eternity
And all I promised you
Today your life on earth is past
But here it starts anew

I promise no tomorrow
For today will always last
And since each day’s the same way
There’s no longing for the past

So when tomorrow starts without me
Don’t think we’re far apart
For every time you think of me
I’m right here in your heart

God gives the Holy Spirit to believers to empower them to witness boldly. Witnessing is sharing and showing your faith in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God. Determine to rely on the Spirit’s power as you witness.

The Story Continues


As I traveled on a train from Kiev to Donetsk in 1995 I opened my Bible to the book of Acts. Eager to share the gospel in Ukraine, I read through Acts with renewed enthusiasm. As the train rhythmically swayed down the tracks, I became absorbed in Luke’s account of the birth and expansion of the church. Over the next several hours I marveled again at how the Holy Spirit empowered ordinary men and women to turn their world upside down (see Acts 17:6). In a small way, our short-term mission team was continuing the story of Acts. You don’t have to travel to another country however, to participate in the ongoing story of Acts. The Holy Spirit can empower you to witness boldly right where you live.

Promise of Power (Acts 1:4-5,8)


The book of Acts opens with a brief account of the events between the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:3-11). After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples at various times “over a period of forty days” (Acts 1:3). During that period, He spoke to the disciples “about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Jesus used the Old Testament (Luke 24:27) to help the disciples understand the necessity of His death and resurrection (Luke 24:45-46). He also commissioned the disciples to share His message of salvation with all nations (see Luke 24:47 and Matt. 28:19-20).

Imagine being among the first to hear Jesus say, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). How would you have felt? What would you have thought about such an enormous assignment? Perhaps you would have felt overwhelmed. Perhaps you would have thought, “I am inadequate for such a task.” How then, did Jesus prepare a group of ordinary human beings for the enormous task of sharing the good news with the world?

On one of the specific occasions when Jesus appeared to His disciples, He shared a meal with them (v. 4). During the course of that meal, Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift promised by God (see also Luke 24:49). The gift promised by God is the Holy Spirit. The disciples had heard Jesus speak about the Holy Spirit during His farewell address in the Upper Room (see John 14-16). The Holy Spirit is essential to the task of sharing the good news with the world. That is why Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem. He told them that in a few days they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (v. 5). As a result of this baptism, the disciples would be empowered to take the gospel to the world.

Just before His ascension from the Mount of Olives, Jesus unveiled His simple plan for reaching the world. He instructed the disciples to share the good news in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The book of Acts tells the story of how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to other parts of the world in a thirty year period. The story of Acts also teaches us that evangelism should have no geographical or ethnic boundaries. We owe Christ to all people (see Rom. 1:14). The greatest crime we can commit is to withhold the gospel from others.

Sharing the gospel with others is the responsibility of every believer. However, we cannot effectively share Christ with others apart from the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The divine work of evangelism can only be accomplished in dependence upon divine power (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit plays a key role in every aspect of evangelism. He guides believers as they communicate the message of salvation with unbelievers (see Luke 12:12). The Holy Spirit also convicts unbelievers “of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). He persuades unbelievers to place their faith in Jesus for salvation. You can count on the Holy Spirit to empower you to share the gospel with others. But, can the Holy Spirit count on you?

Gift of Power (Acts 2:1-6)

After the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:9-11), the disciples returned to Jerusalem (Acts 1:12). They gathered in an upper room (Acts 1:13), along with other believers, and spent time together in prayer (Acts 1:14). Peter also spoke to those assembled concerning choosing a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:15-22). Matthias was chosen as Judas’ successor by means of prayer and the casting of lots (Acts 1:23-26).

As the Day of Pentecost approached, Jews from every nation made their way to Jerusalem (see v. 5). Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, was one of the three annual feasts which Jewish males were expected to attend in Jerusalem (see Deut. 16:16). The name Pentecost literally means fiftieth. Pentecost commemorated the completion of the grain harvest and was observed fifty days after the Passover. God strategically chose Pentecost as the day to send the gift of power that would enable the disciples to initiate a great spiritual harvest.

The day of Pentecost came ten days after the ascension of Jesus. On that day, the disciples and other believers (see Acts 1:15) were again assembled together (see Acts 1:13) in one place (v. 1). As they prayed, an overpowering sound like the blowing of a violent wind (v. 2) suddenly announced the Holy Spirit’s arrival. The sound was so intense that it caught the attention of those outside the house where the believers were assembled (see v. 6). Along with the sound, they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire come to rest on each of those present (v. 3). Both wind (see Ps. 104:3) and fire (see Ex. 3:2) are associated with God’s presence.

All of those present were filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 4). God’s gift of power is for all believers, not just a select few. The Holy Spirit empowered the believers to speak in foreign languages not previously known by them (v. 4). Imagine the bewilderment of the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost when they heard the believers fluently “declaring the wonders of God” (v. 11) in their own languages (v. 6). The Holy Spirit certainly hastened the spread of the gospel on the day when Jerusalem was crowded with Jews from every nation.

The Holy Spirit still empowers and uses ordinary people to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ. Perhaps you have thought, “Surely, God can’t use someone like me to tell others about Jesus.” The same Holy Spirit who empowered men like Billy Graham to preach to millions can empower you to effectively share the good news with your neighbor. God needs lots of someones just like you and me to reach the people that may never attend an evangelistic crusade or darken the door of a church. The question is, will you make yourself available for His use? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to declare the wonders of God to others in words they can understand?

People of Power (Acts 2:17-18)

Luke recorded the responses of those in Jerusalem who heard Christ’s followers speaking in other languages. Some of the people who witnessed the remarkable events on the day of Pentecost were bewildered (v. 6). Others were “utterly amazed” (v. 7) and likely stood around with their mouths opened wide. Still others were curious (vv. 8-11) and asked one another, “What does this mean?” (v. 12). And, as always, some scoffed and said, “They have had too much wine” (v. 13).

The charge of drunkenness became the occasion for Peter’s first and perhaps most influential sermon. Peter, filled and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, stood up and addressed the crowd of people (v. 14). He dismissed the charge of drunkenness as unreasonable, pointing out that it was too early in the day for someone to be drunk (v. 15). Peter then offered an explanation of what had happened.

Peter anchored the miraculous events of Pentecost in the Old Testament (vv. 16-21). He told the crowd that what they had witnessed was the fulfillment of the prophecy found in Joel 2:28-32. Joel spoke of a time when God would pour out His Spirit on all people (v. 17). As a result, they would all prophesy, or proclaim God’s saving message (v. 18). The time Joel had spoken of had finally come. The Holy Spirit was now available to empower all of God’s people for service, without regard to sex or age (vv. 17,18). The Holy Spirit, Peter said, was responsible for transforming ordinary people into people of power.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a person of power? Wealth and material possessions make some people feel powerful. Others feel powerful because they occupy positions of authority. But, as a believer, you have the greatest power of all available to you. And, the best part is, you do not have to be wealthy or in a position of authority to tap into this power. The Holy Spirit resides within you and stands ready to give you the power to have a part in advancing the gospel.

Results of Power (Acts 2:36-39)

As the crowd continued to listen attentively, Peter spoke about the life and works of Jesus (v. 22). Many of those listening knew of the “miracles, wonders and signs” (v. 22) which Jesus had performed through God’s power. Many of them also knew about the recent arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus, which was part of God’s divine plan to redeem sinful humanity (v. 23). Death, however, could not hold Jesus (v. 24). Peter presented various proofs to support the claim that God raised Jesus from the dead (v. 25-35). Peter called upon his listeners to know with certainty that God declared Jesus, whom they crucified, both Lord and Christ (v. 36).

When Peter finished preaching, the people who heard him were cut to the heart (v. 37). The Holy Spirit had used Peter’s words to pierce their religious armor. Stunned by the pain of conviction, the people asked Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? (v. 37). Peter had a twofold answer to their question.

First, Peter told his listeners to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ (v. 38). Peter’s words ring with the urgency that says, “Do it now.” Repentance means more than feeling sorry for past behavior, it involves turning away from our sin and turning to God through Jesus. Second, Peter told his listeners to be baptized. . .in the name of Jesus Christ (v. 38). Baptism was a way of publicly acknowledging that they had indeed repented and believed in Jesus for salvation. Those (v. 39) who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus for salvation will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (v. 38). Remarkably, about three thousand people responded to Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost (v. 41).

The day of Pentecost began like any other day for Peter and the other followers of Christ. By the end of the day however, their lives would never be the same again. The Holy Spirit empowered these ordinary people for the divine task of sharing the gospel of Christ. As a result of their witness, the church was born and a fire ignited that has swept across countries and centuries.

How did this day begin for you? As a believer, you have the same power available to you that transformed the followers of Christ on the day of Pentecost. You too, can expect people to respond positively to the gospel when they see the results of the power of God’s Spirit in your life and hear your testimony. Will you allow God’s Holy Spirit to govern and guide your life today? Will you allow Him to use you to share Christ with someone today? If so, by the end of this day, your life may never be the same again.

Remember: You Can Participate in the Ongoing Story of Acts

Be Aware | Multiplied millions of people are still waiting to hear the message that has changed our lives. Many of the people you see every day have not had the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel of Christ.

Be Sensitive | Ask God to remind you daily that Jesus died for every person you see. Someone prayed, “Lord, help me see in those I meet, on country road or city street, not just people passing by, but those for whom Jesus came to die.”

Be Available | God uses ordinary people like you and me to share the gospel with others. Allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to share the good news with others.

Every Christian is responsible for sharing the good news about Jesus. Those who know Christ owe Christ to all people.

We Are Debtors

Every Christ-follower, without exception, is called to be share the good news. We cannot escape this call. In his letter to the Romans, Paul described himself as a debtor (Rom. 1:14). A debt is an obligation. So, to whom was Paul obligated? He was certainly obligated to Christ for his salvation. But, he was also obligated to all who do not know Christ —“both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.”

The terms Greeks and Barbarians refer the Gentiles, among whom Paul hoped to have a harvest. However, Paul also desired to reach the wise, those who were lost because of their worldly wisdom, and the unwise or those considered unworthy to receive the gospel. All of these terms define the broad scope of Paul’s personal mission field.

Paul understood that Christ had already “broken down the dividing wall” (Ephesians 2:14) between Jews and Gentiles. And he believed that God had called him to carry the message of reconciliation through Christ to all peoples. He owed it to them. Those who know Christ are indeed in debt or obligated to take the gospel to those who do not know Christ. In other words, those who know Christ owe Christ to all people.

A Call From Above



When it comes to evangelism, Christ-followers have a two-fold responsibility — to show Christ (incarnation) and to share Christ (proclamation). Both are essential. Like two wings on an airplane, we need both incarnation (our ways) and proclamation (our words) in order to get our witness off the ground.

According to the Bible, evangelism begins with a call from above. God Himself calls, commands, and commissions us to tell the good news to the nations. Evangelism begins with a call from above because that is where evangelism began — in the heart of God. He sent His Son into the world (John 3:16) to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).

The last command of Jesus was a command to evangelize (read Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15, John 20:21, and Acts 1:8). We are still under obligation to obey this command; it has not been repealed. There are no exemptions to obedience by virtue of our age, gender, rank, race, or riches. Nor can we substitute anything in place of this command. Regardless of whatever else we may do in the church and for the kingdom, these things are to be done in addition to but not in place of evangelism.

John R. Mott, a leader of the Student Volunteer Movement at the turn of the twentieth century, understood what it meant to be a debtor. In a speech that he gave in April 1901, Mott challenged his audience to come to grips with the fact that not only do all people need Christ, but that we owe Christ to all people. “To have a knowledge of Christ,” Mott said, “is to incur a tremendous responsibility to those that have it not.”

Unless we understand that the gospel concerns all people, we will likely never feel the weight of our obligation to the nations. Mott reminded his audience, “You and I have received this great heritage, not to appropriate it to our exclusive use, but to pass it on to others. … What a colossal crime against two-thirds of the human race to withhold this surpassing knowledge!” Withholding the gospel from others is indeed a colossal crime, one with eternal ramifications.

Mott was right. Think about it. If we were not called to evangelism, then we would not have to concern ourselves with telling others about Jesus; we would not have to make evangelism a personal priority; we would be able to call every missionary home; we could stop the publication and distribution of tracts and evangelism materials; and we would not have to concern ourselves with the spiritual welfare of others.

But, that is not the case. There is a divine call to evangelism that comes from above and is directed at every Christ-follower. We are called to go and tell and to tell as we go.

A Call From Below

The Bible teaches that there is a call to evangelism that originates from above and is directed at every Christ-follower. According to Luke 16:19-31, there also is a call to evangelism that originates from below.

Jesus told a parable about an unnamed rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus was a sick man whose body was covered with sores. He was so poor that he longed to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.

One day Lazarus died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, but he went to hell. While in hell the rich man saw Lazarus being comforted in the bosom of Abraham, far away across a chasm. The rich man then cried to Abraham, asking that he send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his parched tongue and thus relieve a little of the agony he was experiencing in hell’s flames. But, his request was denied.

The rich man then made another request: “Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father’s house — for I have five brothers — that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28). This request was also denied.

This parable paints an awful picture of the terrible reality of hell. If we could intrude upon the fiery depths of hell with a listening device we too would hear a distinct call to evangelism, pleading with us — “Go and tell my brothers…”. If you and I could hear the cries of those in hell we would hear familiar voices calling us to go and tell.

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, said the following in a speech to the first class of graduates after they had completed two years of intensive study and training: “Young men, I’m sorry that it has been necessary to keep you here for two years before we could send you into the world to preach the gospel. What would have been better is if you could have had five minutes in hell! That would have been all the preparation you would need in your zeal to reach the lost.”

Booth was right. Many will never see heaven because we have never seen hell. Many will never hear and respond to the voice of God because you and I have not heard and responded to the cries from hell.

As Christ-followers, we cannot escape the call to tell others the good news. If we look up to the heights of heaven, we will hear a commanding call to evangelism. And, if we look below to the depths of hell, we will hear a distressing call pleading with us to go and warn others lest they go to that place of torment.

A Call From Without

There is yet a third call to evangelism that we cannot escape — the call that comes from without.

Luke’s account of Paul’s second missionary journey starts in Acts 15:36. Immediately prior to the start of this second journey, Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement regarding whether or not to allow John Mark to join their team. Paul did not want John Mark on the team because he had deserted them in Pamphylia on the previous journey. Barnabas, the encourager, wanted to give John Mark a second chance. Since Paul and Barnabas could not agree about what to do with John Mark, they agreed to go their separate ways. Barnabas took John Mark with him on another journey and Paul chose a new traveling companion named Silas to accompany him on his second missionary journey.

As Paul and Silas traveled, the Holy Spirit shut doors along the way and redirected them to Troas, a city on the extreme western shores of Asia Minor. While there, something significant happened (Acts 16:9): “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

This is the call to evangelism that comes from without — an urgent call from lost humanity, pleading with us to come and help. This was a significant call for Paul because Macedonia was on the continent of Europe and represented the place where the gospel had not yet been preached. And, the man in the vision represented and spoke for all who had not yet heard the gospel.

Like the Macedonian man, there are billions of people in the world today who are urgently crying out for help, asking for someone to show them the way out of darkness into the light and out of condemnation into forgiveness. People everywhere are looking for answers to life’s deepest questions. If you will listen, you’ll hear the cry of the Macedonians in your world, pleading for help.

Are you sensitive to the cries of those who are still waiting to hear the good news? Ask God to help you to tune out distractions so that you can hear the cries for help from others, cries woven into daily conversations with words that signal confusion, hurt, despair, and lostness. And when you hear these cries, do what Paul and Silas did — share the good news of Jesus Christ.



A Call From Within

There is a fourth call to evangelism, a call that comes from within. If we fail to hear and heed this call, then all of the other calls will also go unanswered. This is the call that ultimately stirs us to action. Isaiah heard this call in the year of King Uzziah’s death when he heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8).

Centuries after Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, another young man heard God’s voice. In the 18th century, churches throughout Europe had become indifferent to the spiritual needs of the world. During this time there lived a young English pastor who served as a part-time teacher and shoemaker. This young man was under the conviction that the Great Commission was directed to every believer and still operative. Many of his contemporaries felt otherwise.

At a ministers’ meeting in 1786, this young man asked “whether the command given to teach all nations was not obligatory on all [believers], to the end of the world.” Upon hearing this, an older pastor is reported to have said, “Sit down, young man. You are a miserable enthusiast to ask such a question. When God wants to convert the world, He can do it without your help.”

However, this young man dared to swim against the tide of apathy in his day because he had heard the voice of the Lord reverberating in his heart, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Like Isaiah, this young man dared to heed this divine call from within and answered affirmatively, “Here am I. Send me!” As a result, this young man named William Carey unwittingly launched the modern missionary movement in 1792 and became known as the father of modern missions.

Can you hear God’s voice reverberating within the chambers of your heart, asking “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” If not, turn down the volume, tune in to God, and make yourself available to beg others on behalf of Christ, “be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).

God had made the way of salvation clear. The purpose of this lesson is to guide you in learning how to use the Scriptures to explain the way of salvation.

The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.

An easy way to remember the flow of the story is to use the G-O-S-P-E-L acronym.

G = God created us to be with Him.
O = Our sins separate us from God.
S = Sins cannot be removed by good deeds.
P = Paying the price for our sins, Jesus died and rose again.
E = Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life.
L = Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.

When engaged in a spiritual conversation, look for an opportunity to ask questions that will give you insight into what another believes about the way of salvation. One witnessing model suggests the use of the following exploratory questions to initiate a spiritual conversation. The answers to these questions will indicate whether an individual is trusting in anything other than Christ alone for salvation.

Have you come to a place in your life that you know for certain that you have eternal life and that you will go to heaven when you die?

Suppose you were standing before God right now and He asked you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” What do you think you would say?



G = God Created Us To Be With Him
When sharing your faith, begin on a positive note. Explain that God created us and loves us (Psalm 100:3). He wants for us to live full and meaningful lives and to spend eternity with Him in heaven (John 10:10). In fact, He loves us so much that He offers us the remarkable gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23b).



O = Our Sins Separate Us From God
Transition to what keeps people from experiencing the kind of life God desires for us to have. The Bible tells us that we are separated from God. According to Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, not even one.” The word righteous means “in right standing or relationship with.” No one is in right standing with God because we are all sinners by nature and by choice. Our sin separates us from God.

Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other words, we have all sinned. To sin means to miss the mark of God’s standard of perfection. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives.



S = Sins Cannot Be Removed By Good Deeds
We cannot remove sin by doing good deeds. Some think that when they get to heaven God is going to weigh their bad and bad deeds. If the scale tips in their favor, they reason, then God will let them into heaven. This belief is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. If you could earn your way to heaven by doing good works then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21).

Because we have sinned against God, we all deserve death and hell. Romans 6:23 makes it clear that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death or separation from God!

P = Paying the Price for Our Sins, Jesus Died and Rose Again
The Bible tells us some wonderful news. Because God loves us so much, He provided a way for us to be forgiven. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” That is really good news! Jesus Christ died for us. His death paid for the price of our sins and His resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins.

God loves us but hates our sin. When Jesus died on the cross, God laid on Him all my sin and guilt (Isaiah 53:6). “[Jesus] was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:25).

E = Everyone Who Trusts in Him Alone Has Eternal Life


A gift can only be received or rejected. We must receive God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, we cannot earn it. To receive God’s gift we must repent (do an “about-face”) of our sin, believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin and rose victoriously from the dead, and surrender to Him as Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 explains “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins — and we will be saved.




L = Life With Jesus Starts Now…

Ask the person if what you have shared makes sense to them. Ask them if they are willing to turn from their sin and place their faith in Jesus right now.

Clarify that to receive God’s gift of eternal life they must do the following: repent of your sin, place your faith in Jesus, and surrender to Jesus as Lord.

Explain that the Bible says, “‘Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Romans 10:13). We call on the name of the Lord in prayer.

You can pray this simple prayer to receive God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation!

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life and be both my Lord and Savior. Thank you for hearing my prayer and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

… And Lasts Forever
Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins.

We also have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You can also use John 3:16, John 10:27-29, and 1 John 5:12 to explain assurance of salvation.

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If you have a smartphone, download the Life In 6 Words Mobile App. This is a useful tool for sharing your faith with others by using the G-O-S-P-E-L acronym.

Debt is a term that is not unfamiliar to us. Our nation has a staggering debt that we will likely never pay off. The accessibility of credit cards coupled with most people’s inability to postpone gratification has resulted in American households drowning in a tumultuous sea of debt. Delinquent debt has spawned collection agencies that badger debtors at all hours of the day and night with “pay your debt or else” threats. Debt in America is indeed a problem.

As a Christ-follower, I am a debtor. Like the Apostle Paul, I feel the weight of my obligation to all peoples. “I am debtor,” Paul wrote in Romans 1:14, “both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” A debt is an obligation. So, to whom was Paul obligated? Paul was certainly obligated to Christ for his salvation. But, he was also obligated to all who do not know Christ.

The terms Greeks and Barbarians refer the Gentiles, among whom Paul hoped to have a harvest. However, Paul also desired to reach the wise, those who were lost because of their worldly wisdom, and the unwise or those considered unworthy to receive the gospel. All of these terms define the broad scope of Paul’s personal mission field.

Paul understood that Christ had already “broken down the dividing wall” (Ephesians 2:14) between Jews and Gentiles. And he believed that God had called him to carry the message of reconciliation through Christ to all peoples. He owed it to them. Those who know Christ are indeed in debt or obligated to take the gospel to those who do not know Christ. In other words, those who know Christ owe Christ to all people.

John R. Mott, a leader of the Student Volunteer Movement at the turn of the twentieth century, understood what it meant to be a debtor. In a speech that he gave in April 1901, Mott challenged his audience to come to grips with the fact that not only do all people need Christ, but that we owe Christ to all people. “To have a knowledge of Christ,” Mott said, “is to incur a tremendous responsibility to those that have it not.”

Unless we understand that the gospel concerns all people, we will likely never feel the weight of our obligation to the nations. Mott reminded his audience, “You and I have received this great heritage, not to appropriate it to our exclusive use, but to pass it on to others. … What a colossal crime against two-thirds of the human race to withhold this surpassing knowledge!” Withholding the gospel from others is indeed a colossal crime, one with eternal ramifications.

When considering our debt to all peoples, we must think and act strategically. Today, more than 6,600 people groups are still waiting to hear the good news. We have the resources and the capability to take the gospel to all peoples. In Mott’s words, “God forbid that we should lack vision in these days to take advantage of the tide that is rising to sweep multitudes into the all-embracing kingdom of Jesus Christ.” May we be dominated by the conviction that we must stop at nothing until we have paid our debt.