[No Greater] No Greater PursuitSample

Fishers of People

As we have seen all through John 15, as Christians we are to love God and abide in Christ. We are also to love our neighbor. Our final relationship is to love the world, our far neighbor—those who do not yet believe. It is through seeing believers care for one another that unbelievers are intrigued enough to take notice. It is the way we treat one another that will show the world Christ in us.

When Jesus talks about the world, He means humankind—specifically unbelievers. Sometimes He also means the world system—its primary beliefs and values which are in opposition to the values of God. Jesus told His disciples that they would suffer persecution, that the world would hate them. It costs to count. We cannot live well for the Lord without taking some hits from the world; still, we are to love the world. 

Our impact upon unbelievers, the world, has two main sources: words and works. It is not enough to have one without the other. These are the heart and soul of effective fruit bearing. Jesus spoke words and did works that came straight from God. The dynamics of His ministry are both verbal and visual. 

The best way to love the world is to bear witness to those who do not believe, to help them receive eternal life. Jesus tells us in John 15:26–27: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” Evangelism is preeminently the work of the Holy Spirit; He is the one who goes before us. 

To bear witness is to speak out of first–hand experience with Christ, and not simply share knowledge about Him. It is to focus on what is important: the magnetic person of Jesus, not just a lifestyle change. We should be completely focused on the person of Jesus; it is in Him that hearts are softened, repentance is stimulated, sins are forgiven, and lives transformed. 

When we are effective witnesses, we remain head over heels in love with Jesus—abiding in Him. We lead by surprise, like Jesus did, wowing unbelievers before trying to win them. We meet unbelievers on their territory and come down to their level; we are called to go among them. Lastly, we spotlight Jesus; we do not get distracted by trying to win an argument, but spotlight the King above anything else. 

To receive a No Greater Pursuit study guide and video links of Dwight Edwards teaching the full version of this Bible study, visit https://www.gsot.edu/center/