Why does the world need to be evangelized? To answer this question you must
understand two things: The definition and the destiny of the lost.
DEFINITION OF THE LOST:
Read about the creation of the world and man in Genesis chapters l and 2. Then read
Genesis 3 about how sin entered the world. When Adam and Eve were first created, they
had a perfect sinless nature. After they sinned that nature was corrupted. As Adam and
Eve began to reproduce and have children, these new additions to the human race were
born with a basic sin nature. Man was no longer good as God had created him. His
natural thought and action patterns were evil.
Genesis 4:1-6:4 describes the pattern of sin as it began to spread throughout the world.
These chapters record the first murder, the first lie, and how the wickedness of man grew
until every thought, as well as action, was evil. Finally, the whole world was so sinful that
God actually repented that He had made man (Genesis 6:5-6).
Because of the rapid growth of sin, God decided to destroy the earth with a flood but
saved one righteous man, Noah, and his family. (Read the story of Noah and the flood in
Genesis 6:8-9:17.) After the flood, Noah's family began to reproduce. Almost
immediately, the pattern of sin reoccurred. This is why all people everywhere are called
"sinners":
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
All people who have not repented of sin and experienced the new birth described by Jesus
in John chapter 3 are considered "lost" because they have lost the sinless nature with
which God originally created man. We may also say they are "unsaved" or "unbelievers"
because they have not been saved from their sins through believing in the Lord Jesus
Christ as Savior.
DESTINY OF THE LOST:
Because of the original sin of Adam and Eve, death entered into the world and because of
this eventually everyone dies physically. After physical death comes judgment:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
(Hebrews 9:27)
After death, we will stand before God for judgment. People who have not repented of
their sins will face a second death. They will die the "spiritual death" of eternal
separation from God. Their destiny is Hell:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the
dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. . .
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12, 15)
When you really understand the destiny of the lost, you realize the urgent need for
evangelism. If people are not reached with the Gospel, they will die in sin and be
destined for eternity in Hell.