Q & A – “What is an Evangelical?” Mark 1:1 (NIV), The beginning of the good news [Gk euangelion] about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. DEFINITION: Euangelion is the Greek word where the English word evangelical comes from. It means Gospel or Good News. An evangelical is one who believes and shares the GOOD NEWS about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Five distinctives of evangelicals from J.C. Ryle's book, Knots Untied: Evangelicals hold to a HIGH view of the Bible. 2 Tim. 3:16 (NIV), “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” John 10:35 (NIV), “…the Scripture cannot be broken.” Evangelicals hold to a LOW view of human nature. Gen. 6:5 (NIV), “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” Rom. 3:23, “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Evangelicals hold to a NARROW view of salvation through Christ alone. Acts 4:12 (NIV), “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Evangelicals hold to an INWARD change of heart by a new birth. Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV), “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” John 3:3, Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Evangelicals hold to an OUTWARD change of life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22 (NIV), “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.” John 17:18, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” “The Gospel was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, memories, and tongues, but to be seen in our lives.” - J.C. Ryle, Knots Untied