Biblical Foundations to Global Missions
The Bible teaches that “Missions” was not an afterthought by God but an integral part of His eternal plan of salvation. Every part of the Bible supports missions – for God has always been concerned about the loss of all nations and commissioned His plan of redemption long ago. God intends to make His Name known so people everywhere will call upon Him as the one true God.
The Bible presents many considerations and motives for supporting and engaging in missionary work. Prominent among which are:
- Concern for God’s Glory – 1 Peter 4:11, 1 Cor. 10:31, Eph. 1:14, John 17:4
- Obedience to our Lord’s commission – Matt. 28-19-20a, 18, 1 Thess. 2:4, Gal. 1:8-9, Luke 2:10-11, John 3:16
- The desperate need of men without Christ – Eph. 2:12, 1 Cor. 12:2, Matt. 9:36, Luke 10:27
- The adequacy and purpose of the atonement: By the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, and with his blood, Jesus Christ ransomed men for God from every tribe, tongue, and people of all nations. He has made us a kingdom and priest to God– Rev. 5:9-10, John 11:52
- The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: This is a strong missionary motive to preach the gospel to all nations before the end. – Matt. 24:14. Crown of Righteousness is won by looking for the second coming of Christ. A brief overview of Biblical Missions includes a biblical-theological survey of mission in the O.T., the Intertestamental period, and the various corpora of the N.T. is needed to appreciate the diversity and underlying unity of scriptural teaching on a mission.
What are Missions?
Christian missions refer to the efforts of Christians and Christian organizations to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ and establish his kingdom on earth. It often involves evangelism, humanitarian aid, and the establishment of churches and other Christian institutions in places where they do not exist or need support.
The term “Missions” is often used to describe these efforts, and it generally refers to the work of Christian individuals or groups who feel called by God to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Missions can occur locally or internationally and involve various activities, such as preaching, teaching, discipleship, and service.
Christian missions aim to bring people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, help them grow in their faith, and establish Christian communities that will continue to share the gospel and serve others long after the missionaries have left. Ultimately, missions express the Christian belief that God desires all people to know him and experience his love and salvation.
Christian missions refer to the efforts of Christian individuals or organizations to spread the message of Christianity to people who have not yet heard it or have not accepted it as their faith. The primary goal of Christian missions is to share the love and message of Jesus Christ with others and to bring people to a saving knowledge of Him.
Missions can take many forms, including evangelism, church planting, discipleship, humanitarian aid, and social justice work. Missionaries may work in their own country or travel to other parts of the world and engage in short-term and long-term mission trips.
In essence, Christian missions seek to fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus gave to his disciples before he ascended to heaven: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
The Biblical basis for missions can be found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Here are a few key passages:
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20): As mentioned earlier, Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that he had commanded.
- The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3): God called Abraham to leave his homeland and go to a new land that God would show him, promising to bless him and make him a blessing to all the families of the earth.
- The Promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16): God promised David that his kingdom would be established forever and that a son of David would sit on the throne forever. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who came to bring salvation to all people.
- The Vision of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8): Isaiah saw a vision of God in the temple and heard the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah responded, “Here am I; send me.” This passage highlights the importance of being willing to go and share the message of God’s salvation.
- The Sending of the Twelve (Mark 6:7-13): Jesus sent out his disciples to preach repentance, heal the sick, and cast out demons. This passage emphasizes the importance of sharing the message of the kingdom of God with others.
Many other passages in the Bible demonstrate that God plans to bless all the nations of the earth through the message of salvation in Jesus Christ and that Christians are called to be a part of this mission. God’s commitment to missions is a central theme throughout the Bible.
God’s commitment to missions can be seen throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. God demonstrates His commitment to missions in each section of the Bible:
In Genesis:
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in His promise to Abraham that through him, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).
- God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 22:18)
In the Law:
- God’s command to love the foreigner and the stranger (Leviticus 19:34)
- God’s promise to drive out the nations before Israel (Exodus 23:27-31)
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in the laws given to the Israelites, which were meant to distinguish them from the nations around them and witness them (Deuteronomy 4:5-8).
In Israel’s history:
- God’s faithfulness to Israel despite their unfaithfulness (2 Kings 17:7-23)
- God’s protection of Israel during their time in Egypt (Exodus 1-14)
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in His calling and use of Israel as a nation to witness the surrounding nations (Isaiah 43:10-12).
In the Kings:
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in His use of the kings of Israel and Judah to spread His message and to bring judgment on those who opposed Him (1 King 8:41-43).
- God’s use of foreign kings to bring judgment on Israel (2 Kings 17:1-6)
- God’s faithfulness to King David and his descendants (2 Samuel 7:8-16)
In the Psalms:
- God’s universal reign and salvation (Psalm 67)
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in the Psalms, which often speak of God’s glory being declared among the nations (Psalm 96:1-3).
- God’s command to praise him among the nations (Psalm 117)
In the Prophets:
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in the prophets’ prophecies, which often speak of a future time when all the nations will come to worship the Lord (Isaiah 2:2-4).
- God’s promise to send a savior for all nations (Isaiah 49:6)
- God’s warning to Israel of judgment for their disobedience (Jeremiah 25:8-11)
In the Gospels:
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in the life and teachings of Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
- Jesus’ ministry to Gentiles (Matthew 15:21-28)
In Acts:
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in the book of Acts, which chronicles the gospel’s spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
- The spread of the gospel to Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10-11)
- The establishment of churches throughout the Roman Empire (Acts 13-28)
In the Epistles:
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in the apostles’ letters, which often speak of the need to take the message of salvation to those who have not heard it (Romans 10:14-15).
- The call to evangelize and make disciples (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
- The unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22)
In Revelation:
- God’s commitment to missions is seen in the vision of the throne room, where people from every nation, tribe, and language are gathered before the Lamb (Revelation 7:9-10).
- The return of Jesus Christ to establish his kingdom on earth (Revelation 19-22)
God’s commitment to missions is seen most clearly in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Jesus’ identification with and love for all people (John 3:16) and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).
God’s mission commands can be found in various places in the Bible, including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts. God’s commands for missions in each of these books:
Matthew:
The most well-known command for missions is found in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus commands His disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Mark:
In Mark 16:15, Jesus commands His disciples to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Luke:
In Luke 24:47-48, Jesus commands His disciples to “repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
John:
In John 20:21, Jesus says to His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.”
Acts:
Throughout the book of Acts, God’s commands for missions are demonstrated through the actions of the apostles and other early believers, who are seen preaching the gospel and making disciples in various places, both in Jerusalem and beyond (Acts 1:8).
These commands emphasize the importance of sharing the message of salvation with others and making disciples of all nations. They also demonstrate that missions are not simply an option for believers but rather a vital part of the Christian life and an essential aspect of obeying God’s commands.
