From Genesis to Revelation, God is calling his people to join Him in His redemptive work in every people group.
Download Global Missions: Part 1
What verses come to mind when you think of the word, “MISSIONS”? [...] The Bible has a lot to say on this subject, and it is important to understand the Biblical basis for missions. Maybe you’re saying, “The Biblical basis, is there one?” YES! And not only that, but missions permeates every book of the Bible. It is in fact the theme of the Bible. If you don’t believe that all 66 books can be reduced to one theme, keep reading. You will see that missions is not your pastor’s idea, or your campus minister’s idea, or even your idea ... it is God’s. Since creation, God has been interested in redeeming all peoples to Himself. As Christians, it is vital that we see the world as He sees it.
Let’s look at the Bible in light of God’s heart for the world, and we will see that from Genesis to Revelation He is beckoning you and me and all of His people to join Him in bringing every people group to His throne.
The Bible is not a collection of separate books with no common theme or story. It is one book with an Introduction: Genesis 1-11, a Plot: Genesis 12-Jude, and a Conclusion: Revelation.
Let us begin where God begins, in Genesis.
“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth...”
Genesis 1:28.
This is an interesting command. Be fruitful and multiply. Now why wouldn’t God just want the Garden of Eden populated? Why the whole earth? Because God wanted the whole world filled with His image bearers reflecting His glory! However, we know that by Genesis 3, sin had crept in, and by chapter 8, the world was not looking good. So as God floods the earth and starts over, listen to the command He gives Noah, just after he steps off the ark.
"Then God blessed Noah and his sons saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’”
Genesis 9:1.
“Hey Noah, don’t just populate a city, fill the earth.” There it is again, the command to multiply. So as we come to [the next chapter] there should be one simple question on all of our minds: Does God get the earth filled?
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you...I will bless you...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3.
“Hey Abram, leave. Leave your country, your people, your family, your life, your dreams, your ambitions, your future as well as all that you know and are familiar with and go to the land I will show you.” Now if you keep reading, something really weird happens...
“So Abram left, as the Lord had told him.”
Genesis 12:4.
He leaves. Man obeys God. This is a pretty weird concept especially in today’s world. So Abram is off to establish a nation that will bless all peoples. Interestingly, this command was not for Abram alone. Watch God continue to call succeeding generations to reach all nations. Next in line is Abraham’s son, Isaac.
“I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.”
Genesis 26:4.
And to Isaac’s son, Jacob:
“Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.”
Genesis 28:14.
The rest of the Old Testament is filled with God using Israel to make His name great among the nations. Here are just a few examples: the 10 Commandments…
“Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”
Deuteronomy 4:5-6.
His reputation spread after parting the Red Sea.
“I [Rahab] know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us ... we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt...” Joshua 2:9-10.
A light for the Gentiles.
“He [the LORD] says: ‘It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Isaiah 49:6
This is just a sampling of how missions is a thread throughout the Old Testament. As we transition to the New Testament, the plot only thickens. Now Christ, God in flesh, enters the scene and what do we see in the pattern of His life and ministry? Nothing different. Whether it is taking a longer route to reach a Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42) or healing various Gentiles to teach His followers (Mark 5:1-20, 7:24-30). Christ in the New Testament maintained the pattern established in the Old Testament. Here are a few more examples.
Clearing the temple:
“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area designated for the Gentiles to worship and he found people buying and selling there. As He drove them out saying “Is it not written; ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?”
Mark 11:15-17.
The sign of His return:
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [...]”
Matthew 24:14.
The mandate to His followers:
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Mark 16:15.
The book of Acts is a testimony of the account of the gospel spreading to the ends of the earth. It begins with Jesus echoing what He had taught the disciples for the past 3 years.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8.
As the persecution begins, so does the scattering (Acts 8:1), and the Lord adds great numbers to their missionary force.
“...Go! This man [Paul] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles...”
Acts 9:15.
The rest of the book of Acts and Epistles give a detailed description of Paul and the rest of the missionary band struggling to raise up churches all over the world.
The introduction: Genesis 1-11, the plot: Genesis 12-Jude, so what is the conclusion?
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb...”
Revelation 7:9.
It is important to connect what is happening in Revelation with what God started in Genesis 12 in the life of Abraham. God will do it. There will be a representative from every nation, tribe, people, and language bowing and worshipping at His feet. Heaven is multicultural. God is a missionary God, and from cover to cover He is showing us His mission. Will you join Him in bringing a representative from every people group to His throne? It will happen, the only question is will you be a part?
For more, read Global Missions: Part 2.
Questions for Discussion
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