Rooted in God's heart is His desire for all nations to know Him and to proclaim His glory. Throughout the Bible, the task of world evangelism is driven by God's desire to bless all nations through Abraham, the redemption mandate of Jesus Christ, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to witness to the ends of the earth.
Key Biblical Themes for Missions:
- The Missionary God: Genesis to Revelation tell a cohesive story of a God who actively pursues all peoples as He owns all things in the world (Ps. 82:8, Hag. 2:8).
- The Creation Mandate (Genesis 1:28, 9:1,7): God instructed humanity to fill and rule the earth, which implies spreading His glory everywhere.
- The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3): God chose to bless Abraham's descendants so that "all peoples on earth" would be blessed, creating a foundation for international mission
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20): Jesus explicitly commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them.
- The Power of the Spirit (Acts 1:8): Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to empower believers to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.
- A "Whosoever Will" Salvation (Revelation 21-22): The Gospel offers salvation to all people and promises a redeemed gathering of every tribe, tongue, and nation in heaven.
Key Aspects of the Mission Mandate:
- Universal Offer: God desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
- Proclamation Task: The Gospel must be proclaimed to all ethnic groups before the end of the age (Matt. 24:14).
- Exile and Dispersion: God often used scattering and exile (e.g. in Daniel and Esther) to bring His message to foreign lands.