THE BIBLE
ABRAHAM
Abraham is a pivitol figure in the history of the world, in more ways than one. We know the story of Isaac and the obedience of Abraham, but what about the reason why he was elevated into the 'heroes of faith' in Hebrews 11? Before Abraham, there were major events such as The Creation, Adam and Eve, The flood, The Tower of Babel and the separating of the languages and peoples.
Abraham, however was also a major figure because it was through him that God made his promise to bless all nations. This is also the hinge point of the Bible, when God takes his focus off the entire planet to seemingly concentrate on a chosen nation, ironically so that the entire world could be blessed through them!
Below are just a few questions and brief answers to get you thinking and developing your understanding of biblical missions.
How can we explain that God's promise to Abraham in Gen 12:1-3 reveals
that God is a missionary God?
Genesis 12:1-3 says that all nations will be blessed through Abraham - not just the Jewish nation. This shows that God is interested in blessing all nations (people groups, families) through the seed of Abraham, meaning that all nations will have the opportunity of being blessed (justified, made righteous, joint heirs with Christ) through faith in Jesus Christ. Reassuringly, Abraham received his own justification by faith and also received the blessing before the circumcision covenant was made, making Abraham the father of all the Jews or Gentiles who follow the example of (his) faith.
If we then share the same faith as Abraham and he is the 'father of many nations' then we see that God is fulfilling his Great Commission through the promise to Abraham - by faith. As a result of that saving faith the peoples of the world (Jews and Gentiles) would then proclaim the Gospel tothe rest of creation (Mark 16:15) no matter what culture or race and therefore fulfill that original promise to Abraham - a blessing of salvation and justification to all who 'are Christ's... heirs according to the promise' - therefore showing God is a global, missionary God.
The Lord reveals his universal focus through the promise to Abraham, understandably, this promise comes to the the covenant nation first but we see that clearly God desires that all nations are to be blessed, especially as the promise is made before the covenant.
Since a few "mission" verses in the New Testament are an insufficient basis for a biblical mandate for global mission, what is the biblical basis for mission?
The biblical basis for mission is thematic throughout the entire bible, Old and New Testament. We see it right at the beginning as God made Adam the father of the human race. We see a gentile global perspective with Melchizedech, Jethro, Balaam and the mission of Jonah to the Ninevites. We also see it from the fall of man God was determined to redeem mankind throughout the entire Old Testament, through the promise to Abraham. The redemption of mankind is expertly woven into each book of the bible, through each biblical story and so enlarging our perspective of global mission from a few verses of Scripture, to the entire bible.
We also see that Israel was called to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4) and as a parallel, we as God's people are chosen to participate in his purpose. We are blessed to be a blessing therefore incorporating all God's people whether Jew or Gentile to play our part in blessing others. Every descendant of Abraham through faith in Jesus is called to spread the Good News to all nations and as Christians we shouldn't relate to just a few famous verses of scripture that reinforce biblical mission but we should relate to the entire Word of God, which categorically focuses on the entire human race, in the beginning at creation, the Character of God, the promises of God, through the prophets and then the seed of Abraham (Jesus) until finally the end of the Age in Revelation. We mustn't ignore this macro theme of the bible that goes from beginning to end.
What is God's mission purpose:
Toward God?
That he will be glorified and all nations will praise and worship Him, globally, corporately, individually. Psalm 67 2-7, Psalm 117:1 Praise the Lord all you nations, extol him all you peoples.
For the nations?
To keep his promise and redeem all people with salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. God desires that non should perish but that everyone would come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Against evil?
By liberating people from sin, death and Satan through the cross - to 'set the captives free' and ultimately to bring all creation under his sovereign rule, accumulating in the final defeat of Satan in Revelation 20:10.
