BIBLICAL BASIS FOR MISSIONS

ROMANS 10:14–21

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

(Rom. 10:14)

When we look into the Scriptures, we see the word mission, which means “to send,” over and over again. The life of the church finds its mission in the authority and action of God Himself. It is God who institutes, sanctifies, and mandates the mission of the church. John 3:17 says that God “sent” His Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world, through Him, might be saved.

The purpose of that sending was for redemption. Let us note, as we have stated in previous studies, that this sending was based on the love of God. Jesus’ own vocation was to do the will of the Father. Jesus came into the world, in one sense, because He was sent. He came into this, world, speaking the words of God and giving the Holy Spirit without measure.

In John 17, Jesus says that the words the Father had given to Him, He had given to His disciples. The Father had sent the Son, and then the Son sent His disciples. He says, “I have given them Your word.” The disciples were sent even as Jesus was sent. The biblical basis, therefore, of the mission of the church is the Word of God, the authority of God Himself. The mission of the church is not based on the authority of one church. It is not based on the grandiose ideas of one man or one culture, western or otherwise. It is based on the mandate of Christ.

The mission of God is a sending program. He sent Abraham out from the land of Ur. He sent Moses to Egypt. He sent His children into the promised land. When they turned disobedient, He sent His prophets. Later, He sent His own Son. Today, He sends His church to proclaim the Good News. That mission did not begin with man, and it will not and with man. It will continue until He comes again. It is only over when the mandate of Christ is completed. Some people say we do not need to be doing mission work, but such people are acting contrary to Jesus’ own mandate. It is the church’s duty to carry out the Great Commission, even when it seems hopeless and futile. It is never futile because the mission of the church is grounded not in out efforts but in the Word of God Himself.

CORAM DEO

Obadiah

Revelation 8

Do you support a missionary in any way, by financing or sending him or her supplies such as Bibles and study materials? If not, think about what you can do to help a missionary that your church supports. You can either commit to giving money, or to sending something else he or she might need.

For further study: John 3:16–17 • Acts 10:10–22 • Rom. 16:25–27

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