God is a Missionary God

Israel was called to do missions and the church does missions because God does missions.  We love missions because God loves missions.  We sacrifice in giving and going and we go to risky places because God sacrificed and gave and went to a “risky” place (Jn. 1:10-11).  We long to see sinners saved by the grace of God because God loves to see sinners saved by the grace of God. 

But are those true statements?  Does God love missions?  Is God a missionary God?  From virtually the first page of Scripture to the last, God demonstrates His commitment to and love for missions.

When God went to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after their sin, providing covering clothing and forgiveness, He was going on a missionary venture with His good news.  He went to them.  He pursued them.  He called to them.  He told them His good news of provision for their sin.

“They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Gen. 3:8-9 NASB)

God’s promise to Abram was initiated by Him and was a message of salvation for Israel, and the promise of spiritual blessing and salvation for all the nations of the earth.  God going to Abram was a missionary venture.  And God’s declaration to Abram was a missionary message.

“And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.  And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Gen. 12:2-3; NASB)

God’s people, Israel, was called to engage in the evangelistic mission to the nations.

“I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.” (Is. 42:6-7; NASB)

God’s promise to Israel was not just that Israel would be saved, but that people from all over the earth would be saved.

“‘So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.’ Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’” (Zech. 8:22-23; NASB)

“And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people…” (Rev. 14:6; NASB)

“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22:1-2; NASB)

God’s plan for taking the gospel to the nations through missions was part of His eternal plan — it was the eternal promise from the Father to the Son to bring redeem sinners who would eternally praise the name of the Son.  God made the plan.  God sent His Son (a type of commissioning to a missionary cause).  God revealed His plan of salvation (the missionary message). 

“Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior…” (Titus 1:1-3; NASB)

So missions is not a NT concept; it is a Bible concept and a God-concept. And to engage in missions is to do what God does.  That’s why we take the gospel to the nations. 

“God is a missionary God. The Bible is a missionary book. The gospel is a missionary message. The church is a missionary institution. And, when the church ceases to be missionary minded, it has denied its faith and betrayed its trust.” [Herbert Kane]

“A map of the world” by Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL is licensed under CC BY 2.0.