2015

The Biblical Basis for

Missions
Prof. Dick Lawyer
Wilmington, Delaware, USA

SETE
Seminario de Educación Teológica por Extensión
 FUNDAMENTO BÍBLICO DE LAS MISIONES
Silabo
Descripción del Curso

Es un estudio bíblico basado en las misiones cristianas. Basado en el curso "Perspectivas del
Movimiento Mundial Cristiano", traza los planes de Dios para redimir al hombre caído para darle
el propósito de glorificar a Dios a toda la gente de "toda tribu, lengua y nación". El curso también
provee el estudiante de un amplio panorama de historia bíblico.

Objetivos
1. Presentarle al estudiante el plan de redención de la humanidad de Dios.
2. Proveer al estudiante de un amplio panorama del flujo de la historia de la Biblia.
3. Ayudar al estudiante a comprender cómo Dios es "un Dios misionero".
4. Retar al alumno a pensar sobre todas las Escrituras como la revelación del mandato de Dios
para llevar el evangelio a todas las naciones.

Libros de Texto
Gonzalo, Justo Historia General de Misiones. Ed Vida
Grunian, Stephen Antropología Cultural. Ed Vida
Lewis, J Misión Mundial Vol 1,2,3 Unilit

Bosquejo
1. La Historia de la Creación
2. Abraham y la elección de Israel
3. El fracas de los misioneros
4. La historia de la Gloria de Dios
5. Jesus el Mesías y la Misión del Reino
6. La Iglesia y la continuación de la Misión
7. The Church and the Continuing Mission

Requisitos
1. Escoger de los libros de textos de acuerdo al siguiente cronograma:
Diploma: 200 páginas (de un solo libro)
Bachiller: 300 páginas (de dos libros)
Licenciatura: 400 páginas (dos atres libros)

2. Escribir un reporte del libro/s de lo que han leído (usando el formato de reporte estándar)

3. Presentar el reporte de Lectura

4. Preparar uno o más sermones o estudios bíblicos sobre el fundamento de las misiones de
acuerdo al siguiente cronograma:
Diploma: 2/3 sermón o estudio Bíblico (2 hojas por sermon)
Bachiller: 4 sermones o estudios bíblicos (8 hojas)
Licenciatura: 5 sermones o estudios bíblicos (10 hojas)

Nota
Los estudiantes de Bachiller y Licenciatura pueden preparar los sermones o estudios bíblicos
utilizando una serie, como "Lo Gloria de Dios, Parte 1", "La Gloria de Dios, Parte 2", etc.
SETE
Seminario de Educación Teológica por
Extensión

REPORTE DEL LIBRO

1. ¿Cuál cree que es el tema central del libro?

2. ¿Cuál cree que fue el propósito del autor para escribir este libro?

3. ¿Cuáles son las lecciones aprendidas en el libro? Mencione por lo

menos diez, citando las páginas. del libro.

4. ¿Qué lecciones prácticas aprendió que puede aplicar en el

ministerio? Mencione cinco y cite las páginas. de dónde obtuvo las
lecciones.

5. ¿Cree que el autor logró su cometido en el libro?

6. ¿Cuál es su opinión del libro?

7. ¿A quién recomendaría este libro? ¿Por qué?

8. Presente un resumen del libro (no mas de una hoja)

9. Haga un bosquejo para un mensaje o Estudio Bíblico basado en el

capitulo que mas le interesó.

10. Haga una lista de ilustraciones o citas que podría usar en el futuro.
SETE
Seminario de Educación Teológica por Extensión

REPORTE DE LECTURA
FECHA AUTOR TITULO DEL LIBRO DE LA HASTA TIEMPO
PAG. LA PAG. LECTURA

TOTAL

Nombre:________________________
Fecha de Entrega_________________
Materia:_________________________
Profesor:________________________
Lugar:___________________________
 The Purpose of this Course

As missions-minded evangelical Christians, our calling is to share the gospel. This course is
designed to show the biblical basis for that vision. It comes from God’s Word, and the mandate
God has given us. God is a missionary God, and this course will help you see how God works
on earth and what his purpose and goals are throughout Scripture.

Based on the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course and manual, “the point of
this course is not to persuade you to become a missionary. Neither is it to train you in skills you
need to serve as a missionary.

“The primary idea is that God will fulfill His purposes.” His purpose is three-fold: (1) overcoming
evil – the victory of His kingdom; (2) redemption and blessing for the nations; and (3) global
glory for God Himself in worship.

We will explore “how God has been steadily unfolding a plan throughout all nations and
generations to bring about His greater glory, ultimately drawing to Himself the worship of all the
peoples.”

We will look at “the kingdom of God as the destiny of all history. Christ’s mission seeks a
hindering of evil to bring about a sign of the coming peace of the kingdom of God.” We will see
that “our prayers contend with evil in order to bring about the transformation of society with
Christ’s kingdom in view.”

Jesus showed great interest in the Gentiles. He began to initiate a global mission by giving a
mandate to a few disciples among the Hebrew people. The Great Commission carries out that
mandate to go into the world, preach the gospel, and make disciples of all peoples, or ethnic
(ethnos) groups, teaching them to obey what Jesus had commanded.

[Perspectives On the World Christian Movement, The Notebook, 1999 Edition,

p. x. Ralph D. Winter, ed. William Carey Library, Pasadena, Calif. 91114]
 Table of Contents
1 – THE CREATION STORY
1.1 - Six Major Themes
1.2 - Genesis 1-11: The Setting
1.3 - Genesis 10 – The Nations
1.4 - A Clash of Kingdoms
1.5 - Satan’s Counter Kingdom
1.6 - Man’s Rebellion
1.7 - God’s Two-Fold Strategy

2 - ABRAHAM AND THE ELECTION OF ISRAEL

2.1 - Genesis 12 and Afterward – God Seeking to Redeem Fallen Man
2.2 - The Election of Israel
2.3 - The Progressive Fulfillment of God’s Promise
2.4 - God’s Purpose in Mission
2.5 - Israel - A People for God’s Name
2.6 - God and the Exodus - Making His Name Known to the People
2.7 - The Covenant and the Priesthood
2.8 - Israel as Missionary

3 – THE FAILURE OF THE MISSIONARIES

3.1 - The Great Delay
3.2 - God’s Persistence and Renewed Promise
3.3 - Israel Falls into Idolatry
3.4 - An Example of Blessing and Curse
3.5 - The Babylonian Exile
3.6 - Fulfilling the Missionary Task - Jonah
3.7 - Restoration

4 – THE STORY OF GOD’S GLORY

4.1 - Introduction
4.2 - Partnering with God
4.3 - God at War With His Enemies
4.4 - The Doxology and God’s Glory
4.5 - Doing Mission God’s Way
4.6 - The Glory of God in Christ
4.7 - The Cosmic War
5 – MESSIAH JESUS AND THE KINGDOM MISSION
5.1 - Israel’s Failure
5.2 - God as the Author of Mission
5.3 - Jesus’ Mission
5.4 - What the Greeks Were Looking For
5.5 - The Vision of the Kingdom
5.6 - The Prayer of the Kingdom
5.7 - The Mandate of the Kingdom
5.8 - The Strategic Focus of Jesus
5.9 - The Mission of the Kingdom
5.10 - Messiah on Kingdom Mission

6 – THE CHURCH AND THE CONTINUING MISSION

6.1 - The Mission of God is a War Against Evil
6.2 - The Church in God’s Plan
6.3 - As the Father Sent Me
6.4 - The Great Commission
6.5 - To Seek and to Save the Lost
6.6 - A Global Movement
6.7 - The Biblical Vision of the Church
6.8 - God and the Supernatural
6.9 - Mission and the Uniqueness of Christ
6.10 - The Day of the Lord
6.11 - Strategic Prayer
6.12 - The Apostolic Model - Passion
6.13 - The Apostolic Model - Prayer
6.14 - The Apostolic Model - Suffering
6.15 - Conclusion
 1 – THE CREATION STORY

1.1 - Six Major Themes

Four Old Testament themes pave the way for Jesus’ “Great Commission.”
1. The creation story, the fall of man, and the dispersing of the nations
2. The election of Israel as God’s chosen people to proclaim the gospel
3. Israel’s failure as God’s missionary people
4. Doxology and God’s glory

The remaining two major themes are in the New Testament.

5. Jesus the Messiah fulfilling the Old Testament story
6. The church’s mandate to carry on the mission

1.2 - Genesis 1-11: The Setting

The story begins with God and the creation of everything – Genesis 1-3.
• God creates the heavens and the earth
• God makes man and woman in his own image
• Man rebels against the Creator
• Rebellion brings God’s judgment.
• But there is a promise of hope in the first proclamation of the gospel message (3:15)

The next eight chapters – Genesis 4-11 – describe the results of the fall.
• The growing alienation of man from God and other human beings
• Moral deterioration and darkness
• The geographic dispersal of the human race
• The steady disintegration of society
• The nations’ attempt to “make a name” for themselves
• The stories in those chapters are:
o Chapter 4 – Cain & Abel
o Chapter 6 – Noah & The Flood
o Chapter 9 – Noah’s descendants
o Chapter 10 – The Table of Nations
o Chapter 11 – The Tower of Babel
1.3 - Genesis 10 – The Nations
Genesis 10 lists the nations descending from the three sons of Noah.

God’s judgment at the Tower of Babel sets the stage for

• The call of Abraham
• God’s effort to redeem the nations
• The culmination of the story of the nations is in the Book of Revelation.
▪ Revelation 5:9-10
▪ Revelation 7:9-17

1.4 - A Clash of Kingdoms

The Bible describes God as an eternal king.
• Psalm 10:16
• Psalm 103:19

But there is a competing kingdom that challenges God’s sovereignty.

1.5 - Satan’s Counter Kingdom

God rules his kingdom by delegated authority.

Lucifer had great prominence before his fall.

• Ezekiel 28:11-19
• Isaiah 14:12-14

At some point, Lucifer’s loyalty to the will of God failed.

• Isaiah 14:14
• Revelation 12:4-7

God did allow the formation of a kingdom of darkness.

• Isaiah 14:14

If God is sovereign, why didn’t he restrain or destroy this arch rebel?

• Psalm 76:10
1.6 - Man’s Rebellion
When God created man he endowed him with beauty and free will (Genesis 1:26).

These divine characteristics can only grow where there is moral freedom.

God in sovereignty made Adam and Eve partners in his rule (Genesis 2:17).

1.7 - God’s Two-Fold Strategy

God’s apparent dilemma
God now had two problems.
• Satan had defected and set up a counter kingdom.
• Man, created in God’s image, had defected and fallen into sin.

The problems could not be dealt with separately

The solution begins with the first proclamation of the gospel in Genesis 3:15.

God began by choosing a man of faith – Abraham – c. 2000 BC (Genesis 12).

Eventually, to fulfill his purpose, God chose David out of the same lineage – c. 1000 BC.
• 2 Samuel 7:12-16
• Amos 9:11-12
• Zechariah 14:9

Two typical sons, two typical animals, one glorious Messiah (Matthew 1:1)
 2 - ABRAHAM AND THE ELECTION OF
ISRAEL

2.1 - Genesis 12 and Afterward – God Seeking to Redeem Fallen Man

Out of the prevailing godlessness, God called one man, Abram, and his family
• God promised to bless Abraham and through him the whole world.
• The scattering thus would end and a great ingathering would begin.

Key passage – Genesis 12:1-3

Understanding God’s promise to Abraham is essential to understanding

• The Bible
• Christian mission
• Our place in the world

The fulfillment of the promise is divided into two main parts throughout Scripture:
• The promise: what God said he would do
• The fulfillment: how God has kept and will keep his promise

The specific promise God made to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3) was in three parts:
1. A promise of a land
▪ Genesis 11:31; 15:7
▪ Genesis 11:32; 12:1
2. A promise of posterity – Genesis 17:5
3. A blessing – Genesis 12:2-3

Each part of the blessing is elaborated in the chapters that follow Abraham’s call
1. The land – Genesis 13:14-15
2. The posterity – Genesis 15:5-6
3. The blessing
▪ Personal
▪ National
▪ International
2.2 - The Election of Israel
God’s election of Abraham and Israel concerned the whole world. He would bless that nation so that they
might be a light to all other nations.

God dealt intensely with Israel because of his claim on the whole world.

Whenever Israel forgot its role and turned from God

• He brought judgment on his people for their sin
• He called his people to repentance, especially through the prophets
• He used those occasions to warn and call the other nations

2.3 - The Progressive Fulfillment of God’s Promise

The New Testament writers understood the Old Testament prophecy and promise to Abraham to have a
triple fulfillment
• Past – immediate, historical fulfillment in the life of the nation of Israel
• Present – intermediate, gospel fulfillment in Christ and his church
• Future – ultimate, eschatological fulfillment in the new heaven and earth

Past – The Immediate Historical Fulfillment in the Life of Israel

God’s promise was confirmed to

• Abraham’s son – Isaac – “as the stars of heaven” (Genesis 26:4)
• Abraham’s grandson – Jacob – “as the sand of the sea” (Genesis 32:12)

The promise gradually began to come true

• Exodus 1:7; Acts 7:17
• 1 Kings 3:8
• Jeremiah 33:22

The promise also involved the land

• Exodus 2:24; 3:6; 32:13
• Hebrews 11:8-16; 11:39-40

Confirmation of the promise to Moses

• Exodus 19:3-6
 Present - Intermediate Gospel Fulfillment

A New Testament perspective is essential as we read the Old Testament prophecies

Israel is described as “a light to lighten the nations” (Isaiah 42:1-4,6; 49:6).
But only in Christ are the prophecies fulfilled.

Matthew’s Gospel – the most Jewish of the four Gospels

• Matthew 3:9
• Matthew 8:11-12

After Pentecost the blessing passes on to the Gentiles

• Acts 3:25-26
• Ephesians 3:6

Who are the true descendants of Abraham, the beneficiaries of the promise?
• Romans 4:9-12

What is the land that Abraham’s descendants inherit?

• Hebrews 4:3-4
• Romans 4:13
• 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
• Galatians 3 – Paul repeats how Abraham was justified by faith
• 3:6-9
• 3:10-14
• 3:8
• 3:29

Future - Ultimate Eschatalogical Fulfillment

Revelation 5 and 7:9ff – John’s vision

All the essential elements of the promise may be detected

• Here are the spiritual descendants of Abraham, a great multitude which no man
can number.
• All families of the earth are being blessed.
• And here is the seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ, who shed his blood for our
redemption, and who give his blessings to all those who call on him to be saved.
2.4 - God’s Purpose in Mission
Key passage (review) – Genesis 12:1-3

The reason: “So that you may be a blessing”

Abraham’s inheritance was spiritual, not by works

• Romans 4:13
• Galatians 3:29
• Like Israel, we now are to be missionary channels of blessing to the world.

2.5 - Israel - A People for God’s Name

Abraham was blessed so that he might be a blessing to all peoples (Genesis 12:6-9)
• In Genesis 14 we read that Abraham rescued some of his neighbors.
• Abraham offered God the wealth of Sodom and the other nations (14:20b).
• God blessed Abraham so that he might be a blessing to the nations (14:18-20).

In summary, we learn that Abraham made God’s name known by

• The ongoing worship of God
• God’s redemptive power through his people

The result was a multi-national gathering of people worshiping God.

The crucial proving moment of Abraham’s life was a worship event (Genesis 22).

2.6 - God and the Exodus - Making His Name Known to the People
God did more for his name than just gain worship from Abraham. God’s missionary effort went global
with the exodus.
• The key passage is Exodus 9:13-16.
• God withheld his judgment on Egypt for a purpose.

God’s command “Let my people go” is only half of the message.

• Exodus 8:1,20
• 9:1,13; 10:3

God had a purpose for himself in the sight of the nations.

• The Israelites thought their rescue was God’s primary concern.
• God had a plan to draw the nations’ attention to himself.

That plan began to be worked out with the giving of the Law to Moses at Sinai.

2.7 - The Covenant and the Priesthood

Read Moses’ famous “eagles wings speech” – Exodus 19:4-5a

“Now if” implies a consequence should follow God’s deliverance from Egypt
 • Israel would be God’s special possession among all peoples (blessed).
• Israel would be a kingdom of priests (a mediator)
• Israel would be a holy nation (set aside for God’s special purpose).

1st function – Israel would be God’s special possession

2nd function – Israel would be a nation of kings and priests

3rd function – Israel would be a holy (meaning set apart) nation

2.8 - Israel as Missionary

The salvation theme of the Old Testament – rescuing and saving Israel – is tied to Israel’s mission.

God also told his people that they were to have no other gods than him (Exodus 20).
• Isaiah 63:11-14
• Nehemiah 9:9-10

God revealed himself to be the redeemer of the nations.

• Isaiah 2:1-4
• Psalm 46:6-10
• Psalm 76:10-12
• Psalm 87:3-6
 3 – THE FAILURE OF THE MISSIONARIES

3.1 - The Great Delay

Read the story of the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 13:1-14:45)
• Selection of the spies (13:1-16)
• Exploring Canaan (13:17-25)
• Report on the Exploration (13:26-33)
• The rebellion of the people (14:1-10)
• Moses pleads for the people (14:11-19)
• God’s judgment on the people (14:20-35)
• The Israelites defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites (14:36-45)

The nations had taken note of what God had done in Egypt.
• The plagues gained the attention of Egypt and others (Exodus 15:3,7,15).
• God’s judgment upon Egypt was to liberate God’s chosen people so that they
might worship him with the world watching.

The conquest of the Promised Land must also be seen in the same light.
• The 40 years of wandering in the wilderness was to be a judgment upon
Israel for its failure to honor God.
• It was to demonstrate to Israel God’s demand for proper obedience by Israel
and remove the sinful generation to bring about a new, obedient people.
• It was to demonstrate God’s holiness to the nations and set the stage for
further demonstration of God’s promise and condition, “If you obey”

The conquest of the land of Canaan also had another purpose: To bring just repayment for the wickedness
of the peoples (Deuteronomy 9:5).
• Judges 1:7
• Deuteronomy 4:15-24; 6:13-15; 7:1-8
• Joshua 23:7

Idolatry profanes God’s name, but the same fate would fall on Israel if they turned to worship other gods
(Deuteronomy 7:6-7).

The rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea makes clear God’s consistent purpose.

• God was ready to destroy the people and start over, making a better people.
Moses argued with God with the nations watching (Numbers 14:15-16).
• Moses asked God to show that he was slow to anger, abundant in loving
kindness and forgiving of iniquity and transgression (Numbers 14:17-21).
3.2 - God’s Persistence and Renewed Promise
The primary purpose of the conquest was to clear out worship of false gods.

Israel was to establish God’s name there for his dwelling.

Later, David designed a temple for worship by all the families of the earth
• 1 Chronicles 16:28
• 1 Kings 8:41-43

Soon after the temple was complete, the Queen of Sheba came (1 King 10:1-13).

3.3 - Israel Falls into Idolatry

Solomon introduced the world to the wisdom and worship of God (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).

The setback was when Solomon led Israel into idolatry.

3.4 - An Example of Blessing and Curse

A dramatic example came at the beginning of Hosea’s ministry (Hosea 1:1-2:23)
God told Hosea to give his three children symbolic names
▪ A son – Jezreel = “God will scatter” (1:4-5)
▪ A daughter – Lo-ruhamah = “Not pitied”; i.e., God would no longer forgive or pity his
children (1:6-7)
▪ A son – Lo-ammi = “Not my people” (1:8-9)

But after the judgment, there would be a restoration by God (2:14-23)

The children’s names would be reversed to
▪ Restoration
▪ Pitied
▪ Sons of the living God

This echoed the promise made to Abraham

Peter and Paul saw this as a further multiplication of Israel.

They also foresaw the inclusion of the Gentiles in the community of Jesus.
▪ 1 Peter 2:9-10
▪ Romans 9:25-26

Daniel cried out to God to restore Israel (Daniel 9:16-19).

Ezekiel said this was so that the nations would know that God was Lord (Ezek 36:22-23).

Other prophets and psalmists also spoke of the history and destiny of Israel in terms of the nations being
drawn to God to worship and giving him glory.
• Palm 66:1-4
• Psalm 138:4-5
• Habakkuk 2:14
 • Zephaniah 3:9-10
• Malachi 1:11

Regathering Israel would fulfill God’s purpose (Haggai 1:8; 2:7).

The servant songs of Isaiah 40-55 tell how God will save Israel and the nations.
• He will be the suffering servant at the hands of man
• Yet he will be undeserving man’s substitute, incurring God’s wrath
• The nations will be given to him in return for his obedience to die
• He will achieve the right to bring salvation, healing to all people

The prophets continually remind Israel of its missionary call and obligation. Election is not a privilege
Israel may keep selfishly for itself. It is a call to service.

3.5 - The Babylonian Exile

Israel’s history through the 7th and 6th centuries BC opened Israel’s eyes. Out of the judgment arose an
eager hope for
• A new covenant
• A new exodus (deliverance)
• Another Son of David

Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel looked forward to the gathering of nations in the end time.

3.6 - Fulfilling the Missionary Task - Jonah

The book of Jonah is significant for understanding the biblical basis of mission.
• It demonstrates God’s mandate to his people regarding the Gentiles.
• It serves as a preparatory step to the missionary mandate of the New Testament.
• It reveals Israel’s resistance to the missionary mandate God gave them.

The book is divided into eight scenes

1. Jonah receives the command to go to Nineveh
2. God responds to Jonah’s flight
3. God sends a great fish to swallow Jonah
4. Jonah implores God to rescue him from the belly of the fish
5. God repeats his orders to Jonah
6. Nineveh responds to Jonah’s appeal to repent
7. Jonah is angry at the Lord’s compassion
8. God tries one more approach with Jonah

The book ends with an unanswered question: What about Jonah?

3.7 - Restoration
A crisis of faith occurred when Israel was taken captive by foreign kings. Amid its sin, Israel
continued to hope for national restoration.

To this end, Israel abandoned idol worship and was eventually restored to the Promised Land.
Yet the nation remained under foreign domination and was under Roman rule when Jesus
arrived on the scene.

The restoration will not be complete until the end times with the establishment of the New
Jerusalem.
 4 – THE STORY OF GOD’S GLORY

4.1 - Introduction
The Bible is the story of God’s love drawing the worship of the nations.
• God reveals his glory to all peoples
• So that he may receive glory from all creation

4.2 - Partnering with God

Israel’s election and existence has no goal in itself.
Through Israel, God stretches out his hand to the nations.

God’s missionary plan is about going out, not coming in (Zechariah 8:7-23).

Because the church is “grafted into” the vine, Israel, the same promises are made to the church. But the
same missionary mandate applies to the church. The church must
• Remain true to the Lord
• Remain true to God’s missionary mandate

4.3 - God at War With His Enemies

The story of God’s glory involves his power against those who oppose his liberation. God battles against
the false gods man has fashioned and worshiped.
• Isaiah 2:1-5
• Micah 4
• Isaiah 65

The Old Testament ties this theme to a theme of doxology.

God’s glory will be revealed among all people (Jonah 4:1-2).

4.4 - The Doxology and God’s Glory

God can be loved only when he is known.

The Bible tells the story of God’s revealing himself to the nations. The purpose is to draw from them
obedient worship to the Lord. To glorify God is to speak of him openly and truthfully, and to worship him
in a public way (Psalm 86:9).

God’s glory flows in two directions (Psalm 96).

▪ God reveals his glory to all nations
▪ In order to receive glory from all creation
 The ultimate value of salvation is not in what we are saved from but what we are saved to.
People are saved to serve God in worship. World evangelism is for God.

The rationale for mission is God’s worthiness (Psalm 96:2-4).

4.5 - Doing Mission God’s Way

God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are his ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8)

God’s mission is to
• Glorify his name
• Establish his kingdom
• Reconcile the world to himself

You cannot know his will without knowing him better. As you are changed, he reveals his will in a clearer
way (Philippians 2:13).

God calls his followers to join him in a relationship of love, power and purpose.
Love – God’s way of sending is relational, rather than utilitarian

Power – God’s way of sending is empowering, rather than coercive

Purpose – God’s way of sending is purposeful; it is not centered on us.

4.6 - The Glory of God in Christ

From the Exile onward, Israel avoided idolatry.
• But the national glory the people desired never came.
• They were waiting for a messianic deliverer to free them from oppression.
• As a result they generally missed the Messiah when he arrived.

The oppression Jesus would deliver them from ran deeper than political oppression.

They had lost sight of the mission God had given Abraham.

Jesus’ vision of redemption was broader than Israel’s expectation.

Christ is the climax of the story of God’s glory.

• John 17:4-6
• Isaiah 56:7

Just before going to his death, Jesus displayed his purpose (John 12:24-32).

4.7 - The Cosmic War

During the intertestamental period there was a shift of thinking on Israel’s part.
Many Jews began to feel that not all that was happening to them was their own fault or God’s
disciplining will.
 Israel began to focus on the warfare themes of Scripture – the conviction that the cosmos is
populated with both good and evil spiritual beings.

If we are to read the New Testament properly, we must read it as Yahweh fighting these evil
forces.

Jesus’ view of the satanic army

Most contemporary New Testament scholars believe it is primarily against this apocalyptic
background that we are to understand the ministry of Jesus and the early church. Jesus’ teaching,
His exorcisms, his healings and other miracles, as well as His work on the cross, all remain to
some extent, incoherent and unrelated to one another until we interpret them within this
apocalyptic contest – until we interpret them as acts of war….
[Gregory A. Boyd, Perspectives, p. 80]

Satan’s rule
Satan has illegitimately seized control of the world and now exercises a controlling influence over
it.
John 12:31
John 14:30
John 16:11

Satan claims he can give all “authority” and “glory” of all the kingdoms of the world to whomever
he wants because it all belongs to him.
Luke 4:5-6
1 John 5:19
2 Corinthians 4:4
Ephesians 2:1-2

Jesus says the only way to take back the kingdom is to “tie up the strongman.”
Luke 4:7-8
Mark 3:27
Luke 11:22
 5 – MESSIAH JESUS AND THE KINGDOM
MISSION

5.1 - Israel’s Failure

Israel’s failure came when it began to act for itself, as a club of pious people.
The people forgot their holy, mediatorial function of blessing.
That priestly function has now been extended to include the Gentiles.
Exodus 19
1 Peter 2:9

God has given the church the job of declaring the deeds of him who called them out of
darkness into his light.

None of these functions – chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s own people
– is meant for the church’s self-aggrandizement.

Peter shows that the people of God in all ages have been one.

God calls us to
▪ Proclaim his plan to the nations (Gen 12)
▪ Participate in his priesthood as his agents of blessing to all the nations (Exodus
19)
▪ Prove his purpose to bless all the nations (Psalm 67)

5.2 - God as the Author of Mission

The Lord Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of all nations. They were to be his witnesses in
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Jesus said, “As the father has sent me, so am I sending you” (John 20:21).

In Acts chapter 2 he promised the Holy Spirit to guide them and empower them.

Acts 1-12 describes the growth of the gospel from Jerusalem to Antioch.

5.3 - Jesus’ Mission

The kingdom of God means abolishing the kingdom of Satan (Matthew 12:22-29).

Jesus launches his mission in Luke from his own hometown

Luke 4:18-19
Luke 4:21

Luke 4:22-30

5.4 - What the Greeks Were Looking For

 In ancient times, poets and seers longed for an ideal society.
• Hesiod – a Greek poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650
BC – dreamed of a lost Golden Age in the past, but saw no expectation of it in the present, or
hope for it in the future.
• Plato pictured an ideal state organized on philosophical principles, but he recognized that his
plan was too idealistic to be realized.
• The Roman poet Virgil sang of one who would deliver the world from its sufferings and dreamed
of one by whom “the great line of the ages begins anew.”

The Hebrew-Christian faith expresses its hope for an ideal society in terms of the kingdom of God, but this
hope is grounded in an eternal, living God
▪ Who has revealed himself to men
▪ Who has a purpose for the human race, and
▪ Who has chosen to accomplish his plan through Israel

The prophets announced a day when men will live together in peace, the evils of man’s physical
environment will be no more, and peace, safety and security are promised for a happy future (Isaiah 2:4;
11:6).

Jesus then came on the scene.

• He and announced, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
(Matthew 4:17).
• His teaching was designed to show men how they could enter the kingdom
(Matthew 5:27; 7:21).
• His works and miracles were designed to prove that the kingdom had come
(Matthew 12:28).
• His parables illustrated to the disciples truths about the kingdom.
• His prayers were to assure that the kingdom would be run according to God’s will
(Matthew 6:10).
• His death assured sinful man release and forgiveness for sin (Luke 22:24-30).
• His resurrection guaranteed eternal life in the kingdom (Matthew 25:31-34).

5.5 - The Vision of the Kingdom

The meaning of “kingdom”

Modern definitions of a kingdom mean the realm (area) over which a king exercises authority, or
the people belonging to a given realm.

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as “the rank, quality, state, attributes of a king; royal
authority; dominion; monarchy; kingship.”

The Hebrew (Old Testament malkuth) and Greek (New Testament basileia) speak of the rank,
authority and sovereignty exercised by a king. The realm and people are secondary and derived
meanings.

Scripturally, kingdom always refers to God’s reign, rule and sovereignty. It never refers to a
physical land in which it is exercised.
• Psalm 103:19
• Psalm 145:11,13
 • Daniel 2:37
• Luke 19:11-12
• Mark 10:15
• Matthew 6:10

The mystery of the kingdom

The modern use of “mystery” connotes something deep, dark or difficult.

In Scripture, mystery means something previously hidden but now disclosed.

An Old Testament example is King Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in Daniel 2.

The New Testament gives us a new revelation of the kingdom

Jesus does not inaugurate an earthly political kingdom.

Jesus has come to overthrow the counterfeit kingdom of Satan.

The mystery is that the kingdom is at work in two stages.

The kingdom is at work now, abolishing sin from the earth, gathering the
people who will inhabit the final eternal kingdom.

The kingdom also is yet to come when Christ returns and his human
sovereignty is everywhere replaced by God’s sovereignty.

5.6 - The Prayer of the Kingdom

Jesus’ commission to the disciples in Acts 1 was fulfilled (Acts 5:28).

How was it done?

The lifestyle of the early church lists four major elements (Acts 2:42)
• The study of the doctrine of the apostles
• Fellowship
• Breaking of bread
• Prayer

Of these four elements, only prayer reaches beyond the group.

Paul links prayer and evangelism (1 Timothy 2:1-8).

• Pray for everyone in town.
• Make sure that unbelievers are aware of God and begin to fear him.
• Pray especially for those in authority to become believers.
• Teach that God is patient and kind, not willing that any should perish
2 Peter 3:9
1 Timothy 2:4-6

5.7 - The Mandate of the Kingdom

 The mandate of the kingdom is found in the Great Commission.

The message is the announcement of Christ’s conquest over death.

Death was the fulfillment of the counterfeit kingdom of Satan.

The gospel proclaims Christ’s victory over Satan’s kingdom in two stages.
• Christ’s own death has already conquered the death brought by Satan.
• Ultimately, Satan’s final destruction will be accomplished at Christ’s second coming.

The gospel speaks of death as being “abolished” (1 Corinthians 15:26)

The message is also the announcement of Christ’s victory over Satan.

• This fulfilled the first proclamation of the gospel in Genesis 3:15.
• It broke Satan’s hold on men and bondage to him (Hebrews 2:14-15

The message is also the announcement of Christ’s victory over sin.

• Christ has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Hebrews 9:26).
• Sin will finally be defeated at Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).
• Meantime, believers are no longer enslaved by sin (Romans 6:6-7).

5.8 - The Strategic Focus of Jesus

Jesus’ objective was clear
• To save and reclaim man for the Father
• To destroy evil and Satan’s counterfeit kingdom
• To bring the Father glory and the worship of his redeemed people

Jesus planned to win

People were Jesus’ method

Jesus’ strategy was evangelism

5.9 - The Mission of the Kingdom

The mission of the kingdom is intertwined with the meaning of history.
Major questions raised by man:
• What is history all about?
• Why is man on this earth?
• Where is man going?
• Is there a meaning, purpose, destiny or goal to history?

Answers that some propose:

• History is a single great line of progression from primitive, savage beginnings upward to
a high level of culture and civilization.
• History is a series of circles like a great spiral, with movements up and down and high
points countered by low points.
• History is utterly pessimism with no good outcome.
 The biblical answer is linear with a glorious ending.
The central theme is God’s redemptive work.

It does not end with Israel but sees Israel as God’s people elected (chosen) to carry the gospel to
the nations.

In the fullness of time, Christ came to accomplish man’s redemption from sin, death and
destruction.

When Israel failed in its missionary mandate, God turned to the church, both Jew and Gentile, to
carry on the task.

The ultimate mission is to carry the gospel to all the earth.

The motive of the kingdom is love of God, of people and of Christ.

• It is to proclaim the kingdom to all people until Christ returns.

• It is done from a heart of thankfulness and gratitude.

• It is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• It is set against an honest picture of a fallen world and the power of sin and Satan.

• Its goal is to reach all people with the good news.

• Its time frame is to hasten the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:11-13).

5.10 - Messiah on Kingdom Mission

The Great Commission began with a city – Jerusalem (Acts 1:4-8)

Jerusalem presented challenges as part of Satan’s counter kingdom.

• Jesus had been crucified there as a common criminal.
• The Jewish religion was completely intertwined with the state.
• Peter, Jesus’ most enthusiastic follower, had denied Jesus there.
• The disciples had hidden there in fear after Jesus’ death.
• Jesus’ resurrection had been portrayed by his enemies as a joke.
• And those who finally were told to go with the message had no political or economic
clout; in the world’s eyes they were losers.

The Great Commission also ends with a city – the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21)

The New Jerusalem is a stark contrast to the old Jerusalem.

• The old Jerusalem, as part of Satan’s counter kingdom, has passed away.
• The crucified Jesus is no longer regarded as a common criminal but as the reigning king.
• The prevailing religion is now one of willing, loving, thankful obedience to God himself.
• All the inhabitants gladly name the name of Jesus and their presence bears witness to
who he is.
• There is no fear among the people, the gates are never shut, and there is no night there.
• Jesus’ resurrection is that which has made the New Jerusalem possible.
• Those who dwell there reign with Christ in power and glory.
 6 – THE CHURCH AND THE CONTINUING
MISSION

6.1 - The Mission of God is a War Against Evil

The Bible assumes that a cosmic warfare exists between God and Satan.

God remains sovereign and ultimately will triumph

6.2 - The Church in God’s Plan

God has a cosmic plan, a master plan of redemption

That plan is stated most concisely in the first three chapters of Ephesians

Note especially Ephesians 1:11

Paul here sees God’s plan as a cosmic strategy having to do with all creation.

But what is God’s master plan?

Simply this: that God may glorify himself by uniting all things under Christ.

The plan existed in the mind of God before Creation (Ephesians 1:4).
Matthew 13:35
Matthew 25:34
John 17:24
Ephesians 1:4
Hebrews 4:3
1 Peter 1:20
Revelation 13:8

Central to this plan is reconciliation to God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:19-21
Ephesians 1:10

It is through the church that God’s wisdom is made known (Ephesians 3:10).

In fact Jew and Gentile are brought together into “one body” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

God’s plan for the church extends to the whole cosmos (Ephesians 1:8-10).

The church is the body of Christ (Revelation 21:9).

1 Peter 5:2
Ephesians 2:21-22

Ephesians 5:25
6.3 - As the Father Sent Me
“As the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John 20:21).

God reveals himself to the world to reconcile the world to himself.

God has initiated every part of his work throughout history.

When he is about to take a step to advance his mission:

▪ He comes to one or more of his servants
▪ He lets them know what he is about to do
▪ He invites them to join him

6.4 - The Great Commission

Jesus established a principle by giving evangelistic work assignments to disciples.
Matthew 13:32
Mark 4:32
Luke 13:18-19

On at least four occasions after his crucifixion and resurrection Jesus met with his disciples and told them
to go out and do his work.
The first Easter evening in the Upper Room (without Thomas)
Luke 24:38-40
Luke 24:41-43
John 20:21a
John 20:21b

Breakfast with the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:15-17)

On a mountain in Galilee
Matthew 28:16-20
1 Corinthians 15:6

Before his return into heaven

Luke 24:44-45
Luke 24:46
Luke 24:47
Acts 1:8
Luke 24:48-49

The disciples were to be Jesus’ witnesses in

• Jerusalem – Israel’s capital, where the leaders were
• Judea – the remainder of Israel, where the bulk of the people were
• Samaria – the neighboring region to Israel, the disenfranchised descendants of
Abraham
• The ends of the earth – the Gentile world

Four times Jesus used the word “all” to declare the destiny of history

All authority
 All the peoples

All that I have commanded

The disciples were to baptize – create a people for God’s name.

The disciples were to teach people – to live under Jesus’ lordship.

All the days

The task is not yet complete

6.5 - To Seek and to Save the Lost

Scripture teaches that there are those who perish and those who do not.
Scripture says it is those who believe on Christ who are saved.
John 3:16-17
John 14:6

People will be judged because they have not believed on his name (John 3:18).

There is no salvation in any other name given among men (Acts 4:12).

The means by which they hear is proclamation of the word (Romans 10:13-15,17).

This demonstrates that God is love.

He created us in his own image, not as programmed robots.

But love, even God’s love, runs the risk of rejection.

Still, true to his character, God provided a way for us to return to him.

It does not violate the image of God in man by forcing obedience.

Judgment is based on one’s response to the truth he receives (Luke 12:47-48).

6.6 - A Global Movement

The Christian faith is intensely personal, but it is not individualistic
Jesus came to save sinners. He also came to build his church (Matthew 16:18). He came to
establish communities of his followers among every people group on earth. In turn, those
communities would reach out to others cross-culturally to share the good news of salvation.

Peter ended his Pentecost message on this same note ( (Acts 2:38).

John Stott describes four marks of the first Spirit-filled communities

1. They submitted to the apostles and were eager to receive instruction.
2. The believers related to one another in love.
3. The believers related to God through worship.
4. The believers related to the world in outreach.

The New Testament letters are filled with references to “one another”
 A variety of metaphors illumine the relationship between God and his people

These congregations are meant to be kingdom communities

The goal of missions is to establish within every people group in the world indigenous church movements
which are capable of multiplying congregations so that the entire people group is both evangelized and
incorporated into the fellowship of the church.

6.7 - The Biblical Vision of the Church

First, the Bible sees the church in cosmic/historical perspective
Ephesians 1:20-23
Matthew 5:16
Luke 4:18-19

Second, the Bible sees the church in charismatic, rather than institutional, terms.
1 Corinthians 12
Romans 12:5-8
Ephesians 4:1-16
Matthew 18:20
1 Peter 4:10-11

Third, the Bible sees the church as the community of God’s people
It is a community or fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit.

The church is the agent of God’s plan for reconciling all things (Ephesians 5:25-27).

6.8 - God and the Supernatural

The New Testament proclaims that by his ministry, death and resurrection Jesus is victorious over the
enemy.

The church is called to manifest the truth that God’s kingdom has come and Satan’s kingdom is defeated.

6.9 - Mission and the Uniqueness of Christ

The foundational conviction for mission is in knowing the Jesus of history.

Confession of Jesus as Lord involves personal relationship, not a religious system.

The question is not whether one is a member of a particular religious system.

Our faith requires us to believe and confess that Jesus is Lord

He is our message to the world.

A Hindu once asked Dr. E. Stanley Jones, “What has Christianity to offer that our religion
has not?” He replied, “Jesus Christ.”

6.10 - The Day of the Lord

When will the kingdom come?
 When Christ returns (Matthew 24:14)
When the gospel has been preached to the whole world

What will characterize the world until then?

It will be hostile to the gospel and God’s people

Still, God has not abandoned this age to darkness.

The kingdom of God has entered into this evil age.
Satan has been defeated; his end is guaranteed.

6.11 - Strategic Prayer

Christians are divided over the most effective means of transforming our world.
Is it through verbal proclamation of the gospel, or through social action? The answer is that it is
both. And the one thing that ties them together is prayer.

Because of the nature of evil in the world, prayer is essential.

2 Corinthians 10:4
Matthew 11:12
Mark 3:27
Ephesians 6:12

Prayer is not magic; it does not always work; it is not something we do, but a response to
what God is already doing within us and the world. Our prayers are the necessary
opening that allows God to act without violating our freedom. Prayer is the ultimate act
of partnership with God.
[-Walter Wink, theologian]

Yet there is a great paradox in prayer.

Prayer unleashes God’s great power
But spiritual warfare must be waged out of personal brokenness and weakness

6.12 - The Apostolic Model - Passion

The term “passion” comes from the Latin paserre, to suffer.

“Passion” is what you hunger for intensely, even sacrificially

The word “apostle” means a sent one, a messenger.

“Apostolic passion,” therefore, is a deliberate, intentional choice to live for the worship of Jesus
in the nations. It has to do with being committed to the point of death to spreading his glory.

Paul says in Romans 15 that his ambition, his passion, is to make Christ known

6.13 - The Apostolic Model - Prayer

Jesus told a parable in Luke 18:1-8 to illustrate the nature of petitionary prayer

Petitionary prayer is, in essence, rebellion against the world in its fallenness, the refusal to accept
as normal what is pervasively abnormal.
 It is an expression of the chasm that separates what is good from what is evil, the declaration
that evil is not a variation on good but its exact opposite.

To accept life “as it is” is to accept as inevitable the way it works – and that is to surrender a
Christian view of God.

Religions that stress quiet acquiescence always disparage petitionary prayer

Petitionary prayer is based on the belief that God can change the situation

Jesus demonstrated this in his own prayer life

• Petitionary prayer preceded great decisions in his life (Luke 6:12)

• He prayed when pressed beyond measure (Matthew 14:23)

• He prayed in the crises and turning points of his life (Luke 3:21; 9:28-29)

• He prayed before and during unusual temptation (Matthew 26:36-45)

So why, then, don’t we pray as persistently as we talk? The answer, quite simply, is that we don’t
believe it will make any difference.

6.14 - The Apostolic Model - Suffering

Jesus calls people to himself and demands from them total allegiance

Jesus knows that the world will hate his witness and turn against his followers

Suffering for Christ begins when one leaves close relatives for Christ’s service

Martyrdom is the function God gives to some of his elect to die for the gospel

God does everything with a purpose

The Father wants his children to understand him

Self-sacrifice is the only method consistent with God’s own nature

Three basic things are achieved by the deaths of martyrs:

• The triumph of God’s truth
• The defeat of Satan
• The glory of God
6.15 - Conclusion
God is the God of history

God is a God of the covenant

God is the God of blessing

God is the God of mercy

God is the God of mission