What Does the Bible Say About Missions?
God is worthy to be worshiped by all peoples in all the world. He is lavishly good, all the time, the highest value, the greatest worth, the giver of every good and perfect gift. The best thing that can happen to a person is to be brought into a living relationship with Him. The second best thing is to become an active ambassador of that gift to others.
God’s global purpose includes bringing all people to recognize His glory, and His primary way of doing that is through people who have already seen it, telling people who haven’t yet heard.
The Mission Theme of the Bible
From Genesis to Revelation, one theme runs through Scripture: God’s intention to be known and glorified among every nation.
“In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
— Genesis 12:1-3, 26:4, 28:13-15
“I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
— Isaiah 49:6
“From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles… saith the Lord of hosts.”
— Malachi 1:11
“How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, unless they are sent?”
— Romans 10:13-15
The same theme runs through Joshua, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings, the Psalms, Daniel, and into the Gospels: “This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus commissioned His followers to “teach all nations… teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20), to be His “witnesses… unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And it ends where it began, with people “of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” gathered around the throne (Revelation 5:9).