A Biblical Perspective of Missions in the NT

A Biblical Perspective of Missions in the NT “How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? ” Rom 10: 14 -15 1

Messiah’s Global Plans Observe the implication in His introduction: “Savior of the world” Paul clarified the purpose of the Messiah was always for the nations: “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him [Abraham], but also for us. ” (Rom 4: 2 -4). Examine the various forms of the “Great Commission” 2

Global Purpose in Preparation for Messiah In ministry to Gentiles Money changers corrupted Court of Gentiles (Jn 2: 13 -22) Ministry to Samaria Ministry to Roman Centurion (Mat 8: 10 -11) In His teaching Implication of preferred title, “Son of man” (more universal) instead of “son of David” (more Jewish) Israel was “salt of earth” and “light of world” Luke 10: 29 -31 commended Gentile faith as the best Parable of Wheat and Tares (Mt 13: 36 -43) where “field” is the “world” (13: 38), not just Israel or even the Church! 3

Global Purpose in Preparation for Messiah In Gospel description of Jesus: “Savior of the world” (Jn 4: 42) “Light of the world” (Jn 8: 12) come to “save the world” (12: 47) Prayed that “the world may believe that Thou didst send Me” (Jn 17: 21) 4

Transition from Israel to Church Great Commission was not a surprise With rejection of their Messiah, a gradual shift to a UNIVERSAL OFFERING, especially in last months NIV John 10: 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. NIV John 12: 23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many (“all kinds of”) seeds. 5

Transition from Israel to Church NIV Matthew 21: 43 "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you [Israel] and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ” NIV Matthew 24: 14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations [ethne], and then the end will come. ” Mat 25: 31 -46 describes the judgment following His return, which presumes the fulfillment of the universal evangelism task 6

Imperative of the Great Commission 40 days after resurrection—Greatest burden on His heart—the five reiterations of the Great Commission comprise 50% of His recorded words in postresurrection ministry! Mark’s Version: Resurrection night (Mk 16: 14 -20) Jesus gave the Activity Dimension, “Go” and “preach” to all “creation” or mankind. John’s Version: Jesus gave the Comparative dimension, Jn 20: 19 -23“As the Father has sent me, so send I you. ” 7

Matthew 28: 18 -20 Matthew’s Version: Mountain side in Galilee (Mat 28: 18 -20) Jesus gave the Systematic dimension… Authority: what makes the command binding on us— He as Creator and Sustainer of Heaven and Earth makes this command! Priority imperative: MAKE DISCIPLES of every “People Group” By Going to them By Baptizing those who “follow or learn from” Jesus By Teaching them to be obedient in all that He taught Assurance given by Promise of the Spirit’s Presence (same promise in Jn 20: 21 -22; also Luke 24: 47 -48; Acts 1: 8) 8

Misinterpretation of Commission Only given to the Apostles and fulfilled in First Century AD If the heathen are lost, it is their own fault — we have no responsibility These are the majority views of the Protestant Reformation (Lutherans, Calvinists, etc) Wrong view because: Command is to make disciples of “all nations” He would accompany us “always” [everyone of the days] To complete the task He promised His presence until the “end of the age” (lit. “completion, close or conclusion”), thus the command is still operative 9

Jesus’ Parting Words— Luke’s 2 Versions: Power dimension Luke 24: 46 -48 Repentance forgiveness to be preached = as important as death and resurrection if people are to be saved– it is a repentant faith, not just a praying faith! Must proclaim to “all nations” –ethnos, “ethnic groups” or “people groups” Promised Spirit’s power to fulfill this mission impossible Though prophetic in nature, “His wish becomes our command” Acts 1: 8 Amplify the Geographic Dimensions of the Commission, “Jerusalem, Judah, Samaria, unto the remotest part of the earth. ” 10

Acts: The Church to the World Acts 22: 21 "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles. ’” NIV Acts 26: 17 b-18 “…the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. ” 11

Acts: The Church to the World Leader was crucified, treasurer sold out, chief spokesman denied the faith, remnant scattered cowardly “Kosher” Palestinian Jews told to change the world = Mission Impossible God plan was Ten Sequential events in Acts to thrust the apostles into the wild Gentile world 12

Ten Steps to the World 1. Door of faith to Israel on Pentecost (Ac 2) 2. Door of faith to Samaritans (Ac 8) 3. Door of faith to Jewish proselytes (Ethiopian in Ac 8) 4. Door of faith to Gentile Cornelius and family (Ac 10) 5. Founding an integrated church in Antioch (Ac 11) 13

Ten Steps to the World 6. Sending out first cross cultural evangelists (missionaries) Ac 13 7. Conversion of many Gentiles (Ac 13) 8. Conversion of idolatrous pagans (Ac 14) 9. Jerusalem Council endorses Gentile Salvation (Ac 15) 10. Evangelistic missionary tours throughout Roman Empire (Ac 16 -28) 14

Power of Pentecost—Promise of the Father– the Spirit’s New Ministries Acts 2: Spirit baptism constituted the Body of Christ, the Church-1 Cor 12: 13 For we were all baptized by Churchone Spirit into one body Spirit filled disciples were a bold witness of resurrection Since salvation depends on PREVIOUS work of Spirit— drawing, conviction, illuminating, teaching and providential enabled hearing—the filling of the speaker is vital (2: 4; 4: 8, 31, 33; 5: 32; 6: 4; 8: 55) 15

Power of Pentecost—Promise of the Father– the Spirit’s New Ministries On day of Pentecost the missionary purpose of Church affirmed by sign of diverse ethnic languages (16 dialects mentioned in 2: 9 -11) Peter quoted Joel 2 to show SIMILARITY, not prophetic fulfillment (which is still a millennial promise) Peter wanted to emphasize the GLOBAL aspect of God’s plan (2: 17), [“on all flesh…”] Speaking in other languages was prophesized as a SIGN to unbelieving Israel (1 Cor 14: 20 -22) Note: there were three signs (mighty sound as a tornado, small fire symbols, and foreign languages) 16

How God’s Point Man Opens Doors of Faith Peter commissioned to use the “keys to the kingdom of heaven” (not heaven itself) For 8 -12 years ministry ONLY to the Jews (Acts 11: 19, “…telling the message only to Jews. ” Acts 4: Samaritan inclusion considered half-breed apostates since Assyrian repopulation in 700 BC, then enemies to Nehemiah’s reconstruction (400 BC) Peter did not initiate ministry, but was required to make it OFFICIAL. A radical step, but still not as difficult as a Gentile 17

Opens Doors of Faith Acts 8: Proselyte converted (Philip and Ethiopian) Example of how the Spirit led a key person to penetrate a new population Acts 10: Gentile Penetration God made sure Peter got to the right place at the right time with the right message to the right person! Supernatural languages, Gentile languages, proved God was working equally with Gentiles Jewish leaders in Jerusalem not easily convinced (11: 15 -17) Took identical SIGN of Pentecost to convince them (11: 18) that all Gentiles equally part of Church 18

Unique church at Antioch Acts 11: First multiethnic church: 10 -12 years since Pentecost Jews of dispersion only preached to Jews (Ac 11: 19) Horribly shocking to Jewish Christians of Jerusalem Finally the ONE BODY was being realized Eph 3: 2 -6 “… the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery. . . , 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 …, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, Disciples first called “Christians” at Antioch Not a split of Judaism but 19 wholly new entity a

First Missionary Sending Church Not only proved Gentiles could be incorporated into the church, but proved they could be won in large numbers Acts 13: Soon Gentiles became leaders in churches (all Gentile names except Barnabas and Saul) The Spirit showed the church to release their chief leaders Note: Acts 13: 3, “sent them away” apoluo, “released, divorced, set free”, is their official release from local church responsibility Note 2: Missionaries were not supported by local church! Note: Paul had been commissioned to reach the Gentiles from his conversion 10 years earlier 20

Acts 13: Unique Ministry of Paul Three contexts relate his conversion (Acts 9, 22, 26) All 3 show God chose him to be a unique witness to Gentiles (Gal 2: 7 -9) 10 years had passed and apostles had not left Jerusalem yet, eventually caught the vision, probably from Paul was raised bi-culturally, a Hebrew from Tarsus, a Gentile city His partner, Barnabas, also raised in Gentile culture of Cyprus (4: 36) Paul was also a Roman citizen 21

Focus of Paul’s First Evangelistic Journeys 22

First Missionary Evangelistic Team Penetrates World Half of Acts dedicated to Paul Experience in Antioch showed him how to reproduce churches in the world Theological question arose: should Gentile converts first become Jews then Christians? Early experiences somewhat exploratory To the Jew first (Rom 1: 16) was both a sentimental and practical strategy then, but ineffective today John Mark drops out probably due to “culture shock”—a Jew in a radical pagan Gentile culture—but he was later commended by Paul in 2 Tim 4: 11 23

Breakthrough among proselytes in Pisidian synagogues Paul as a Rabbi, and Barnabas as a Levi, always got a hearing in synagogues Many “God-fearing” proselytes converted (13: 43, “any of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas”), because not yet bound by traditions of Pharisees This approach became a “bridge” to the Gentile world. Acts 17: 4, “…along with a large number of the Godfearing Greeks and a number of the leading women” 24

Breakthrough among proselytes in Pisidian synagogues Acts 14: Planting churches among Galatians idolaters at Lystra proved the gospel effective even without Jewish beginnings Conclusion back at home church Paul “report all things that God had done with them and how He had open door of faith to Gentiles” (Act 14: 27) Acts 15: Issue of Gentile salvation settled in Acts 15: 1 -31 Jerusalem Council at about 49 AD. Legalists wanted a church like Jerusalem church. 25

2 nd Evangelistic Journey of Paul Acts 17 Acts 16 Acts 18 Acts 15: 40 Acts 18: 22 26

Acts 16 -28: 30 YEARS OF COMMITMENT Jerusalem: 1000+house churches Samaria: thousands believed, baptized and discipled Caesarea: church planted in government center Antioch: 300 miles north, 3 rd largest city in Roman empire, Barnabas, Paul and Mark evangelized Gentiles Turkey, Greece and Serbia evangelized and churches planted everywhere Rome, center of the world, became a major center of evangelism and church planting Spain, the limit of the Roman empire. 27

3 rd Evangelistic Journey of Paul Acts 20 Acts 19 Acts 18: 23 Acts 21 28 Acts 21

A Mission Strategy Appears Identify with lost men and women as much as possible, not a pharisaical separation Involvement with a home church Concentration on influential cities: Antioch, Philippi, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus Limitation of work to four provinces—instead of “spreading the news” he focused and left established groups everywhere Baptism, instruction and involvement of believers as soon as possible Leadership of a team 29