The Mission of God

1. The Bible's Core: God's Mission, Not Just Ours

The Bible renders to us the story of God's mission through God's people in their engagement with God's world for the sake of the whole of God's creation.

Rethinking Mission. Traditional views often frame mission as solely human endeavors, a set of tasks Christians undertake. However, a deeper biblical understanding reveals that mission is fundamentally God's own purposeful activity, flowing from His eternal will. Our participation is a response to His invitation, not an independent initiative.

A Missional Hermeneutic. To truly grasp the Bible's overarching narrative, we must adopt a "missional hermeneutic," reading all Scripture through the lens of God's mission. This approach moves beyond simply finding biblical justifications for our activities to understanding how the entire biblical story is a "missional phenomenon," witnessing to God's self-giving movement toward His creation. This framework helps us see the coherence of the entire canon.

God-Centered Purpose. This perspective shifts our focus from an anthropocentric or ecclesiocentric view to a radically theocentric one. Mission is not primarily about what we do, but what God has been purposing and accomplishing from eternity to eternity. It's not that God has a mission for His church, but that God has a church for His mission in the world.

2. God's Identity: The Driving Force of Mission

Biblical mission is driven by God's will to be known as God.

Knowing God. The Old Testament consistently portrays YHWH, the God of Israel, as the one true, living, and universal God who wills to be known. Israel's experiences of God's grace (like the Exodus and return from exile) and His judgment (on Egypt and Israel itself) were designed to reveal His incomparable identity, sovereignty, and uniqueness. This "knowing God" is central to biblical monotheism.

Jesus as YHWH. The New Testament astonishingly identifies Jesus of Nazareth with YHWH, the God of Israel. Early Christian prayers ("Maranatha!") and confessions ("Jesus is Lord!") applied divine titles and functions—Creator, Ruler, Judge, Savior—exclusively to Jesus. This means that in knowing Jesus, the nations come to know YHWH.

Universal Revelation. God's mission to be universally known is now focused on Jesus. He is not merely an agent of communication but the very content of the revelation. This Christ-centered monotheism is profoundly missional because it asserts that the good of all creation depends on humanity knowing this God, revealed in Jesus, and that this knowledge generates universal praise.

3. Confronting Idolatry: Unmasking False Gods

The radical conclusion has to be that the psalmists and prophets make no distinction between the images and the gods they represented—not because they did not know that such a distinction was there in the minds of pagan worshipers but because ultimately there was no such distinction in reality.

Paradox of Idols. The Bible presents a paradox: idols are "nothing" in terms of divine reality compared to YHWH, yet they are "something" in human experience. They exist as objects within creation, sometimes as manifestations of demonic forces, but most often as "the work of human hands"—human constructs. This understanding is crucial for authentic mission.

Idolatry's Deception. Idolatry fundamentally blurs the distinction between Creator and creation, dethroning God and exalting created things. This leads to devastating personal and social consequences, as humans worship their own creations or aspects of nature, seeking meaning where it cannot be found. The Bible's critique of idolatry is not born of ignorance but penetrating insight into human self-deception.

Missional Confrontation. God battles idolatry because it diminishes His glory and thwarts His love for humanity. Our mission, therefore, involves discerning, exposing, and confronting these false gods with love and compassion. This means:

• Theological Argument: Exposing idolatry's destructive roots (Romans 1).
• Evangelistic Engagement: Politely but uncompromisingly proclaiming the living God (Acts 14, 17, 19).
• Pastoral Guidance: Helping believers navigate idolatrous cultures (1 Corinthians 8-10).
• Prophetic Warning: Denouncing idolatry's futility for God's people.

4. Abraham's Call: Election for Universal Blessing

The glorious gospel of the Abrahamic covenant is that God's mission is ultimately to bless all the nations.

God's New Beginning. Genesis 12:1-3 is a pivotal text, launching God's redemptive mission after the escalating sin and confusion of Genesis 3-11. God calls Abraham, a childless old man, to be the fountainhead of His plan to bless all nations. This promise, repeated five times in Genesis, is "the gospel in advance," declaring God's ultimate purpose to restore humanity.

Universality and Particularity. The Abrahamic covenant holds a fundamental tension: God's universal goal ("all nations on earth will find blessing") is achieved through a particular means ("through you and your seed"). This means Israel's election was not for exclusive favoritism but instrumental—for the sake of the nations. This duality is foundational to biblical mission.

Ethical Imperative. Abraham's faith and obedience are integral to this covenant. God's promise to bless the nations is linked to Abraham teaching his descendants "the way of YHWH by doing righteousness and justice." Thus, the ethical quality of God's people is the vital link between their calling and their mission, demonstrating that there is no biblical mission without biblical ethics.

5. Redemption's Scope: The Holistic Exodus Model

The exodus effected real change in the people's real historical situation and at the same time called them into a real new relationship with the living God.

God's Comprehensive Redemption. The Exodus is the Bible's primary model of God's redemption, demonstrating His total response to Israel's total need. It was a liberation from:

• Political injustice: From Pharaoh's tyranny to national self-determination.
• Economic exploitation: From slave labor to owning their own land.
• Social violence: From state-sponsored genocide to a community valuing life.
• Spiritual bondage: From serving Pharaoh to serving YHWH.

Motivated by Love and Covenant. God's action was motivated by His knowledge of Israel's suffering and His faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham. This paradigmatic act defines YHWH as the God who sees, hears, knows, and acts decisively against oppression, always with His wider mission to bless the nations in view.

Holistic Mission. The Exodus demands an "Exodus-shaped mission" that reflects God's comprehensive concern. Reducing mission to solely spiritual evangelism or solely sociopolitical action distorts this holistic model. True mission integrates both, recognizing that sin affects every dimension of life and that the gospel brings redemption to all.

6. Covenant's Span: God's Enduring Missional Promise

The covenants proclaim the mission of God as his committed promise to the nations and the whole of creation.

Covenantal Trajectory. The sequence of biblical covenants—Noah, Abraham, Sinai, David, and the New Covenant—provides a framework for God's unfolding mission. Each covenant, while specific to its context, carries universal implications for humanity and creation, demonstrating God's unwavering purpose.

From Noah to David.

• Noahic Covenant: Establishes God's commitment to all life on earth, renewing the creation mandate for humanity to care for the planet.
• Abrahamic Covenant: Launches God's redemptive mission to bless all nations through a chosen people.
• Sinai Covenant: Defines Israel as a "priestly kingdom and holy nation," mediating God's knowledge and atonement to the nations, and emphasizing God's presence as their distinctive witness.
• Davidic Covenant: Envisions a messianic king whose reign will extend to all nations and whose temple will be a "house of prayer for all nations."

The New Covenant in Christ. Jesus inaugurates the New Covenant, fulfilling all prior promises. His death and resurrection are the "Yes!" to God's promises, extending covenant membership to the nations. The Great Commission is a universalized covenant proclamation, commissioning disciples to create communities of covenantal obedience among all nations, sustained by Christ's enduring presence.

7. Ethical Living: The Visible Witness of God's People

The ethical quality of life of the people of God is the vital link between their calling and their mission.

Election and Ethics. God's election of Abraham was intended to produce a community committed to ethical reflection of God's character, particularly "doing righteousness and justice." This ethical pedagogy, passed down through generations, is crucial for God to accomplish His mission of blessing the nations.

Redemption and Ethics. Israel's holiness, a response to God's redemptive initiative, meant being distinct from other nations by reflecting YHWH's character. Leviticus 19, with its comprehensive ethical demands—from family respect to economic justice and compassion for aliens—shows that holiness is practical, social, and deeply ethical. This distinctiveness was meant to be visible to the nations.

Covenant and Ethics. Deuteronomy 4 emphasizes that Israel's obedience to God's covenant law would demonstrate their "wisdom and understanding to the nations." This ethical visibility was a vital factor in attracting nations to the living God. For the church, this means:

• Light to the World: Christians are to shine through good deeds (Matthew 5:14, 16).
• Replicated Discipleship: Mission involves teaching nations to "observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20).
• Love as Witness: Mutual love among disciples reveals their belonging to Christ (John 13:35).

8. God's Earth: The Arena of Holistic Mission

The earth, then, belongs to God because God made it.

Divine Ownership. The foundational biblical truth is that "the earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it." This means we are tenants, accountable to God for how we treat His property. This divine ownership underpins ecological ethics and missional confidence.

Goodness and Sanctity. Creation is intrinsically good, testifying to God's character. It possesses sanctity, meaning it is sacred due to its relation to God, not because it is divine itself. This challenges both exploitation and nature worship, affirming that all creatures are worthy of moral consideration as an expression of worship to God.

Eschatological Hope. The Bible's vision extends beyond initial creation to a "new heavens and a new earth." This eschatological hope for creation's redemption provides a powerful motivation for creation care, seeing it as a prophetic act pointing toward God's coming rule in Christ. Our mission embraces the whole earth, not just humanity.

9. Humanity's Dignity and Depravity: The Gospel's Universal Reach

To be human is to be the image of God.

Image of God. All human beings are created in God's image, implying:

• Addressability: Capable of hearing and responding to God.
• Accountability: Responsible to God for their actions.
• Dignity and Equality: Possessing inherent worth, transcending all social distinctions.
• Universal Gospel Fit: The gospel addresses the common human need for restoration of this image.

Created for a Task and Relationship. Humanity was given a mission to "subdue" and "rule" creation, reflecting God's benevolent kingship, and to "work and take care of it," embodying a priestly role. This task requires relational cooperation, as male and female were created for mutual help, underscoring the importance of healthy social relationships in God's mission.

Sin's Comprehensive Impact. The Fall profoundly affected every dimension of the human person (spiritual, mental, physical, social), permeated human society and history (structural sin), and cursed the entire physical environment. A biblical mission must grasp this radical, holistic understanding of sin to offer a gospel that is equally radical and comprehensive in its redemptive scope.

10. Nations in God's Plan: From Witnesses to Inclusion

The mission of God is what fills the gap between the scattering of the nations in Genesis 11 and the healing of the nations in Revelation 22.

God's Universal Governance. Nations are a created diversity, not a result of the Fall, and all stand under God's judgment for their wickedness. Yet, any nation can also be an agent of His judgment or a recipient of His mercy. YHWH, the God of Israel, sovereignly controls the histories and destinies of all nations, not just Israel's.

Nations as Witnesses and Beneficiaries. The Old Testament portrays nations as witnesses to God's mighty acts in Israel's redemption and judgment, and to Israel's covenant obligations. This visibility was meant to lead them to acknowledge YHWH. Furthermore, nations were destined to be beneficiaries of Israel's blessing, eventually applauding God for His just rule and receiving the "harvest" of His goodness.

From Worship to Inclusion. The Old Testament envisions a future where all nations will worship Israel's God, YHWH, in response to His mighty acts, sovereign rule, and restoration of Zion. This culminates in the radical vision of nations being included in Israel's identity:

• Registered in God's city (Psalm 87).
• Blessed with God's salvation (Isaiah 19:24-25).
• Accepted in God's house (Isaiah 56:3-8).
• Called by God's name (Amos 9:11-12; Isaiah 44:1-5).
• Joined with God's people (Zechariah 2:10-11).

11. Christ's Cross: The Unavoidable Center of God's Mission

The cross was the unavoidable cost of God's mission.

Cross-Centered Mission. Every dimension of God's mission—from dealing with sin's guilt to defeating evil powers, destroying death, reconciling enemies, and healing creation—led inexorably to the cross of Christ. The cross is not just for individual salvation but is the source, power, and scope of God's total mission for the whole cosmos.

Holistic Gospel for a Holistic Mess. The cross provides the ultimate answer to the world's holistic brokenness. It offers:

• Personal pardon and justification for guilty sinners.
• Defeat of all cosmic evil and its ultimate destruction.
• Release from the fear of death and its ultimate destruction.
• Reconciliation between enemies and with God.
• Guarantee of a healed and reconciled creation.

Ultimacy of Evangelism. While mission is holistic, evangelism holds ultimate importance because it addresses death, the last enemy. The gospel offers the final hope of new creation life through Christ's resurrection, a hope that transcends all temporal solutions. Our mission, therefore, must always ultimately include proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, the only ultimate answer to death and the font of all our mission.

Last updated: December 8, 2025