A. What Is Biblical Mission? “Biblical mission means more than simply going overseas to plant churches or spread civilization. It means the church participating in the ‘mission of God (Missio Dei)’ and seeking the restoration of God’s rule and glory throughout the whole earth. Mission is not a program that begins with human enthusiasm; rather, it is the heart of God that runs throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, and is a fundamental reason for the church’s existence. Let me clearly summarize five essential principles of true mission as presented in Scripture. 🌍 1. The Mission of God (Missio Dei) The subject and initiator of mission is not human beings but God. In order to save fallen humanity, God first comes to us, sends His Son, and sends the Holy Spirit. He is the “missionary God” who sends. Biblical basis: “As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” (John 20:21) Key meaning: The church acknowledges that God has the initiative in mission and serves as His agent, obed...
‘Before the law was given, sin was in the world' [Romans 5:12-21] Look at Romans 5:13-14: “for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.” The Bible says that sin was in the world before the law (v. 13). The word “before the law” here refers to the law that God gave to Moses at Mount Sinai when the Israelites came out of Egypt and came to Mount Sinai (Exod. 20:1-17; Note: Deut.5: 6-21). Then, “before the law” refers to when and when, from the time when Adam sinned (Gen. 3) until Moses received the law from God at Mount Sinai (Exod. 20) (about 2,500 years). Even then, there was a ...