Emblazoned above the choir loft in the church where I was reared, in Old English lettering, was the text of the Great Commission of Jesus from Mark’s gospel, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15 KJV). I shall always be grateful for the influence of my pastor’s persistent emphasis on world missions.
I have since learned, of course, that the whole Bible shows that world missions has always been on God’s heart. The sweep of biblical history, from the call of Abraham to the coming of Christ’s kingdom, is the story of God’s calling out from the nations a people for himself.
Paul supports this idea in Romans 15 by quoting different sections of the Old Testament. He does this to explain the biblical authority for his missionary activities, and for those of the church today. Verse 4, for example, speaks of the continuing relevance of the Old Testament, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us” (Romans 15:4). This, he says, is so that today’s church may have endurance, encouragement, and hope.
Verse 7 is a plea for unity. Churches are made up of all kinds of people: mature and immature, old and young, laborers and professionals, red, yellow, black, white, and brown people. All true believers in Jesus are accepted by God in Christ, We are called to accept one another, despite racial, political, economic, or cultural differences. This is so that the church may be unified in its mission of sending the gospel around the world. “Accept one another, as Christ has accepted you” (Romans 15:7).
Then Paul gets to his main point. In Verse 8 he says that Jesus was a missionary, or “servant,” to his own people, the Jews. He was born under the law. He was sent first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. His earthly ministry was confined mainly to the boundaries of the Jewish nation.
But then in verse 9 it says that Jesus is also the savior of the Gentile nations! And all this was in fulfillment of biblical prophecy. The inclusion of the nations of the world was not based on a few New Testament verses. It has always been the plan of God. Think of it! “So that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy,” Paul says in Romans 15:9. This is the goal of world missions.
Next in verses 9-12, Paul quotes from different sections of the Old Testament to prove his point. The mission to the Gentiles has always been on the heart of God. He quotes from the psalms: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles” (Romans 15:9, quoting Psalm 18:49). He quotes from the Law: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people” (Romans 15:10, quoting Deuteronomy 32:43). He quotes from the prophets: “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him” (Romans 15:12, quoting Isaiah 11:10).
These verses from the Old Testament are promises which will be kept, prophecies which will be fulfilled. They are certainties that undergird the church’s worldwide gospel initiatives. They give us hope that our labor for the Lord will not be in vain. Paul is quoting these Old Testament texts to validate New Testament missionary work.
The Great Commission is not a footnote to biblical history or a divine afterthought. It is integral to the scope of God’s eternal purpose. It has been his plan all along. We may feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. We may talk about closed countries and resistant cultures. But the truth is that God is going to accomplish his mission, fulfill his purpose, complete his task. By his grace he will use people like us to carry it out.
“Give of thy sons to bear the message glorious. / Give of thy wealth to speed them on their way. / Pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious; / And all thou spendest, Jesus will repay. / Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace; / Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.” (“O Zion, Haste” by Mary A. Thomson)
Pastor Randy Faulkner