THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS

Theology of Missions



Table of Contents

Thesis Statement3

Introduction3

Missionary work in the Old Testament4

Missionary work in the New Testament7

Why participate in God's mission?9

Conclusion10

Bibliography12

Theology of Missions

Thesis Statement

The theology of missions is the mission of God in the Christianity. The mission of God is the emphasis on how to live in the world by helping others and doing well. There are two testaments, one is old, and the other one is new. We will discuss both of the testaments and their relation with God's mission.

Introduction

The mission is an attribute of God. God himself is a missionary God. There is a church because there is a mission. The Church is to serve the movement of God to the world. In its mission, the Church testifies to the fulfillment of the promise of the Kingdom of God and participates in the continuing struggle of this kingdom against the powers of darkness and evil.

The term mission helps us to articulate the conviction that neither the Church nor any other human agent can be considered as the author or holder of the mission. The mission is first and finally the work of the triune God, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, because of the world, a ministry in which the Church has the privilege to participate. Mission is born in the heart of God. God is the foundation of sending love. This is the deeper sense of mission. It is impossible to penetrate beyond; there is a mission simply because God loves people.

Therefore, we get closer to defining the Mission of God when God's people intentionally crossing barriers of the church, to proclaim by word and deed the advent of the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ, through the participation of the church in the mission of God to reconcile people with God, with themselves, with each other, and the world, and brought together in the church through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit work towards the transformation of the world as a sign of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Missionary work in the Old Testament

I have mentioned two passages from the Old Testament regarding the mission of evangelization are following:

Genesis 12:1-3

Abram was a pioneer missionary. God's words to him in Genesis 12:1-3 are what have been called "The Old Testament Great Commission:"

"The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'"

Genesis 9:17

So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

The reason behind choosing these passages was that they are the great command of the Old Testament. They sound indeed as the story of missionary. But moreover this is the story of a sender, a God who will use people to fulfill his ...