The purposes of missions are first, to glorify God; second, to
make disciples of all nations; and third, to overcome evil by expanding the
kingdom of God.
1. To Glorify God
The foremost purpose of missions is to bring people into a proper
relationship with God so that God will be glorified. To glorify God means to
worship and serve him. As the Gospel is spread throughout the earth,people
groups from every nation group give glory to God. Christ glorified God by dying
to save the lost (see Luke 19:10; John 13:31). Jesus commissioned the Apostle
Peter to lead the church and to die as a martyr.In his death, Peter would
glorify God (see John 21:19).The church is the Body of Christ. Both Jews and Gentiles
comprise the church, and together they glorify God (see Romans 15:5,6).
2. To Make Disciples of all Nations
A second purpose of missions is to bring people to salvation. The
Abrahamic Covenant says that through
the offspring of Abraham, all the peoples of the earth would be
blessed (see Gen. 12:2,3). Christ, the
descendant of Abraham, through Mary, blessed all peoples by dying
to save them from condemnation. The Great Commission to the church is to share
the Good News of redemption to the ends of the earth (see Matt.28:18-20; Acts
1:8). When the Gospel has been preached throughout the earth, the end of the
world will come (see Matt. 24:14). The church makes disciples,who in turn
glorify God.
It is urgent that we spread the Good News of Christ,because the
Bible teaches that Jesus is the only way to salvation (see Acts 4:12). The
Scripture contradicts pluralism—the idea that more than one god can save;and it
contradicts universalism—the idea that all people will be saved by the
atonement of Christ. It is urgent that people learn the truth of Scripture, and
it is the work of the church to share this Good News.
3. To Expand the Kingdom of God—Overcoming Evil A third purpose of
missions is to expand the Kingdom of God, overcoming the darkness and evil of
Satan’s rule.
The Kingdom of God was initiated at the first advent of Christ.
The church is on mission to expand the Kingdom of God around the world. Jesus
taught the disciples to pray that God’s Kingdom would be established on earth and
that God’s will be done on earth (see Matt. 6:10).
Christ is coming again to remove evil from the world,and to
establish his perfect rule (see “ Kingdom of God” in the training module
“Theology”).This third purpose of missions is similar to the second purpose—the
church makes disciples in order to expand the Kingdom of God. But the third
purpose emphasizes
the battle of good versus evil. As the Kingdom of God expands,
righteousness expands among nations. In
opposition to this, evil is growing along with population growth.
With the development of new weaponry,
depletion of the earth’s resources, and terrorist activity, the
world is becoming an increasingly dangerous place.
While missions combat evil, Satan and his kingdom will only be
overthrown by the return of Christ.
Willis writes that as the church spreads the Gospel to the world,
God’s wisdom is revealed to spiritual rulers: “His intent was that now, through
the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made
known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms”
(Ephesians 3:10 NIV).
God receives glory as the church obeys him and overcomes evil
throughout the world.
