The Common Thread Throughout Scripture
The Common Thread Throughout Scripture
Mission ties everything together
From cover to cover, the Bible weaves together a rich tapestry of stories, teachings, poetry, and prophecies. Amid this tapestry exists a unifying theme that threads its way in, around, and through the entirety of Scripture—mission.
Mission in the Old Testament
In the opening chapters of Genesis, God reveals His purpose for humanity—to enjoy all that God provided, to be in right relationship with God and with each other, to be fruitful, to multiply, and to manage the well-being of the newly created world. As the story unfolds, we see humanity turning from God’s perfect plan to follow the serpent, that is, to do what looks good in their own eyes.
From this point on, God's mission to reconcile and restore fallen humanity begins to take shape from the call of Abraham to the Exodus and the establishment of the nation of Israel. In and through Israel, God’s mission for God’s chosen people was clear — to worship God in all they did and to be a blessing to all nations (all people in all places).
The Prophets of the Old Testament continually remind Israel of their mission—to be a light to the nations, reflecting God's love, justice, and righteousness. They foretell the coming of a Messiah who would fulfill God's mission, bringing salvation not only to Israel but to all people.
Mission in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the mission of God finds fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory” (Heb 1:3), in whom all the fullness of God is found (Col 2:9). He is the perfect reflection of the Father, embodying God's mission by declaring in Luke 4:18-19 that He has come to preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, give sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free.
Jesus spent his short ministry on earth discipling those who followed him and put their trust in him. He discipled them into this same mission that God had given to the nation of Israel — to love God fully and to love all people. At the end of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus sends out his disciples to continue his mission, commanding them to go and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19-20).
The book of Acts tells the story of the early Church's expansion as they carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And it is important to note that God’s mission is no longer confined to Jewish believers but expanded to all believers everywhere. Paul reminds us in Christ, there is “neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).
Mission as a unifying theme
Mission unifies the story of God found in the Bible, revealing the heart of God for all people. Mission is the driving force behind creation, the establishment of Israel, the words of the prophets, God’s plan of redemption, the life and ministry of Jesus, the work of the early Church, and the establishment of God's kingdom.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Bible tells us a story of God's unbounded love and relentless pursuit of humanity, inviting us to participate in His mission of reconciliation and restoration.
That’s right. God’s mission is our mission. God’s purpose is our purpose. Our hearts — and this is what it means to grow in Christlikeness and to live the holy life — must increasingly reflect the heart of God as seen in the Son, the Messiah, the perfect image of God…Jesus Christ.
As believers, we are called to be active participants in God's mission. We are sent into the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ, give witness to a life transformed by God’s love, and demonstrate this love in all kinds of ways, according to gifts, abilities, and opportunities given to us.
Mission is not merely a task but a response to the overwhelming love and grace we have received. Mission is not an elective for only the most talented and accomplished believers; it is the Christlike lifestyle that all believers are called to live in the time, place, and situation in which they find themselves.
Let us embrace this mission, as we see it woven throughout Scripture, and allow it to shape our lives, empowering us to be ambassadors of God's love and agents of His transformative work in the world.
