LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Basis for Global Engagement in the Old and New Testament
Submitted to Dr. Harper
GLST 200 -001
Intro to Global Studies
By
Olivia Yetter
September 24th, 2021
Introduction
There is a reason missionaries are called to the ends of the Earth. Throughout the Bible,
on various occasions, God speaks of the importance of bringing His love to the nations. He has a
heart for them and we being followers of Him, so should we. Displayed not only in the Old
Testament but as well as the New Testament, God has provided us with His word that clearly
stated His desire for us to be vessels and help build His kingdom.
Old Testament Basis for Global Engagement
Starting in the Old Testament even before the fall of Adam and Eve, it says <God blessed
them and said to them, 8Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.9=
(Genesis 1:28) He had to begin with people in order for there to be a call to bring them to Him.
1.
God9s desire for His people to multiply is evident. He continues this by telling Noah, <8Be
fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.9= (Genesis 9:1).
After establishing His people, <[t]he Lord had said to Abram, <Go from your country,
your people and your father9s household to the land I will show you. <I will make you into a
great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 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 12: 1-3). Now, not only does the call change from just a
multiplication of His people, but a calling to go to the land the Lord called Abram to in order to
create a new nation in the name of the Lord. However, He doesn9t stop there. God promises a
blessing over Abram and to anoint him as a blessing to clothes as well. God offers the same
promises to us when we choose to go out into the nations as well.
1Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International Version (Biblica
(formerly International Bible Society, 1973).
In Psalms the passion then switches from God9s desire to the desire of the people to make
known to the nations the opportunity of salvation that God offers us (Psalm 67: 1-2). God
acknowledges the need to make His name known to all people.
He is all powerful and yet He still interweaves us into His plan. He makes vessels out of
us, if we are willing. In the story of Jonah it reads, <The word of the Lord came to Jonah a
second time: <Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.= (Jonah
3: 1-2). The Lord calls him to a new city to spread the message provided to Him. However, as
the story continues it is revealed that Jonah was in opposition to the Lord. He was fearful. He
was disobedient. That is a very real thing we as humans face. However, God makes a
declaration over us when He spoke to Jacob, He says <8But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom
I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you= (Isaiah 41: 8-10). It is seen that God breaks through the
barriers of fear. He has called us from the ends of the earth and has chosen us to carry out His
plan. His heart is in the reconciliation of the nations to Himself
In Isaiah it is said, <8You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So
do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and
help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.= (Isaiah 41:9). God knows our hearts,
He knows our fears and so by His power He breaks those chains off of us and He gives us the
strength to face all adversaries in order to bring His name to the nations. His heart is with and in
the nations and so it is declared: <[s]urely you will summon nations you know not, and nations
you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of
Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.= (Isaiah 55:5).
New Testament Basis for Global Engagement
During and after the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ there became even more
of a passion and renewed calling for the Lord's people to grow His kingdom. In the Gospel of
Matthew it is written, <[a]ll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age= (Matthew 28:18-20). It is a very clear command
given to us as followers of Christ to go out into the world and make the name of Jesus known to
all people.
However, we are not the ones who save, it is Christ who saves. The Lord uses us and as it
is written is Acts, <you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth= (Acts 1:8).
The Lord continues to build us up for His works and to carry out His plan for the world.
Despite being equipped, we must also have a passion for the nations. Paul declares in the
book of Romans, [f]or I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that“
brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile=' (Romans 1:16).
There is an excitement and power that comes from Jesus. He loves us so deeply that He is in
endless pursuit of our hearts and as children of the Father, understanding that love, why wouldn9t
we want to spread that to all people of all nations.
With this passion we are then to submit ourselves to God, all we have to do is obey. He
anoints us and appoints us saying <The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord
of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field= (Luke 10:2). We are
promised trials, we are going to face prosecution as Christians. There are places in this world
where the name of Jesus is frowned upon and the danger is high for those who dare to declare
His name. However, it is clear that God calls us to the nations in the midst of trouble. We can not
be scared to share the sufferings of Christ. In Mark it talks about the power and protection that
comes from God when we go out to do His work, all struggles pale in comparison to the works
we are able to do in the name of Jesus (Mark 16: 15-18).
The Son of God, Himself has commanded us to obey this calling. The end goal is to make
Him known to all. It is stated in Matthew that <this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the
whole world as a testimony to all < (Matthew 24:14). We are His witnesses and His chosen
people. When we are rooted in Him and His word we open ourselves up to receive the power of
the Holy Spirit and be a witness (1 Peter 3:15).
We should be excited to spread the Gospel to the nations. For when we do so, we get
closer to accomplishing the Lord9s ultimate goal, we bring the world into unity under the name
of God. Then, and only then will the kingdom of God be fulfilled and the end will come. It is
written that <every nation, tribe, people and language, will stand before the throne and before the
Lamb= (Revelation 7:9). That declaration is exciting and encouraging.
Conclusion
Whether we look through the Old or New Testament the word of the Lord is clear: make
the name of the Lord known to all nations and share the message of His love. There is power in
the name of Jesus. He calls us, He equips us, all we need to do is obey. He longs for us and
pursues us as His children and so carefully has set a path in front of us to allow us to be part of
building His kingdom. What a sweet blessing that is, to be a light in the darkness of this world. It
is vital to have a heart for the nations as a Christian. If we have a heart for God, we also share in
His goals, therefore we have a heart for the nations. We can use the declarations of these
passages to be encouraged and empowered by the Lord to engage ourselves in the world despite
all persecution in order to bring glory to the Father and His Kingdom.
