The Bible does not use the phrase “world missions,” but God is certainly missions-minded (Luke 19:10) as His love extends to all the world (John 3:16).
1 Timothy 2:3-4: “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
World missions has its foundation in Jesus’ command to His disciples to go into all the world and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). This is exactly what the disciples endeavored to do. In Syrian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas were “set apart” by the Holy Spirit and called for a special work (Acts 13:2). That work was to evangelize Cyprus and Asia Minor.
Eventually, Paul’s missionary work took him to Europe. Always, Paul strived to be a pioneer in world missions: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation” (Romans 15:20). Paul preached the gospel “from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum” (v. 19); he had plans to go to Spain (v. 24), and he eventually made it to Rome. The book of Acts showcases the missionary fervor of the early church and emphasizes the necessity of world missions.
God does not show partiality to one ethnicity or nation above another (Acts 10:34–35). The Bible says that, without Christ, we are all in the same spiritual condition: all have fallen short of God’s glory and are under Adam’s curse. Everyone—every ethnicity, every nationality, every person—needs to hear the gospel. Everyone needs the righteousness of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. “How . . . can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14–15). The offer of grace is extended to all; God cares about all people equally.
The angel gave the Bethlehem shepherds “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). We should pursue world missions because God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). The offer of salvation is made to “whosoever will” (Revelation 22:17). “Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too” (Romans 3:29). Revelation describes the new, heavenly city of Jerusalem as a place where all nations will walk in the light of the Lamb and where the glory of all nations will dwell (Revelation 21:22–27). God cares about all nations, and representatives of all nations will be present in heaven.
Think of the Savior’s journey from Heaven to earth, and to Calvary’s cross, to secure your salvation and mine (2 Corinthians 8:9); see Him travelling a special route in order to save a poor sinful woman (John 4:4), and through her many others (John 4:39-42). Study the parable of Luke 15:4-24, and notice the concern of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit over the lost sheep (vv. 4-7), the lost silver (vv. 8-10), and the lost son (vv. 11-24). What have we denied ourselves in order that one lost sinner might be saved? If we would get others in, then we must put ourselves out! This will call for sacrifice, persistence and determination, but it will result in success (Psalm 126:6).
What means should we adopt? The most important thing is that we should be at the disposal of the Holy Spirit. He will then lead us as to the methods to adopt in soul-winning. He will certainly lay upon us a burden of prayer (Romans 10:1), and He will direct us to the needy souls whom He has prepared to receive our testimony (Acts 8:26, 29, 30). He may lead us to speak or to use carefully chosen tracts or portions of scripture; He will enable us to “steer” our conversations into the right channels so that we may speak of our Lord (Psalm 107:2); but the important thing is for us to be really in touch with Him – look up Proverbs 8:34.
The angel gave the Bethlehem shepherds “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Paul says, “all men” (1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Corinthians 9:22). Yes, God loves all (John 3:16), and Christ died for all (2 Corinthians 5:15), so Paul had proclaimed the gospel to all whom he could reach. See what he says in Acts 20:26; he had faithfully proclaimed the gospel to all the souls he had met – look up Ezekiel 3:18. If we are faithful like this, how will it work out practically? It will mean being on the watch for souls all the time. In the home, in business, while travelling, in our letter-writing, on holiday – at all times and in every circumstance we must be ready to present the claims of Christ to those who need Him – look up 1 Peter 3:15.
When we support world missions, when we share the good news of the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, we glorify God, who says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation” (Isaiah 52:7).