Universality and Particularity in Mission

Biblical & Theological Foundations of Mission

Wesley Divinity School

SY 2014-2015 1st Semester

Universal Claim of Christian Faith

• Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him — to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)

• The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abra-ham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” (Galatians 3:8)

• Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4)

Great Commission

• Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them 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)

• But 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)

How universal in the world of religious plurality?

World Religions

Particularity of Christian Faith

• 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 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 who-ever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

• Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5-6)

• A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)

Salvation Pattern in the Bible

1. By choosing a person2. By making the person into a commu-

nity3. By molding the community into a

model 4. By showing the model to the world5. The world will see and be saved

The Characteristics of God’s Salvation Plan

① Through human beings② By showing the best model

The Conditions of the Salvation Plan: Preparedness

① Time (When)② Space (Where)③ Agent (Who)

1. When: Mesopotamian Civilization Era

Why Mesopotamian Civilization?

① The earliest civilization ② The earliest use of letter③ Time prepared for higher religion that is neces-

sary for salvation history④ God wanted to start salvation history as early as

possible.

2. Where: Canaan Canaan:① From Euphrates to

Nile Riveror

② From Southern Beersheba to Northern Dan

(230 km+96.54 km)

Why Canaan?

Inside Canaan

The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hit-tites, Amorites,

Perizzites, Hivites and Je-

busites…. (Judge 3:5)

Palestine (Canaan), the land in which Christianity first appeared, has long

been a land of strife and suffering. In ancient times, this was due mostly to its geographical position, at the crossroads

of the great trade routes that joined Egypt with Mesopotamia, and Asia Mi-

nor with Arabia. As we read the Old Tes-tament, we see that, as empires came and went, they cast a covetous eye on that narrow strip of land; for this rea-

son, its inhabitants repeatedly suffered invasion, bondage, and exiles…

Justo L. GonsalesThe Story of Christianity

Why Canaan?

① The land of hardest suffering② The clashing point of civilizations③ Small and barren land④ Thus, to mold a faith that can save the

world⑤ By giving the Mediterranean ⑥ Ultimately, to show Missio Dei

3. Who: Abraham, why?

① He was looking for a real God.② He understood the heart of faith. (reli-

gion of nature vs religion of revelation)③ He was prepared.

God’s universal salvation through particular people

•God’s salvation is universal salvation. But God saves through a particular person (and group). Israel, a particular people, in this sense became the elect to carry out God’s universal salvation. • The elect (the called or the disciples) are to live a life of suffering (costly discipleship) in order to be a model that can show God to the world. (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israelites, and the dis-ciples…Beatitudes)• The election means responsibility not privilege. When the election becomes privilege, particu-larity loses its legitimacy for universality.