We see the pictures of tribal people and the maps that show us where all the unreached people are. We are urged with great passion, "We need to go into all the world and preach the Gospel or these people will go to Hell." The view of missions and the preaching of the Gospel is often very man-centered. But, biblically, missions and the preaching of the Gospel is ultimately God-centered.
Paul states that "Through [Jesus Christ our Lord] we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles," now watch this carefully, "for His name's sake." (Romans 1:5)
"For His name’s sake" is literally, "for the sake of the Name." Kenneth S. Wuest explains that this is, "an Old Testament expression speaking of all that God is in His being, His majesty, glory, power, holiness, righteousness. It is used in the sense of character or reputation."
Why did God choose to extend His grace to Paul? For His glory. Why did God appoint Paul as an apostle? For His glory. Why did God commission Paul to preach the Gospel? For His glory. What was the purpose of the Gentiles coming to faith? God’s glory. The glory of the Gospel is the exaltation of the glory of God from start to finish. The Gospel is God-centered, not man-centered.
John tells us that the New Testament church missionaries, "Went out for his name's sake." (3 John 1:7) The believer’s commission to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth is a commission to spread the recognition and worship of the glory of God. This is done by leading people to faith in Christ and then discipling them toward maturity in Christ and worship of the glory of God.
John Piper has stated the truth so clearly, "Missions exists because worship doesn’t." Missions is needed to reach the people who are not worshiping God in order to lead them to worship God through the preaching of the Gospel.
Yes, God loves the lost. Certainly God has compassion on the lost. But not because they are so worthy of being saved, but rather, because He is so worthy of having worshipers. In fact, that’s what makes Him so worthy of praise. That’s the glory of the Gospel and the glorious message of missions. God regenerates man . . . redeems man . . . restores man . . . so that man can know the God of glory and participate in the most glorious privilege and experience man could ever enjoy . . . delighting in God . . . magnifying God . . . worshiping God. That’s the glory of the Gospel. That's the glory of missions.
God saved a wretch like me! I had no special value, I had nothing to offer. Far from having anything positive to offer, all I had was my sinful, rebellion. And God transformed me to make me see His glory and worship Him. That’s the message of missions. That’s the glory of the Gospel.
The glory of the Gospel is the exaltation of the glory of God from start to finish. The Gospel is God-centered, not man-centered. Let’s go out and lead others to be worshipers of the glory of God!
Soli Deo Gloria
Next: The Glory of the Church
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