The Missionary Nature of God (Part 2)

The missionary nature of the Son of God is clearly seen in his role: he is the mediator between God and men.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

This was a role given to Him by God the Father. Consider what Jesus said:

”For the Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father.” John 5:22-23a

The missionary implications of this role requires a few steps of logic:

#1. Jesus must mediate to fulfill his role as mediator. As Lumiere from Beauty and Beast so clearly said, “Life is so unnerving for the servant whose not serving.” Jesus will surely serve the service he was given by the Father. God’s purposes will be accomplished.

#2. In order for Jesus to mediate people must honor the Son, meaning to come to Him in faith that He is the capable mediator. People must believe in their Great Mediator or they will continue to be separated from God.

#3. In order to believe in his person and work they must hear of all that He did to make it efficacious (He defeated sin and death on His cross and in His resurrection so that He could successfully reconcile us to the Father).

#4. In order for people to hear, someone must be sent to announce Him and His work.

You may recognize this line of reasoning from Romans 10. Paul starts with salvation in Romans 10: How can they be saved unless they believe? How can they believe unless they hear? How can they hear unless someone be sent?

I am starting with the nature of God: How can he mediate unless they believe? How can they believe unless they hear? How can they hear unless someone be sent?

So you see that the nature of the Son of God as mediator between us and the Father is a missionary nature; a sending nature.

What are the implications for our missionary effort? I can think of a few:

#1. Since God the Father has provided a way for all in the Son, we want as many as possible to rely on Him and find Him capable of mediating. It brings Him glory when people trust their capable and loving mediator and that brings us, His children, joy.

#2. We are especially motivated that people who have not heard and not understood about his nature and role might hear and understand. We have heard and understood without deserving such grace, we want others to experiencing the same.

#3. We have confidence that God the Spirit will do the sovereign work of illuminating the hearts of some of those who hear that they might understand. God’s Word will not come back empty. He has orchestrated this whole thing all the way up until the point that we announce it. Surely He will be capable and faithful to open the eyes of the blind and quicken the dead to believe at the hearing of this Good News of Jesus the faithful and capable mediator. We don’t know how many or who but we are confidence that some will hear.

What are some applications that you can see concerning the nature of Jesus the Son of God, our mediator? What ways does this thought impact our missionary effort?