The FEBC Commission on Global Partners’ Handbook states that there is a need for global ministry. There are Christians who strongly advocate the doctrine of God’s sovereign election and minimize the doctrine of mankind’s free will to choose or reject God’s offer of salvation. Such a position may run the risk of arguing that when God wants to save those who are lost, He will do it without our help.
Yes, there are many passages of Scripture that clearly speak of God’s sovereignty. Isaiah 43:11 – 13 and Jeremiah 32:26 & 27 are two such passages among many. He does all He pleases.
We also read in Scripture (Ezekiel 18:23 & 32, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3 & 4, John 12:32, and many other passages), that God does not want anyone to perish, but that all should repent and live.
So, the question begs to be asked: Why doesn’t He just sovereignly make everyone repent and believe?
I think the first step to answer that question is Genesis 1:26 & 27: God chose to make mankind in His own image and likeness. Numerous other passages throughout Scripture tell us that God commands us to use the ability He gave us to reject wickedness and rebellion and choose life (Deut. 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Isaiah 1:18). Many other such passages say this too. I will mention one. Isaiah 7:14–16 says that this capacity to reject the bad and choose the good is within the ability of even a young child.
The late A. W. Tozer states this ability much better than I can: “So highly does God regard His handiwork, that He will not for any reason violate it. For God to override man’s freedom and force him to act contrary to his own will would be to make a mockery of the image of God in man. This, God will never do. However good an act may be, it is not good if it is imposed from without.”
The solution is clear. Hebrews 3:12 – 15, Psalm 51:16 & 17, and scores of other passages exhort people everywhere to repent and humbly receive the gift of salvation that God offers. This requires an act of the will. But Romans 10:14 & 15 remind us that many don’t know about the Gift God offers.
A Wycliffe Bible translator in Papua New Guinea asked some young boys in the Sepik Iwam language group what things were wrong to do. Within a few minutes, those young boys listed 7 of the 10 commandments in Scripture. However, they didn’t know the Creator who had given those commandments, or the gift He offers to free us from the guilt of breaking them. Recent research shows more than 17,000 distinct people groups in the world, more than 7,000 of which are unreached. This represents about 3.5 billion people. Approximately 2,000 people groups speak languages that have not been put into print, so reading the Scripture is impossible for them to know about God’s gift. Billions more live where the Gospel is available, but they have not heard. If no one tells them, how will they choose life? (Mt. 7 : 13 & 14, Rom. 10: 13 – 15)
The Lord told Ezekiel (chapter 3:18, 19) that He made the prophet a watchman to warn the wicked to repent. If he did not warn them, the Lord would require it of Ezekiel. Ezek. 22:30, 31, and Matthew 9:36 – 38 command Christians to stand in the gap and pray for the lost. Finally, remember our Lord’s commission in all 4 Gospels to make disciples of all nations.
Yes, God makes it abundantly clear that there is a great need for global mission ministry. His mandate is that each one of us gets involved in our own unique way. Reply in the “Comments” section for more information about getting involved.
- NOTE; This article was written by Gary Williams who served with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 35 years translating the Bible into the Nuni language for the Nuna people group in Burkino Faso. He currently resides in Saskachewan, Canada.
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