Biblical Missionaries The Missionary Nature of God

Lesson #1 for July 4, 2015

Scriptures: [Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-17; 1 John 2:16; John 3:14-15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 5:13-14][i].

1.    Two worldviews are prominent among Christians. One of those views holds that things will become better and better until we enter the golden age of the millennium. Another prominent view holds that things will get worse and worse until the day of the Lord comes, the plagues fall on the world, and Jesus appears in the clouds to rescue His people.

2.    What was the condition of our world in its original state before sin? How did we get from that to where we are now? As we look around us in the world, is it any surprise that Jesus predicted that at the end of this world’s history, there would be wars and rumors of wars? But, God has promised a new heaven and a new earth. (Revelation 21:1ii)

3.    However, between now and then, we face a formidable enemy. Satan knows that if God’s people accomplish the work they are supposed to accomplish, it will be all over for him. So, he is doing everything possible to prevent us from doing our work.

4.    What did God have in mind when He made man and woman to be like Himself? (Genesis 1:26-28iii) God carefully formed man from the clay of the ground, molding him and breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. That process was very different from His “straightforward” commands on the other days of creation. Do you think the three Members of the Godhead spent time consulting together before They created human beings? Human beings were created to be in charge of the other creatures of this world. Why? We were given that responsibility because we were made in the image and likeness of God. Doesn’t that suggest that we are supposed to reflect His character? If we as human beings are supposed to be responsible for the other creatures in this world, that suggests responsibility.

5.    Read Acts 17:25,28iv. These verses along with many others in Scripture suggest that we are totally dependent upon God for our daily, hourly, and minute-by-minute existence.

6.    So, what kind of creatures did God create? Why did He place in that garden not just the tree of life but also the tree of knowledge of good and evil? (Genesis 2:9[v]) Was that necessary to give Adam and Eve a choice? And freedom? There was no tree in heaven; and yet, Lucifer sinned. That tree was placed in the garden to allow Satan his freedom and access to the couple, but prevent him from chasing Adam and Eve everywhere they went. We know that as a result of their choice to eat the fruit and, thus, distrust God and disobey Him, they proved that they had the ability to rebel against Him. Choose Satan and selfishness; or choose God and love.

7.    Why didn’t God just create us so that we would automatically obey His will? Among the creatures that God created on this world, human beings are the only ones given that moral responsibility. First John 4:8,16 tell us, “God is love.” Is that suggesting that God wants us to be loving as well? What are the implications of creating loving beings?

8.    See handout entitled “Love.” (www.Theox.org website; Teacher’s Guides: General Topics)vi

9.    God will never use force to try to get us to do His will. Using force would eliminate freedom. But, wrong choices have bad consequences; and we need to learn about those consequences. We need to understand the consequences of doing evil as well as the consequences of doing good. What God wants most is freely-given love from His children. Love can never be forced.

The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God,

Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force.

The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 22.1.

10.    Think of the implications of human free will. Although we recognize that God is supremely powerful, even omnipotent, He will never use His power to force us to make certain moral choices. Since that is true, we become morally responsible for our actions. This carries over into the world of science and physical law. Not everything that occurs is solely a result of cause-and-effect. Human beings have free moral choices which can impact what happens.

11.    How many truly free moral choices do we have on a regular basis? Read Genesis 3:6-7vii. What was the sin of Eve and Adam? There was no poison in that fruit. In itself, eating fruit is not a sinful act. Their sin was in distrusting God and directly disobeying Him. That has been and always will be Satan’s primary goal-to get us to distrust God and disobey Him. Satan would be more than happy to use force to get us to do that. But, while God will allow him to tempt us, God will not allow him to force us to sin. (1 Corinthians 10:13viii)

12.    In the immediate context, what was the result of Adam and Eve’s sin? (Genesis 3:23-24ix) Adam and Eve had to leave their garden home. God could not allow sinners to continue to partake of the tree of life and, thus, perpetuate evil for eternity. Would you want to live forever in a world full of sin like our current world environment? Would the problems all go away if God simply eliminated Satan? (James 1:13-15[x])

13.    Read 1 John 2:16. What does that verse tell us about the nature of our sins? How prevalent in our world are selfishness, greed, envy, and pride?

14.    What is incredible in all of this is that God did not give up on us when we sinned. He came looking for us, and He continues to pursue us with His love. Why did Adam and Eve try to hide from God? Do we still want to hide from Him?

In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 68.

Was that true even in the days of the flood?

15.    So, we see that God has always been on a missionary outreach to human beings.

Of course, the greatest revelation of God’s missionary activity can be seen in the incarnation and ministry of Jesus. Though Jesus came to this earth to do many things-to destroy Satan, to reveal the true character of the Father, to prove Satan’s accusations wrong, to show that God’s law can be kept-the crucial reason was to die on the cross in the place of humanity, in order to save us from the ultimate result of sin, which is eternal death. (AdultSabbath School Bible Study Guide for Wednesday, July 1,2015)

Is it true that the most important reason for Jesus’s death was to save us from eternal death? Ellen White suggested something quite different. Is God trying to teach us something? (1 Corinthians 4:9; Ephesians 1:7-10; 3:7-10; Colossians 1:19-20; John 12:32)xi

16.    So, how are these reasons for the death of Jesus related to each other?

It was in order that the heavenly universe might see the conditions of the covenant of redemption that Christ bore the penalty in behalf of the human race. The throne of Justice must be eternally and forever made secure, even tho the race be wiped out, and another creation populate the earth.

[Compare Romans 3:4xii.] By the sacrifice Christ was about to make, all doubts would be forever settled, and the human race would be saved if they would return to their allegiance. Christ alone could restore honor to God’s government. The cross of Calvary would be looked upon by the unfallen worlds, by the heavenly universe, by Satanic agencies, by the fallen race, and every mouth would be stopped.... Who is able to describe the last scenes of Christ’s life on earth, His trial in the judgment hall, His crucifixion? Who witnessed these scenes?-The heavenly universe, God the Father, Satan and his angels.—Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, July 12, 1899, par 2. Compare LHU 257.2. [Content in brackets and bold type are added.]

17.    Is it really possible that dying for us was not the most important reason Jesus came?

18.    Read [John 3:14-15; Isaiah 53:4-6; and 2 Corinthians 5:21]xiii. Jesus was crucified on a cross to save us. He suffered the consequences of sin that was ours. All the while, we thought that it was punishment sent by God. How many Christians believe and teach that the death of Christ was a punishment sent from God? Jesus died the second death to show us what He meant in Genesis 2:17, even though He was never a sinner. In imagination, we can watch Him die, and we can watch Him live. We can choose to live lives like He lived; or, we will die a death like He died. By being selfish, we can be like Satan; by being loving, we can be like God.

19.    So, how is the mission of God related to our mission? Jesus stated plainly more than once that He came not to judge the world but to be its Savior. (John 3:17; 12:47xiv) Then, He went on to say that just as the Father had sent Him, He is sending us. (John 20:21xv)

20.    Read Matthew 5:13-16xvi. In what ways are we supposed to be like salt and light? Salt and light work in quite different ways. Salt needs to be mixed in with the material of which it is to become a part, and it operates internally. By contrast, light cannot be covered. It operates externally, illuminating all around it. In what ways are we supposed to be like salt? And in what ways are we supposed to be like a light?

21.    It was God’s original plan for the children of Israel to be a light to all the nations around them. They were supposed to be a healthy, happy, and holy people who would attract others to want to be like them. Unfortunately, it did not actually work out like that.

22.    What overall influence do Christians have on the world? Do other people observe the members of your church and want to be better people as a result?

Hearts that respond to the influence of the Holy Spirit are the channels through which God’s blessing flows. Were those who serve God removed from the earth, and His Spirit withdrawn from among men, this world would be left to desolation and destruction, the fruit of Satan’s dominion. Though the wicked know it not, they owe even the blessings of this life to the presence, in the world, of God’s people whom they despise and oppress.

But if Christians are such in name only, they are like the salt that has lost its savor. They have no influence for good in the world. Through their misrepresentation of God they are worse than unbelievers.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 306.4. [Bold type is added.]

23.    Are we correctly representing God? Are we doing it well? Are our churches more like “clubs for saints”? Or, “hospitals for sinners”? Have we taken seriously the challenge to witness for God-to be lights or salt for the world?

The church of Christ on earth was organized for missionary purposes, and the Lord desires to see the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth. Not all are called to personal labor in foreign fields, but all can do something by their prayers and their gifts to aid the missionary work.—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 29.3.

24.    How well is the Seventh-day Adventist Church doing in explaining to the world the reason for the life and death of Jesus Christ? Do the people who live in your community recognize you as a light to the community?

25.    When we say that God is love, what is implied by that? In order for a person to be loving, he must have someone else to whom he can relate. How are we relating to those around us? Do we feel a real sense of obligation to the mission God has given us? (2 Peter 3:1-12xvii)

26.    Thinking about the life of Jesus and the ways in which He served all around Him, how well are we doing? Do you feel a sense of being sent by God to your community? Could mission be a part of everything that we do? Are we ready to say: “Here am I, send me”? (Isaiah 6:8) Could we literally become the hands and feet that will carry God’s message to the world?

27.    What are the most important characteristics of God? How can we come to be more like Him? Satan has claimed that no one would choose to serve God just because s/he loves Him. He actually believes that if we were each left completely free, we would choose to follow him and his selfishness. Is that true? Why is it that so few people down through the history of our world seem to have chosen God’s side? Is the focus of our church and our Sabbath school class as well as our individual focus outward instead of inward? How do we relate to the other members of the church? How do we relate to the members of the community? In our series of lessons for the next three months, we will discover that even in the Old Testament, there were plenty of missionaries starting from Abraham, Moses, and some of the later prophets. Of course, the greatest missionary of all was Jesus Christ Himself.

28.    Did God make it clear to the Israelites in ancient times that they had a responsibility to reach out to the nations around them? Read [Deuteronomy 10:19; Genesis 12:1-3; Psalm 82:8; and Micah 4:2]xviii. Isaiah made it clear that God’s temple was to become a house of prayer for all nations. (Isaiah 56:7xix) Read also [Isaiah 56:3 and Isaiah 45:22]xx. Israel was supposed to be a light to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 49:6xxi) How well did they do? Why did they so completely fail in that task?

29.    As a church, could we fail as well? Do we need to take a careful look at our priorities as individuals and as a church?

Jesus did not create a church and then give it mission as one of its tasks. The divine sending plan comes prior to the church. Mission gives birth to the church and is its mother.... If the church ceases to be missionary, it has not simply failed in its task, but has actually ceased being the church.—Jon Dybdahl, Adventist Mission in the 21st Century (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1999, pp. 17,18). See [Ephesians 3:7-10; Colossians 1:19-20]xxii.

30.    Let us never forget that the mission to reach out to the world is God’s mission; it is not our mission. Our mission is to cooperate with God as much as we are able. Sometimes, we talk about methods that could be used to evangelize people of other denominations and especially of other religions. We discuss “unentered territories” and even “contextualization.” Understood in their setting, these methodologies can be very helpful. But, we must never overlook our primary goal and purpose which is to represent Jesus Christ. Could that happen in our lifetimes? Could Jesus come back soon?

i-Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild,[a] large and small.” 27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, 28 blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.

2:15 Then the LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it. 16 He told him, “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, 17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.[a] You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.”

1 John 2:16 Everything that belongs to the world—what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of—none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world.

John 3:14 As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

Matthew 5:13 “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.

14 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

ii-Revelation 21:21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth disappeared, and the sea vanished.

iii-Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild,[a] large and small.” 27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, 28 blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.

iv-Acts 17:25 Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone.

28 as someone has said,

‘In him we live and move and exist.’

It is as some of your poets have said,

‘We too are his children.’

v-Genesis 2:9 He made all kinds of beautiful trees grow there and produce good fruit. In the middle of the garden stood the tree that gives life and the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad

vi-John 4:8,16: “...God is love,...”

Matthew 22:36-40:36 “Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your

mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and the most important commandment. 39 The second most important

commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 40 The whole Law of Moses and

the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (GNB)

It sounds so profound and yet so simple! Love is probably the word that has come to be

associated with Christianity more than any other. But is it really that simple? Follow me as we

consider it for a few minutes.

What God wants most of all in His universe is loving, understanding friends. But love is much

more than just a warm, fuzzy emotional response. Think of the implications of this simple concept!

In order to be able to love one must also be able to hate. Otherwise “love” has no meaning. God

wants much more than mere robots. Suppose you took a tape recorder and after inserting a nice

new tape pressed the record button and spoke clearly into the microphone the following words: “I

love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, etc.” for as long as you wanted. If you then should rewind

the tape and push the play button would you be delighted to know that the tape recorder was saying

“I love you?” Would you give the recorder a big hug for such a wonderful expression of appreciation

and love? Of course not. You would think that the whole exercise was a bit silly because the tape

recorder has no control over what it says. It only repeats what you tell it.

So in order for God to have creatures that truly love Him, He had to create them with freedom

of choice. This in turn implies a lot of other things. Let’s consider.

If God wants real love, and at the same time grants real freedom, then He must give us a basis

on which to build that love. In essence, He must truly love us if He wants a love response in return.

He will, in effect, have to “win” our love. But how do you do this if someone is truly free?

To be really free, one must have choices. Choices are not the same as chances. Sometimes

children play a game where they put something valuable or desirable in one hand and then put both

hands behind their back. After a moment or two, during which they may or may not have moved the

object from one hand to the other they then bring both hands out for you to choose which one you

want. Now if the item is large enough or irregularly shaped enough you may get a clue by the

appearance of the hands themselves, but for the moment let us assume that you have no idea

which hand contains the item. When you choose one hand or the other, you are playing a chance

game. God does not play chance games. If salvation were based on chance, then we are truly

dealing with an arbitrary God who just enjoys entertaining Himself with our foolish activities.

In order for God to give us real freedom, He must give us real choices. That means that we not

only must be able to see what we are choosing, but more than that we must have some idea of the

implications of that choice down the line. If you make a choice because something looks good or

feels good, but you have no idea whether you are getting a deadly weapon or a child’s toy, it is really

nothing more than chance. In order to have a real choice you must know what the item is, and have

some idea about the future implications of choosing it. Furthermore, if we lived in a universe that

was completely chaotic so that a choice that appeared good today would turn out to be deadly

tomorrow, again, any real freedom would be gone.

So, in order to make real love possible, God had to create an orderly universe in which choices

that are good today are still good tomorrow. We would have to be able to study reality at least long

enough during one lifetime so that we could get a pretty good idea what the results of each of our

regular choices was going to be. But think of the implications of this! We would need to have a

universe that is orderly enough so that “science” would be possible. “Laws” would describe the way

things work.

In allowing us freedom, God recognized that sooner or later someone might choose to work

against His plan. Then He would have to deal with the problems that arose. As we know historically,

Lucifer, the leader of the angels was the one who rebelled. (Revelation 12:7-9) He, in turn, convinced

our first parents to join him in that rebellion. (Genesis 3:1-19) Thus our world became the testing

ground for the “great controversy”. God no doubt wished that He could prevent any evil

consequences from befalling any of His children, but in order to have an atmosphere of love, God

knew that He would have to stand back and allow things to take their course. God certainly has and

had the power to step in at any moment and prevent anyone from sinning or even prevent the

consequences of anyone’s sins. But if He did that, He would have to overrule our freedom.

Instead God chose to allow things to take their natural course, with people mostly reaping the

consequences of their own actions and those of their forefathers. God would only step into human

history to exercise His power and force when it was absolutely necessary to preserve the human

race or to prevent them from losing contact with Him.

And so we read the record of the Old Testament. God had to allow things to go from bad to

worse according to human choices until finally at the time of the flood, things had become so bad

that God was about to lose contact with the human race completely. Many things still needed to be

demonstrated. So God Himself drowned all of His children except eight.

And so the story went on for thousands of years. Now it is our turn to live on the earth. And God

is preserving a complete record of everything that is being thought, said, and done here on planet

earth as a permanent protection against such a thing ever happening again.

A million or even a billion years into eternity, as we are living in complete harmony and peace

together, someone may again decide to rebel. God will only need to pull out the “videotape” of the

history of this world from the Divine Museum to remind everyone what the consequences of such

a decision would be. God only needs to let “sin” happen once.

Our little planet is and will forever be the lesson book of the universe. God has declared that

“love” is the best, even the only way, to run a universe, and the devil, and this earth, are in the midst

of an experiment to try to prove that God is wrong. We may choose which side of this whole “great

controversy” we are going to be on. But as we decide let us remember that the consequences and

implications of each choice are far from “simple”!

© Copyright 1999-2002, Kenneth Hart

khart@llu.edu

vii-Genesis 3:6 The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. 7 As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves.

viii-1 Corinthians 10:13 Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

ix-Genesis 3:23 So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden and made them cultivate the soil from which they had been formed. 24 Then at the east side of the garden he put living creatures[a] and a flaming sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the tree that gives life.

x-James 1:13 If we are tempted by such trials, we must not say, “This temptation comes from God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires. 15 Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

xi-1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

Ephesians 1:7 For by the blood of Christ[a] we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, 8 which he gave to us in such large measure!

In all his wisdom and insight 9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

3:7 I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power. 8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood[a] on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

John 12:32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.”

xii-Romans 3:4 Certainly not! God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says,

“You must be shown to be right when you speak;

you must win your case when you are being tried.”

xiii-John 3:14 As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Isaiah 53:4 “But he endured the suffering that should have been ours,

the pain that we should have borne.

All the while we thought that his suffering

was punishment sent by God.

5 But because of our sins he was wounded,

beaten because of the evil we did.

We are healed by the punishment he suffered,

made whole by the blows he received.

6 All of us were like sheep that were lost,

each of us going his own way.

But the LORD made the punishment fall on him,

the punishment all of us deserved.

2 Corinthians 5:21 Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

xiv-John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.

12:47 If people hear my message and do not obey it, I will not judge them. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it.

xv-John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.”

xvi-Matthew 5:13 “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.

14 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

xvii-2 Peter 3:3 My dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written you. In both letters I have tried to arouse pure thoughts in your minds by reminding you of these things. 2 I want you to remember the words that were spoken long ago by the holy prophets, and the command from the Lord and Savior which was given you by your apostles. 3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days some people will appear whose lives are controlled by their own lusts. They will make fun of you 4 and will ask, “He promised to come, didn't he? Where is he? Our ancestors have already died, but everything is still the same as it was since the creation of the world!” 5 They purposely ignore the fact that long ago God gave a command, and the heavens and earth were created. The earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 and it was also by water, the water of the flood, that the old world was destroyed. 7 But the heavens and the earth that now exist are being preserved by the same command of God, in order to be destroyed by fire. They are being kept for the day when godless people will be judged and destroyed.

8 But do not forget one thing, my dear friends! There is no difference in the Lord's sight between one day and a thousand years; to him the two are the same. 9 The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.

10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that Day the heavens will disappear with a shrill noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth with everything in it will vanish.[a] 11 Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and dedicated to God, 12 as you wait for the Day of God and do your best to make it come soon—the Day when the heavens will burn up and be destroyed, and the heavenly bodies will be melted by the heat.

xviii-Deuteronomy 10:19 So then, show love for those foreigners, because you were once foreigners in Egypt.

Genesis 12:12 The LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you. 2 I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

But I will curse those who curse you.

And through you I will bless all the nations.

Psalm 82:8 Come, O God, and rule the world;

all the nations are yours.

Micah 4:2     and their people will say,

“Let us go up the hill of the LORD,[a]

to the Temple of Israel's God.

He will teach us what he wants us to do;

we will walk in the paths he has chosen.

For the LORD's teaching comes from Jerusalem;

from Zion he speaks to his people.”

xix-Isaiah 56:7 “I will bring you to Zion, my sacred hill,[a] give you joy in my house of prayer, and accept the sacrifices you offer on my altar. My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations.”

xx-Isaiah 56:3 A foreigner who has joined the LORD's people should not say, “The LORD will not let me worship with his people.”

A man who has been castrated should never think that because he cannot have children, he can never be part of God's people

Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me now and be saved,

people all over the world!

I am the only God there is.

xxi-Isaiah 49:6 The LORD said to me,

“I have a greater task for you, my servant.

Not only will you restore to greatness

the people of Israel who have survived,

but I will also make you a light to the nations—

so that all the world may be saved.”

xxii-Ephesians 3:7 I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power. 8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood[a] on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

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