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The Mission of God

That All the Nations Be Blessed

Much mission work finds its impetus in Jesus’ instructions to His disciples to “go and teach all nations” (Matthew), to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark), to preach “repentance and remission of sins” among all nations (Luke), and to be His witnesses “unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts).

Was this a new idea, an addition to God’s plan of ages past?

No, this Great Commission is based soundly in the entire revelation of God even back in Genesis. God called Abraham and set his family apart not so they alone would be blessed, but that all other families could be blessed through Abraham’s family. “And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

As families grew, they became people groups, or nations. The entire theme of the Bible revolves around God’s heart for all the nations.

  • Abraham again received the promise after his great test of obedience: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18).

  • The psalmist prays for God’s mercy and blessing on his people, “that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations” (Psalm 67:2).

  • The prophet of God declared, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7; Mark 11:17).

  • Jesus declared that before the end comes, “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14).

  • Paul believed he had been called to be an apostle “for obedience to the faith among all nations for [Jesus’] name” (Romans 1:5).

  • John saw a vision where “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands,” ascribing salvation to God and the Lamb (Revelation 7:9, 10).

    • God’s Abrahamic blessing extends to all nations through Jesus Christ. “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14).

    In our generation many nations, or people groups, remain outside the blessing of Abraham.

    Will we let God’s mission—that all the nations be blessed—become our mission?


  • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
  • “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witness of these things.” Luke 24:47, 48
  • “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19
  • “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3
  • “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel.” Ephesians 3:6
  • “That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21
  • “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’?” Mark 11:17
  • “Ask of me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance.” Psalm 2:8
  • “Behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes.” Revelation 7:9
  • “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1
  • “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
  • “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
  • “As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.” Proverbs 25:25
  • “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:10
  • “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” Psalm 22:27
  • “Truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” Numbers 14:21
  • “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:3, 4
  • “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
  • “That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.” 1 Kings 8:60
  • “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations.” Malachi 1:11
  • “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.” Psalm 86:9
  • “For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” Isaiah 61:11
  • "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10
  • "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3, 4
  • "You are worthy. . .; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God." Revelation 5:9, 10