We looked last week at God’s love for sinners. It was this love for sinful man that moved God to action: He sent His Son to seek out and save that which was lost.
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.Romans 3:11
These people that God loves do not understand God, judgment, or salvation, and they will never seek God.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.John 3:16-17
If man will not seek God then God will send His Son to seek out and save that which was lost. The Latin word for send is “missio.” From this word we get the idea of “missionary” or “one sent out” and “mission” or “the purpose for which one was sent out.”
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.Luke 19:1-10
This seeking out lost sinners was the purpose for which Jesus came to earth.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.Isaiah 6:8
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Matthew 28:19
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.Acts 1:8
God is a missionary God. He is always sending people out for the purpose of seeking out the lost. As such all Christians are missionaries or people sent out to seek the ones who will not seek God. Missions is not about a foreign country. Missions is simply the purpose for which we have been saved.
This is also why attractional evangelism simply does not work. Christians saying, “Y’all come” to a lost world is the exact opposite attitude of God the Father. His command to believers is, “You go.” We cannot expect a lost world to come to us. We must seek them out.
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