ADAM AND YOUR MISSIONS VISION - World Impact Sunday 2021

ADAM AND YOUR MISSIONS VISION - World Impact Sunday

Romans 5:15-19 - “....For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. [16] And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. [17] Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. [18] So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. [19] For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”
There are many things that must be in place for missionary reach to be done well. And then there is one thing that must be in place for missionary reach to exist at all. That’s what this text is all about. It’s not really a how-to text about doing missions. Rather, it expresses the one idea without which there is no reason for doing (or funding) missions at all. Here’s the big idea. All people on planet earth are in one of two streams of humanity. Paul says humanity is wrapped up either in Adam or in Christ. There are no third options. First, every person has a lineage to Adam. He is the great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather of every person who draws breath. And what that means is every person on planet earth has the same big problem. Paul talks about it in two verses:

Romans 5:12 and 19 - “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men....[19] For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners....”
Then Paul tells us what God has done about this human crisis. He has launched His rescue mission to create a new redeemed line of people under a brand new headship - the headship of Christ. Paul celebrates this new headship in

Romans 5:17 & 19 - “Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ....[19] For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”
Now, how does the point of these deeply theological verses create senders and goers for global missions? Simply thus - in reaching out to every race, tribe, people group, and culture of planet earth (thousands of them) - if you send or go and study the languages and examine the cultural context and research the anthropology and invest in seeking out still more peoples - if you do all these things you need never fear the gospel message lacks relevance for any person anywhere. They are all caught in the real, literal, fallen Adam. They are trapped in exactly the same sinful root. There are no exceptions. And they can never get out on their own. They all need Christ because, as Paul makes clear, there are no third options - no third lines of humanity. All are going to face eternity in one of two heads - sinful in Adam - or redeemed in Christ. God has given no other destinies. Let’s apply this: For missionaries - Whatever else missionaries study - and there surely are many important areas of missional work to learn - but whatever else they study - if they don’t study this truth from Paul, they should stay home. I say that because while we should and must minister to all human suffering, this text drives our attention especially to eternal suffering. For senders - Whatever else you fund - and there are many good ministries calling for support - there are no needs like this one. Remember, care about all suffering - especially eternal suffering. Put your dollars into the greatest, most universal suffering on the planet. Be motivated in the confidence there is not one human being anywhere on this planet who doesn’t need your investment. Here’s my goal for our church family. Both goers and senders need to know the content of the message being exported. Years ago A.W.Tozer wrote with his usually sharp pen - “Here is the ongoing challenge of missions. The church can do no more than transplant itself. What it is in one land it will be in another.” We need to make sure we always get Romans 5 right. Before we hear the contextual studies and the cultural analysis and the many necessary humanitarian projects, we need to do the theological work first. We need this theological foundation under everything else. We need to know what the message actually is. This is where the call to go is anchored. You can’t possibly receive a greater call to a more necessary work. Whatever you have to leave in order to go you will only be trading up. At least pause and ask if God might just have bigger plans for the rest of your life than you’re presently picturing. The theology of Romans 5 is also where the call to give leans into the joy of deeper sacrifice. You put your dollars into the very heart of God. You fund what He most wants to do. I need to say one more thing about our giving today. If all you’re hearing is a hard demand to give you’re missing the main point. I’ll try to illustrate what I mean. Christmas is coming soon. Every year there is only one thing I truly enjoy in terms of all the earthly Christmas trappings. Every year I love getting presents for Reni. I would honestly rather shop for her than for me. And the more I can get for her the more joy I have. She always tells me I spend too much. And she means it. But it never feels too much for me. The more I can give her the happier I am. And the reason is I love her so much. I get a buzz out of giving to her that - I’m sorry - I would never get giving to you. Because I Iove her deeply my giving is never an expense. It’s a delight. And then I just pause and consider how many times, on any given Sunday, I blither away in songs and prayers and praise how incredibly much I love Jesus. That’s the way this World Impact Offering is supposed to work.

And everyone said....