Foundations for Christian Mission, Mentor's Guide, MG04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

severe consequences for breaking (i.e., breaking themwas considered a great moral evil). Covenants were sealed and given witness by giving gifts, eating meals, and often included the setting up stones of remembrance. They were confirmed with an oath and with sacrifice. Perhaps the most common form of biblical covenant was the marriage ceremony, and other prominent covenants can be seen throughout the history of Israel, e.g., God’s covenant with Noah, and his covenant of Sinai with the children of Israel. God’s covenants, whether conditional or unconditional, all speak to the solemn contract between God and individuals or with his people. The Mission as Fulfillment of the Divine Promise framework can be traced from God’s covenant made with Abraham, with its condition that he leave his country and kindred to go to a land of God’s own choosing, and the corresponding blessings that God would make him a great nation, bless him and make his name great, bless and curse those who did the same to him, and bless all the families of the earth in him. God’s covenant with Abraham to provide a Seed who would bless the nations was renewed and confirmed in Abraham’s descendants, Isaac and Jacob, and later clarified for Judah, the tribe out of which the divine Messiah would come. Among the families of Judah, the house of David was selected by God to be the house from which the royal Seed of Abraham’s blessing would come. David’s heir would reign forever over the house of Israel and be a blessing to the nations. The promise of God in Abraham and David was fulfilled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who represents the Seed of Abraham and the son of David through whom God’s reign would be established. Through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the covenant promise of God is fulfilled. Mission is the affirmation and proclamation of this Good News regarding God’s covenant faithfulness in Jesus, and the Great Commission is a charge to proclaim and teach this fulfilled promise for the sake of all humanity, beginning at Jerusalem, to the very ends of the earth. The heart of the missionary enterprise is that in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the promise of Abraham and David has been fulfilled, and now,

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