The document discusses the universality and particularity of the Christian faith based on biblical foundations. It examines passages that show God's universal claim over all nations and the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. While the faith's message is universal, God enacted salvation history through particular people, places, and times. God chose Abraham, the land of Canaan, and the Mesopotamian era as the context to mold a faith that could be a light to the world and enact His universal salvation through the suffering of the elect. Particularity was meant not as privilege but as responsibility to model God for all people.

1. Universality and Particularity in
Mission
Biblical & Theological Foundations of Mission
Wesley Divinity School
SY 2014-2015 1st Semester

2. Universal Claim of Christian Faith
• Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and
the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation
of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed
and made known through the prophetic writings by the
command of the eternal God, so that all nations might
believe and obey him — to the only wise God be glory for
ever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)
• The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All
nations will be blessed through you.” (Galatians 3:8)
• Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship
before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
(Revelation 15:4)

3. Great Commission
• Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
• But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

5. How universal in the world of religious plurality?

6. World Religions

8. Particularity of Christian Faith

9. • The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your
people and your father’s household and go to the land I will
show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless
you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I
will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will
curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
(Genesis 12:1-3)
• Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of
all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the
whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests
and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to
the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
• A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David,
the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)

10. Salvation Pattern in the Bible
1. By choosing a person
2. By making the person into a community
3. By molding the community into a model
4. By showing the model to the world
5. The world will see and be saved

11. The Characteristics of God’s Salvation Plan
① Through human beings
② By showing the best model
The Conditions of the Salvation Plan: Preparedness
① Time (When)
② Space (Where)
③ Agent (Who)

12. 1. When: Mesopotamian Civilization Era

13. Why Mesopotamian Civilization?
① The earliest civilization
② The earliest use of letter
③ Time prepared for higher religion that is necessary for
salvation history
④ God wanted to start salvation history as early as possible.

14. 2. Where: Canaan Canaan:
① From Euphrates to
Nile River
or
② From Southern
Beersheba to Northern
Dan
(230 km+96.54 km)

15. Why Canaan?

16. Inside
Canaan
The Israelites lived
among the
Canaanites, Hittites,
Amorites,
Perizzites, Hivites
and Jebusites….
(Judge 3:5)

17. Palestine (Canaan), the land in which
Christianity first appeared, has long been a
land of strife and suffering. In ancient times,
this was due mostly to its geographical
position, at the crossroads of the great trade
routes that joined Egypt with Mesopotamia,
and Asia Minor with Arabia. As we read the
Old Testament, we see that, as empires came
and went, they cast a covetous eye on that
narrow strip of land; for this reason, its
inhabitants repeatedly suffered invasion,
bondage, and exiles…
Justo L. Gonsales
The Story of Christianity

18. Why Canaan?
① The land of hardest suffering
② The clashing point of civilizations
③ Small and barren land
④ Thus, to mold a faith that can save the world
⑤ By giving the Mediterranean
⑥ Ultimately, to show Missio Dei

19. 3. Who: Abraham, why?
① He was looking for a real God.
② He understood the heart of faith. (religion of
nature vs religion of revelation)
③ He was prepared.

20. God’s universal salvation through particular people
• God’s salvation is universal salvation. But God
saves through a particular person (and group).
Israel, a particular people, in this sense became the
elect to carry out God’s universal salvation.
• The elect (the called or the disciples) are to live a
life of suffering (costly discipleship) in order to be
a model that can show God to the world.
(Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israelites, and the
disciples…Beatitudes)
• The election means responsibility not privilege.
When the election becomes privilege, particularity
loses its legitimacy for universality.