The Bible is explicit on the mission of man on earth from the old testament to the new testament. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east in Eden, and there he put the man he had formed Genesis 2:8. In Genesis 2:15 we learned why God put him there, the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Another function given to man in Genesis 2:19 is, “now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature that was its name, so the man gave names to all the livestock. No suitable helper was found for man.” Therefore, in Genesis 2:20 the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, the Lord God took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh Genesis 2:21-2. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she should be called woman.”
Also in Genesis 9:1 NIV, Man is enjoined to be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth. There are conditions for the fulfillment of these missions. Benefits accrue if the charge is adhered to and repercussions if principles are not followed. In the new testament called the great commission man is called to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to obey everything God has commanded. Matthew 8:17-20.
This mission is a culmination of Jesus Christ’s stay on Earth. He is an example of what a successful earthly ministry is. In the new testament, the book of Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke, gave an account of Jesus Christ’s sojourn on earth and his return. Before then, John the Baptist predicted his coming, Luke 3:1-6. Isaiah 9:6-7 also spoke about a redeemer. The new testament accounts are all similar, we are told how Christ called his disciples and he went about doing miracles such as
- Opening the eyes of the blind
- Healing the sick (Matthew 12:15-16 NIV)
- 3. Feeding the multitude (Matthew 14:13-21 NIV)
- Teaching the kingdom of god (Matthew 5:1-10 NIV)
- He was crucified and nailed to a cross (Matthew 27:35 NIV)
- He rose from the dead (Matthew 28:6 NIV)
- He was taken to heaven (Luke 24:51 NIV)
- He spoke about coming back to judge the living and the dead (John 5:26-27 NIV)
Christ brought new teaching different from what was prevalent. He taught about repentance from sin and the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and that he has overcome the world in John 16:33 (NIV) by his dying on the cross, being buried, and rising. Today great commission is termed ministry, an activity carried out by Christians to propagate their faith in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for reading this week’s post. Another one will be sent out on April 3rd.