God's Sovereignty in Global Mission Work and Evangelism

The concept of God's sovereignty is central to understanding global mission work and evangelism. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty refers to "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" ^[1]. This understanding is rooted in biblical passages such as Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, 1 Timothy 6:15, and Revelation 4:11.

In the context of global mission work and evangelism, God's sovereignty is closely tied to the kingly office of Christ. Christ is seen as the sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19) ^[2]. This mediatorial kingship is exercised in his Church and over all things in behalf of his Church.

The biblical basis for God's sovereignty in global mission work and evangelism is also seen in passages such as Ephesians 3:10, which states that "to the intent, that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God" ^[3]. This verse highlights the role of the Church in demonstrating God's wisdom to the world.

John Gill's commentary on Habakkuk 2:13 notes that "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord" ^[4]. This verse is seen as a reference to the future spread of the Gospel and the knowledge of Christ's glory throughout the world. Similarly, Matthew Henry's commentary on Hebrews 2:5 emphasizes that the state of the gospel-church is not subjected to angels, but is under the special care and direction of Christ himself ^[5].

The sovereignty of God is also linked to the ultimate triumph of Christ's kingdom over all earthly kingdoms. John Gill's commentary on Daniel 7:27 notes that "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High" ^[6]. This passage is seen as a reference to the future reign of Christ and the spread of his kingdom throughout the world.

In the view of Baptist/Reformed tradition, the sovereignty of God is closely tied to the lordship of Christ. John Gill's commentary on Psalms 8:6 notes that "all power in heaven and in earth being given to him... he is head over all things to the church" ^[7]. This understanding is also reflected in the commentary on Revelation 11:17, which sees Christ as the Lord God Almighty, whose kingdoms are become, and who now reigns in great power and authority ^[8].

The ultimate goal of God's sovereignty in global mission work and evangelism is the universal reign of Christ. According to John Gill's commentary on Zechariah 14:9, "the Lord shall be King over all the earth" ^[9]. This will be achieved through the spread of the Gospel and the establishment of Gospel churches everywhere.

The understanding of God's sovereignty in global mission work and evangelism is not limited to one particular tradition. Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalms 82:1 highlights God's supreme presidency and power in all councils and courts, asserting that both the legislative and executive power of princes is under his eye and hand ^[10].

The biblical and theological understanding of God's sovereignty provides a foundation for global mission work and evangelism. It emphasizes the role of Christ as the sovereign Head over his Church and the ultimate triumph of his kingdom over all earthly kingdoms. As the Church engages in mission work and evangelism, it does so with the confidence that God is sovereign over all things and that his kingdom will ultimately prevail.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingly office of Christ — One of the three special relations in which Christ stands to his people. Christ's office as mediator comprehends three different functions, viz., those of a prophet, priest, and king. These are not three distinct offices, but three functions of the one office of mediator. Christ is King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19). He executes this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church. This royalty differs from that whic”
Ephesians “Ephesians 3:10 (Geneva1599) — To the intent, that nowe vnto principalities and powers in heauenly places, might be knowen by the Church the manifolde wisedome of God,”
Habakkuk (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Habakkuk 2:13: For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,.... Of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ; of the glory of his person, as the Son of God, and truly God; which is essential to him, and underived; the same with his Father's, and what transcends the glory of all created beings; and of the glory of his office as Mediator, which itself is glorious and honourable: and this his glory lies in his fitness for it; in his faithful performance of it, and the honour given him by his Father upon it; as well as in the fulness of grace in him, which makes”
Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 2:5: The apostle, having made this serious application of the doctrine of the personal excellency of Christ above the angels, now returns to that pleasant subject again, and pursues it further (Heb 2:5): For to the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. I. Here the apostle lays down a negative proposition, including a positive one - That the state of the gospel-church, which is here called the world to come, is not subjected to the angels, but under the special care and direction of the Redeemer himself. Neither the state in which the”
Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 7:27: And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High,.... Not only the dominion that shall be taken away from the little horn or antichrist, and from all the antichristian states, but the dominion of all others throughout all the earth, and under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of God, and the true professors of faith in Christ. The kingdoms of this world will become Christ's, and Christian princes will be kings of them everywhere; and not only the royal power ”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 8:6: Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands,.... All power in heaven and in earth being given to him: when he was raised from the dead, and when he ascended on high, and was set down at the right hand of God, he was made or declared Lord and Christ; Lord of the hosts of heaven, of all the angels there, King of saints, King of kings, and Lord of lords. All things in heaven and earth, which God has made, are put into his hands, to subserve his cause and glory, and for the good of his people; for he is head over all things to the church. The Ethiopic vers”
Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 11:17: Saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty,.... The person addressed is the Lord Jesus Christ, whose the kingdoms are become, and who now reigns in great power and authority; he is Lord of all, and truly and properly God, and the Almighty, as his works of creation, preservation, redemption, raising himself from the dead, &c. declare; and each of these titles exceedingly well suit him, when his visible kingdom on earth will be so greatly enlarged: which art, and wast, and art to come: the everlasting, "I am", the unchangeable Jehovah: the phrase is express”
Zechariah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zechariah 14:9: And the Lord shall be King over all the earth,.... This refers to the spiritual reign of Christ in the latter day; upon the success of the Gospel everywhere, there will be great conversions in all places; Gospel churches will be set up and ordinances administered everywhere; the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord; his kingdom will be from sea to sea, from the eastern to the western one, and his dominion will reach to the ends of the earth; Popish nations, Mahometan kingdoms, Pagan ones, and all the kings of the earth, will become Christian, and sub”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 82:1: We have here, I. God's supreme presidency and power in all councils and courts asserted and laid down, as a great truth necessary to be believed both by princes and subjects (Psa 82:1): God stands, as chief director, in the congregation of the mighty, the mighty One, in coetu fortis - in the councils of the prince, the supreme magistrate, and he judges among the gods, the inferior magistrates; both the legislative and the executive power of princes is under his eye and his hand. Observe here, 1. The power and honour of magistrates; they are the mighty. They are so”

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