The biblical theology of missions concerning the Great Commission to reach the world for Christ has long been debated in the attempt to understand the spiritual state of mankind since the Fall. The fact that mankind needs to be saved is a critical aspect in which world evangelism must be seen in the perspective of God's overall purpose, design, and intention for Man. One of the ways to understand this is through the Five Act Drama.
The Five Act Drama refers to God's creation of Man, God's covenant with Abraham, God's fulfillment of His covenant through Jesus Christ, God's provision of the Holy Spirit to believers in Christ, and God's restoration and renewed creation in the Last Days. Since creation, Man has been tasked to subdue and protect the Garden of Eden from evil, but Adam and Eve failed in their mission, hence God has provided a redemption plan through the covenant with Abraham, fulfilling this covenant through our LORD Jesus Christ. This redemption plan has been in place even before the covenant, as seen in Genesis 3:15, which is the first glimmer of the gospel and mission through proto-evangelism. From the beginning to the end of the Scriptures, the divine plan of extending salvation to the ends of the earth has been the major thrust in the Bible concerning world mission and evangelism. All believers are therefore charged to preach the gospel to all nations, and to make them Christ's disciples, to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.
As Christians, we have a role to play in fulfilling God's mission. Unless we be the ones to reach the unsaved for Christ to make disciples and witnesses for Him, the Great Commission to reach the world cannot be fulfilled.
