Regions Beyond and Regions Between

(2 Corinthians 10:16;1:8, 14:6, 7; Romans 15:19-23)
by Ron Courter
Preacher’s Study Notes 1993
The purpose of this lesson is to develop a simple construct or model to help us conceptualize the role of each congregation and the function of each Christian in the absolutely essential and vital work of heralding the gospel throughout the world. Models are arbitrary and the scriptures are absolute in pattern, so why even attempt to present a model to provoke thinking about our individual role or the congregation’s role in preaching the gospel to all the world? We will answer with six reasons, hoping they do not distract from the real object of this lesson. The first three will be objective and the last three will be subjective.

Objective Reasons

1. God’s inherent nature demands going to the world.
(John 3:16; Luke. 19:10; 1 Timothy 2:4-6).

2. The world contains two categories of accountable mankind according to the Scriptures.

A. 1 Corinthians 1:18 — Those that perish and those that are saved.
B. 2 Corinthians 2:15 — Those that are saved and those that perish.
C. Matthew 25:46 — The righteous go into life eternal [and unrightous into everlasting punishment, dc]
D. 1 Corinthians 6:9 — The unrightous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
God’s interest in the lost is absolutely overwhelming. Luke 15 declares this in parable, and the death of Jesus upon the cross declares it in reality (Hebrews 9:27-10:18). There are few areas that better reveal the great chasm between God and us, than comparing His interest with our deeds for the lost.

It must be realized that the lost are unsaved because men are not judged by the light they do not have, but due to the fact that men fail to walk by the light they do have (Romans 2:12). Human experience and the Word of God bears testimony to the universal truth that all have sinned (Romans 2:15; 3:9-10). Surely, in the mouth of two such formal witnesses the truth is established that all are lost. Furthermore, all remain lost without the hearing and the believing of the gospel (Romans 1:16; 10:15).

3. The apostles chosen by Christ to be prepared and involved in the foundational work of the church (Ephesians 2:20) planted churches that were to be heralding bodies. Their coming into existence was due to the preaching of the gospel. How then would other congregations come into existence if not by the preaching of the gospel? The building must lean the way the foundation is set to be true to the foundation. The church will never be free from the thrust of the commission given to the apostles (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49), only the nature of the fulfillment would vary, due to the church moving from the period of direct revelation into the period of indirect revelation; from inspired men to the inspired written Word. But both periods required preaching and teaching (Acts 8:30-31; 2 Timothy 2:2).

One would not expect anything other than the church that the apostles labored to establish would be a heralding body. The church is presently Christ’s body on earth (Ephesians 1:22-23), and Jesus had previously taken an earthly body, so He could seek and save the lost (Matthew 11:1; Luke 19:10). It is a sobering and humbling to realize that we (the church) are the Lord’s body on earth (Ephesians 5:30), and we should be doing in word and deed exactly what Jesus would be doing if He were here in the flesh. In fact, that is exactly what Jesus is attempting to do through our flesh. His earthly body is now our flesh.

Subjective Reasons

1. There appears to be a tremendous lack of discussion within the local church that indicates a worthy degree of time has been or is being spent considering evangelizing from an overview of the Bible. Local discussions seem long on human generalizations and short on a Bible-oriented approach.

2. The typical lesson on evangelism seems to tell the audience to evangelize you must “pack your bags” and go, but realistically most of them are not going anywhere or should even consider going anywhere in the regions beyond. Hence, many seem basically left with a sense of guilt, because they did not pack their bags and feel frustrated they cannot evangelize. The instilling of a sense of responsibility to see the gospel is preached in the regions beyond is always commendable, but simply making people feel guilty for not moving to “wherever” is neither fulfilling nor maturing.

3. The arbitrary model of the “regions beyond and the regions between” will hopefully help us to conceptualize the overall picture of evangelism from a biblical base. The idea is to give us functionally Bible-oriented categories to help us, congregationally and individually, to evaluate how we are fulfilling our responsibilities in proclaiming the gospel unto men, whether they are near or far.

The Prophet’s Question
The prophet Isaiah asked, “...who shall declare His generation?” The answer is found in the New Testament (Isaiah 53:8; Acts 8:33).

1. The immediate answer — the apostles of Christ
(Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47-49).
2. The ultimate answer — the church that Christ promised to build
(Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:20-22; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:15).
3. The personal answer — Christians, as individuals and as congregations
(Acts 8:4; 11:19-20; 13:2-3; 14:26-27; 1 Thessalonians 1:8).

A Parenthesis
Let us consider four essential pillars in the foundation of the church. These pillars must be built upon to assure a vital, living community or local body of believers. It would seem expedient to at least glance at these before continuing to answer how to more fully fulfill our responsibility to declare the name of Christ. Hopefully, the reason will be apparent. We may have a church, but without at least having these four variables attended to, the health and vitality of that body will be suspect, and probably incomplete.

Let me point out just here that we dare not ever forget that the church Christ promised to build will come into existence by preaching the gospel unto the world and the only church Christ will ever build will come into existence by the preaching of the
gospel.

The four pillars of the mature body:

1. The Edification Factor: “ . . . teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you . . .” (Matthew 28:20) There must be the teaching of the Word, the knowledge of his will (1 Corinthians 14:26).
2. The Fellowship Factor: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The church is a community within communities, but there is no distinctive, attracting community without relational interaction, “one another” concern, and actual ministering of His will (Romans 12:6-10; 1 Corinthians 13:13).
3. The Shepherding Factor: “Obey then that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account. . .” The Lord’s body, although without legislative authority still demands appropriate delegated guidance, so decisions are founded upon “an experienced faith” (Hebrews 13:7, 17).
4. The Heralding Factor: “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). How can you stop what started you, unless you do not want to continue? There must be the preaching and proclaiming of the gospel to the world to call men to the glory in Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14) and to permit escape from indignation and wrath (Romans 2:8).

These four factors, properly attended to, bring each child of God into experiential Christianity, so that they move beyond a mere head-knowledge level of Christianity. To break beyond a mere intellectual faith; a body of Christians must worship truthfully, minister daily to one another, be highly considerate of others (as they have opportunity), cultivate a submissive attitude toward the guidance of “the experienced faith,” and see to it that others have the opportunity to be saved by the sharing of Christ in word and deed

The evangelistic endeavor of the church is highly dependent on the level of maturity attained by sound Bible teaching, deeply satisfying relationships among its members beyond the physical family that has accepted the faith and unity of spirit to accept seasoned decisions. At this point, the heralding factor is not only essential to growth from without to within, but an index of how much growth the church has had within, so it is effectively reaching without. This parenthesis has occupied enough of our time, so let us return to our model of interest, and the evaluation of reaching all the world with the gospel.

The Gospel for The World

1. John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
2. Matthew 28:19-20 — “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”
3. Mark 16:15-16 — “ . . . Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe not will be condemned.”
4. Luke 24:47-49 — “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you: but tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high.”
5. Acts 1:8 — “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Juthea, and Samaria, and unto the end of the earth.”
6. The gospel was first to Israel (Matthew 15:24; 10:5-6; Acts 2:5-2 1; 13:46).
7. Afterward, God “did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name” (Acts 15:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-13).

Is the gospel for everywhere? Yes!
Is the gospel for anywhere? No!

1. The gospel forbidden --- Acts 16:6-12
a. Forbidden
b. Beckoned
2. The synagogue --- Acts 13:15-16. The opportunity extended to:
a. Men of Israel
b. You that fear God
3. Gospel not forbidden by others and not hindered by my own lack of wisdom or courage (Colossians 4:2-6; Ephesians 6: 19-20).
a. 2 Corinthians 2:l2 — “...door was opened unto me of the Lord.. .but taking my leave of them...” Paul left due to other priorities.
b. 1 Corinthians 16: 8-9 — “... For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
c. Revelation 3:8 — The church at Philadelphia has set before them an open door.

Jesus handed to the apostles the foundational duty to go into all the world with the gospel. They faithfully fulfilled their stewardship by establishing the Lord’s church wherever men would hearken to the gospel invitation. The apostles handed the perpetual duty to preach the gospel of the church demands she heralds the gospel wherever opportunity stirs. The world is to be visited with the gospel at this very hour and every congregation and each Christian has a duty to fulfill in the proclaiming of the gospel. Let us consider our responsibility of taking the gospel to the world by arbitrarily dividing the world into two categories: “the regions beyond” and “the regions between.”

While the church is always responsible for the “regions beyond,” her membership lives primarily in the “regions between.” Both of these areas need evangelizing, but the duties of the church in evangelizing these different regions calls forth different aspects of the congregation’s and individual Christian’s duty. (See charts on following pages.)

The Regions Beyond
Where Christ is not named (Romans 15:20)
Where the foundation of the church is not laid (1 Corinthians 3:10
*****CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE OR PRINT******
The Book of Acts focuses on the “Regions Beyond”

1. All do not need to go, but there is a need to financially support those that do go
(1 Corinthians 9:6-14; Philippians 4:10, 14-18). The reason: so that fruit may abound to your account (Philippians 2:25-30). On the part of the supporters, there needs to be awareness of the needs of those who go to the regions beyond and those needs must be ministered to.
2. Prayers for the work and workers offered (Colossians 2:2-4; Ephesians 6:19-20).
3. Do not cast doubts by passing on hearsay, which creates doubts and questions upon a work for no legitimate reason (Philippians 2:14).

All cannot go, nor should all go, but all can be aware of the work. There should be consideration shown the workers, including financial support and much prayer. We need to learn to not be a party to, or create unnecessary stumblingblocks to the difficult work of establishing the church and preaching the gospel in the regions beyond by careless conversation.

The Regions Between
Where Christ has been named and the foundation of the church has been laid (Acts chapters 16, 17, 18, 19).
*****CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE OR PRINT******The Epistles focus on the “Regions Between”

1. The church gathered and ungathered (Acts 20:20; 1 Corinthians 14:23;1:2)
a. The church gathered (1 Corinthians 14:26, 33, 40)
b. The church ungathered (That part of the world placed directly into your hands to declare Christ).
2. Family (Husband/wife; Parent-child) (Ephesians 5:22-32; 1 Peter 3:1-7;
Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)
3. Work and the impressions and associations that grow out of that relationship (Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-23; 1 Peter 2:11-12; 2:18-20; Matthew 5:16)
4. Community (school, recreation) opportunity for good
(1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:15; Matthew 5:16; Galatians 6:9-10)
5. General approach to life, growth, responsibility
(1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

The church ungathered lives scattered through the areas between the places of gathering. This is your personal world of evangelism. It is in this way that the regions between are largely evangelized and drawn to the gathered body and community of the saints

The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. she is Christ’s body on earth in the written word of God (objectively) and she is Christ’s body on the earth in our flesh (subjectively). We are divinely obligated and should be personally motivate to sound out the message of salvation found only in Christ. Two great stumblingblocks in proclaiming the gospel is the failure to cultivate compassion (Matthew 9:36) and the failure to control fear (Leveticus 26:36; Numbers 13:33; Matthew 10:28). Let us learn to overcome through him who overcame.

Hopefully, the simple model of “the regions beyond” and “the regions between” may help you evaluate your role in the visiting of the world with the gospel. Why not set down with yourself, with family or with brethren and put the Scriptures into the circles of the regions beyond and the regions between. Consider what you can do to see those Scriptures do not go begging for fulfillment.

Remember:“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:l3-15a).

Remember:
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may be blameless and harmless, the children of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; holding fast the word of life; so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:14-16).

Remember:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people; that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: who once were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which was against the soul: having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles: that, when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works, which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:9-12).

We cannot live without being involved in the things that are passing, but how we use the things (Luke 16:8-9, 13) that are passing will determine how well we shall fare with the things that are not passing.

Remember. . . the spirit is forever:“For our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we do not look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Let us unite in the common faith to meet the common goal of heralding the gospel of Jesus Christ to every soul we touch in the regions between and to support the heralding of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every soul we can touch through someone else in the regions beyond.
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