The Eternal Purpose Of God
Gtcotr/ws060204
God chose a nation, a people, Israel, that through them He might bring about His eternal purpose. His choice redemption of Israel was not an end to His eternal purpose, but a means by which He would send a Savior, His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, to ransom the whole world, both Jews and Gentiles thereby accomplishing His eternal purpose.
God chose a bride, a mother for His Son. Why did He choose Israel? Was it because she was more beautiful, more in numbers, more intelligent, would be more obedient, loving or kind to Him? No!
Deuteronomy 7:7ff reveals why God chose Israel to be His own and bear His Son.
7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
* God fell in love
* With the daughter of a friend He had pledged Himself to
* Being faithful to His covenant, God committed Himself
> As a man commits to his wife
> Thus the accusations of adultery in idolatry
> The picture God paints in Hosea
God covenants with Israel to birth His Son. Why? He has an eternal purpose. What is it? It was kept His secret, a mystery hidden from the ages past which has now been revealed. What is the secret?
I. The Eternal Purpose of God
Ephesians 3 (NIV)
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
A. The Eternal Purpose
1. Jews & Gentiles would be one family in Christ
2. God included all in sin & included all in salvation
B. This is the Good News
C. God’s Grace Is Sufficient
God not only has an eternal purpose, but also a secret plan.
II. The Secret Plan
Colossians 1
25 I have become its, (the Church’s), servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fulness—
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
A. What Is The Secret Plan?
1. What is the mystery which has been hidden
2. What has been disclosed to the saints?
3. What is the Church’s message?
4. What is the Good News, what is the Gospel message?
B. Christ In You!
1. This is God’s hope for His eternity (and your eternity too)
2. This is God’s ace in the hole
3. If God can just get Christ in you.
C. Letting Christ live in you is the power of God to accomplish His eternal purpose and meet your temporal needs as well.
1. It will fix every problem
2. Destroy every enemy
3. Transform your life
4. Give you power and glory
5. Make you like Jesus
6. And ultimately accomplish God’s Eternal Purpose of bringing the whole earth into one family.
III. God Always Intended
To include you!
To redeem you.
To prepare you.
God chose you to marry His Son.
* to live eternally in His kingdom
* to rule and reign with Jesus as His Bride, Queen of Eternity
Perhaps this is why, in heaven, saints neither marry nor are given in marriage … perhaps they are already married - married to Christ!
Might I suggest it is possible that God was not looking for children when He created the heavens and the earth, as much as for those who would become brides for Him and for His Son. Brides who would be willing, loving and submitted equals, grown up unto Him in all things, partners for eternity.
Maybe this is why we are told that in the beginning, God made man in His own image and likeness. We are told in the New Testament that saints are being conformed to the image of Christ.
We see in Revelation that the bride has truly made herself ready, is clothed in the splendor of heaven’s glory:
* She rides with Christ
* She rules with Christ
* She reigns with Christ and
* She rests with Christ throughout all eternity.
Heaven’s eternal work and purpose is as yet unknown, but we know who the players will be, Christ & His Bride!
This is still mysterious to some. But the secret is out now. God always intended to offer salvation and eternal relationship to every person on planet earth. God included you in His eternal plan.
Are you worthy? No!
Will you say yes to His offer? He hopes so!
It is the Church whom God has chosen to be His messenger of this Good News which we call the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here is the Gospel - Jesus the Christ, Messiah to the Jews and Lord to the Gentiles, King of the Ages, Savior of the World, Son of God and Heir to the Throne of the Universe, wants to come and live in and through you. Will you open your heart to him. Give Him your life and let Him live in you? Just Say Yes!
