Bulletin Articles
SOME IMPLICATIONS OF GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE
SOME IMPLICATIONS OF GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE
“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ep.3:8-11).
“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1Pt.1:18-20).
These two passages set forth the idea of God’s eternal purpose in Christ. The passage in Ephesians indicates that the wisdom of God is seen through the church. In other words, when we see the church, we are looking at God’s wisdom on display. The passage in Peter indicates that Christ’s sacrifice was foreordained before the foundation of the world. When you put these two related thoughts together, there are some very interesting implications...
1. God knew that man would sin. The fact that God’s “eternal purpose” involved Christ as the sacrifice for sin, and the church as a result of that sacrifice, “necessarily implies” that God knew man would sin. Adam and Eve did not surprise God! He knew what they would do, and had already formed his contingency plan to save them in Christ!
2. There is a connection between the physical and spiritual realms. Note carefully that God displayed his wisdom “BY the church” (physical ream) “TO the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (spiritual realm). The only reason such a communication would be necessary is because there is some connection between those realms. There is more to our existence than the physical! Indeed, the physical realm is connected to the spiritual. We are part of a larger struggle between good and evil.
3. Spiritual beings are constantly trying to influence physical beings. This logically flows from our previous point. God, and His angels, are trying to influence man for good (Hb.1:1-2,13-14). While the Devil and his angels are trying to influence us for evil (1Pt.5:8; 1Tm.4:1-3). Indeed, THIS is God’s eternal purpose! He gave man “free will” in hopes that man would choose to serve and glorify Him.
4. These spiritual influences bring with them a load of baggage. In order for there to be a choice, there must be the possibility of evil. Hence, in keeping with His purpose, God must allow evil to exist – at least for a time. There must be an instigator of evil (Satan and his angels); there must be a realm of evil (the kingdom of Satan). And there must be the freedom to choose one over the other. As a result, there must also be all of the consequences of evil – the suffering and heartache that comes with bad choices. And this explains “why” much of the suffering of this world exists; it is an unpleasant necessity of God’s larger purpose (carefully study Rm.8:18-25).
5. This, in turn, implies that God knew that spiritual beings would sin, becoming Satan and his angels. None of this was a surprise to our omniscient God! Indeed, it was all in keeping with his “eternal purpose.”
After thinking about the above, I can only conclude with the words of Paul in Romans 11:30-36. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?’ ‘Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?’ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
--Lanny Smith
