Sermon Central
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The Eternal Pupose Of God
Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Sep 17, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: This message is to help each one of God’s children have hope for the future, and assurance for today.
The Eternal Purpose of God
Intro: Do you believe that God has a perfect plan? I sure do, I see it written in the pages of history, recorded as fact in the Word of God, and confirmed in the life of many believers. Yet there are many skeptics to the position of God’s foreknowledge and they are unwilling to listen to the truth of the gospel but rather have a man-centered purpose than a God centered purpose that gives power over all things, even salvation to the God of creation.
I. The Great Purpose of God
1. That Christ will be the first born of many brethren
Note: it must be stated from the beginning that Christ is at the very heart of Gods purpose:
A. That Christ be put to death
B. That Christ be resurrected from the dead
C. That Christ be exalted above all else
2. That believers be conformed to His image
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
3. That each believer will be together in one place for eternity
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
II. The Golden chain of Redemption
1. Absolute Foreknowledge
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
What is Foreknowledge?
· Foreknowledge is not something that takes place simply because God knows that it will
· Foreknowledge is God bringing to pass that, which, is his will.
Note: God is not a God of chance but a God of certainty; nothing has taken Him off guard. Therefore, the salvation of anyone is by appointment; a day set from the future by God, in which he will keep and he will save so as to complete His divine purpose.
2. Predestinated by the “Will of God”
Note: Many Christians take offence to this subject of God’s sovereignty; “For God to save without choice is rape in a divine Order!” They might say this, yet they are ignorant to the truths of scripture and want God to be on the same level as the creature; thereby a cooperative effort is made between the two: God calling and man choosing, but is this biblically plausible?
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
A. Predestined to be adopted like children
B. For the purpose of fulfilling His will
C. Christ death, burial, and resurrection lies at the very heart of the gospel
“That he “Christ” might be the first born among many brethren”
Point of Argument
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
· Did Christ “Atone” for the sins of the world, which is universalism
· Did Christ “Atone” to make sinners savable
· Did Christ “Atone” for the sins of those who are and will be saved as an accomplished act?
If point number 2 is correct, then Christ has failed in His mission because countless millions die in their sins and are delivered over to hell each day.
But if point 3 is correct then Christ’s atoning work was accomplished, Christ has fulfilled the will of the Father, namely the salvation of the children of God.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
If we are to take point 1 we must look at God’s Word in a new light:
· Christ’s death accomplished redemption
· Christ’s death brought forgiveness of sin
The conclusion then would be that everyone is forgiven and all have been bought, by the blood of Christ, which, is universalism; we know for a fundamental fact that not all are going to heaven because God’s word openly declares that truth.
What did Christ’s death accomplish
· Christ redeemed a particular people
· Forgive a particular people
3. Called according to the “Will of God”
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
