What is Man? God's Eternal Purpose for Man
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
Before proceeding further in these messages, we should say that the previous three messages have been designed for the new believer in Christ or those who have not yet met the reality of the Lord. We shared some thoughts concerning man's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Then we spoke on the infallibility and authenticity of the Bible, the written word of God.
I should also say that I never went through a seminary or a Bible school of any kind. Instead, I have been through the same seminary that Peter, James, and John went through ... the school of the Holy Spirit. Hindsight, I have experienced the truth of 1 John 2:27 -
From this point on, our messages will be designed more for the "young men" category of believers in Christ, although little children and fathers may find a morsel or two as we proceed.
I do not know the meaning of apologetics or homiletics, or hermeneutics. Neither do I know a Calvinist from an Armenian. I know very little about Church history. But as it says in 2 Timothy 1:12, I do know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
I have learned the definition of the word, "exegesis," which formally means "a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, particularly a religious text"; or in our case the Bible. Although the Holy Spirit has revealed the significance of many scriptures to me over the past 51+ years, I feel like I am still ignorant and know only a very small part about the Lord and His written word. But I trust the Holy Spirit to reveal to us that which we need to understand at the proper time in our growth in Christ. I also affirm
Although I have never heard or read this, I believe that correct exegesis of any part of the Bible, or as Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, "rightly dividing the word of truth," involves interpreting the written word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in context. For example, we can take a few words out of context and come up with some absurd conclusions or beliefs. For example, Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 both say "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." If we ignore the first seven words, we end up with "there is no God," which is totally absurd.
Now, I suggest to you that the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments, speaks of the Kingdom of God and the centrality, supremacy, and preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole Bible speaks of God's plan and purpose for all that He has created. Correct exegesis demands that we understand God's plan and purpose for all things. All scripture must be understood in the context of God's purpose for man. As soon as we try to interpret scripture from man's perspective we run into a swamp of misunderstanding very quickly. We must also understand in all things the difference between God's end product and the means in which He has ordained for us to attain to the fulfillment of His plan and purposes. With those thoughts in mind, let us look at the question of "Why Did God Create Man?" Or we could title this message as "God's Eternal Purpose For Man." We will refer to many scriptures as we attempt to answer this critically important question. Throughout all of time, man has been seeking the answer to why he was born or what is his purpose in life. If we desire to be firmly rooted and grounded in our Sure Foundation, we need to understand the plan and purpose of God for man.
Our question at hand is, What is man? Why did God create man? What is God's eternal purpose for man?
About one month after the Lord sovereignly apprehended me, I started going to a gathering of believers in the home of a lovely Christian couple on Tuesday nights. A few weeks later, after the meeting was over, the hostess privately asked me a question. She said, "Why did God create man?" Having received essentially no teaching at that point in time, I had no answer and so I said, "I don't know." She acted like she knew the answer but she never answered her own question. Hindsight, she probably just wanted me to seek the Lord as to His answer to that question. That is wisdom! I ask you the same question: Why did God create man? For the benefit of any listener who has no answer to that question, I want to share with you what my answer is today. I believe that our understanding of God's eternal purpose for man is crucial to understanding everything that pertains to us as Christian believers.
For many years a "me-centered" theology has reared its ugly head. It began as far back as in the Church at Corinth in Paul's day. I call it a "popular" theology. It is very popular today in Evangelical as well as charismatic circles. The emphasis of that popular theology is salvation for me, gifts for me, ministry for me, healing for me, deliverance for me, blessing for me, prosperity for me, and heaven for me in the sweet by and by. In other words, what is in it for me?
This approach gives a distorted view of Bible, of life, and its meaning, and will lead to doctrinal errors of every kind. Man wants to begin everything with himself, but the Bible begins with God. In the beginning God... We need to see everything as it relates to God and His purposes.
Calvary was not Plan B ... Calvary was not an afterthought after the first Adam sinned. Revelation 13:8 says that Jesus was the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.
The Father will have what He wants, with or without you and with or without me. Can we all agree that God never does anything haphazardly for no reason at all? Can we all agree that God had and has a purpose and plan for every human being? And that plan and purpose has never changed. Every human being has a general purpose and a specific purpose, foreordained from before the foundation of the world.
Note in Verse 26 that God's eternal purpose was and is to make man in the likeness of God's image, after their likeness. Verse 27, "so God created man ..." was the first step toward that making process.
Luke 15, starting at Verse 11, records the parable of what men call the prodigal son.
The word "sons" means a reasonably mature son, not an infant or little boy.
Here we see the me-centered theology in full bloom ... give me.
The word "riotous" does not mean what we think it means. It means to "tend to, preserve, or save self." In other words the younger son at that point in his life represents a carnal Christian, just like the Church at Corinth in Paul's day, just living a "Me centered" life.
Note the love of God in action. Whenever we get out of the will of God, He sovereignly arranges our circumstances to help us to repent and come back to Him.
Now the younger son understands the truth in Genesis 1:26 that our Father wants to make us into His image. Now he understands the truth of "not my will but thy will be done, O God." Over all of time God has been in the process of making man in the likeness of His image.
Note that the elder son also misinterpreted his brother's riotous living. He said that his younger brother had devoured their father's living with harlots. Scripture in no wise indicates that.
Although in the beginning the father divided his living with both sons, the father still had "all." Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. No one can out-give God. Further, God's living is in the realm of the Spirit.
Father's original intention was that man was first to be a created son [teknon], which speaks of a little boy, enjoying all that God by creation could give him. His intention has never changed and will never change. God then designed for man to become a son [huios] ... to enter into a living union and enjoy sonship by a relationship with Christ ... to be IN Christ. But even sons must mature, for God has planned for man to share many things from Himself as the son by faith appropriates them in his life. We were designed to become heirs of God provided that we choose to suffer with Him.
Scripture is very clear in many places ... no suffering ... no glorification. But God has intended that we go one more step and reign with Christ. That reigning will occur for the overcomers during the millennium.
Our initial salvation experience is free, by His grace. For us to become, be an heir, and reign with Christ, we must qualify; it is not automatic. Father purposed before the creation of the world to have many sons who are fully mature.
Our Father wants a family of children who will grow up to be mature, co-heirs with Christ, and joint-reigners with Him in the government of the universe. He WILL have such!
In order to appropriate the Sure Foundation, we need to start with God and who He IS. In most churches emphasis is placed on the works of God rather than on His Person. That was the major battle when Jesus walked the face of the earth. Human nature has never changed so that is still the major battle today. Although many could accept His works, the religious elite of the day refused to accept who He was!
Jesus said some people followed Him because of His miracles and others followed Him simply to eat of the loaves and be filled.
John 6 was the turning point of the ministry of Jesus on earth. The Jews could not accept who He was and even accused Him of speaking heresy.
God's general purpose for man also is seen in the life of Abraham.
Up to this point we have shared about Gods objective to make man in His image. But we have not specifically answered the question of why God created man and is in the process of making man in His image. Genesis 1:26 states God's objective is to make man in His image.
Note in Verse 9 that God has already made known the mystery of His will.
We read of Paul's calling in Ephesians 3:9-12,
Now, if you had one son in whom you found unspeakable delight, would it not be normal as a father to want many more? So it is with Abba, Father, Who by His nature and choice has desired and purposed to have a vast family of human-divine sons who are made in the image of His only begotten Son. That speaks of Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Unfortunately, multitudes will miss that general high calling, but there will be multitudes such as no man can number, out of every tribe and kindred and nation and tongue, who will realize it. What a tremendous privilege and honor has been conferred upon us by God that we should have been born. What an even greater privilege that we have been born again! God's purpose is to have multitudes of people conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, a people who are a universal manifestation of Christ glorified with the glory of the Father! He is bringing many sons to glory! for what purpose? to have fellowship with a multitude of sons who have been made in the image of His first begotten Son, Jesus.
Every believer is familiar with Ephesians 2:8-9 -
How easily God's chosen people can partake of His grace and receive His good gifts only to become completely distracted from His original purpose.
Therefore the calling of God is according to His own purpose and grace. It is no accident that His purpose comes before His grace, so unless we understand and cooperate with His purpose for creating man, then we will always interpret God's work as it benefits and relates to us. God knew from the very beginning that Adam would fall into sin (disobedience). So God's ultimate purpose for man was not simply redemptive in nature. Also, His purpose was given to us in Christ before the world began.
Does Verse 28 still apply if we respond to His call but only for MY purpose? Verse 29 spells out our general high calling. God intended that every man entering this world should be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. The first step in that confirmation is to be born again. That is the topic of our next message.
To summarize, Father's purpose was and is to give to the Son a glorious Body in which to express His very life, and a family of brothers with whom He might enjoy fellowship. Father also has declared that in all things the Son shall have pre-eminence.
In our next message, we plan to share with you on the topic of "Ye Must Be Born Again." Like any other topic in the Bible, we must be able to see how being born again fits into God's eternal purpose for man.
May each one of us press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, such that one day we will hear the Lord say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord."
I should also say that I never went through a seminary or a Bible school of any kind. Instead, I have been through the same seminary that Peter, James, and John went through ... the school of the Holy Spirit. Hindsight, I have experienced the truth of 1 John 2:27 -
"But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him."
The Apostle John also said, in
1 John 2:12-14, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."
From this point on, our messages will be designed more for the "young men" category of believers in Christ, although little children and fathers may find a morsel or two as we proceed.
I do not know the meaning of apologetics or homiletics, or hermeneutics. Neither do I know a Calvinist from an Armenian. I know very little about Church history. But as it says in 2 Timothy 1:12, I do know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
I have learned the definition of the word, "exegesis," which formally means "a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, particularly a religious text"; or in our case the Bible. Although the Holy Spirit has revealed the significance of many scriptures to me over the past 51+ years, I feel like I am still ignorant and know only a very small part about the Lord and His written word. But I trust the Holy Spirit to reveal to us that which we need to understand at the proper time in our growth in Christ. I also affirm
2 Timothy 2:14-16 - "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."
Although I have never heard or read this, I believe that correct exegesis of any part of the Bible, or as Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, "rightly dividing the word of truth," involves interpreting the written word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in context. For example, we can take a few words out of context and come up with some absurd conclusions or beliefs. For example, Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 both say "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." If we ignore the first seven words, we end up with "there is no God," which is totally absurd.
Now, I suggest to you that the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments, speaks of the Kingdom of God and the centrality, supremacy, and preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole Bible speaks of God's plan and purpose for all that He has created. Correct exegesis demands that we understand God's plan and purpose for all things. All scripture must be understood in the context of God's purpose for man. As soon as we try to interpret scripture from man's perspective we run into a swamp of misunderstanding very quickly. We must also understand in all things the difference between God's end product and the means in which He has ordained for us to attain to the fulfillment of His plan and purposes. With those thoughts in mind, let us look at the question of "Why Did God Create Man?" Or we could title this message as "God's Eternal Purpose For Man." We will refer to many scriptures as we attempt to answer this critically important question. Throughout all of time, man has been seeking the answer to why he was born or what is his purpose in life. If we desire to be firmly rooted and grounded in our Sure Foundation, we need to understand the plan and purpose of God for man.
Our question at hand is, What is man? Why did God create man? What is God's eternal purpose for man?
Job 7:17-18 - "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?"Psalm 8:3-4 - "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"Psalm 144:3-4 - "LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away."
About one month after the Lord sovereignly apprehended me, I started going to a gathering of believers in the home of a lovely Christian couple on Tuesday nights. A few weeks later, after the meeting was over, the hostess privately asked me a question. She said, "Why did God create man?" Having received essentially no teaching at that point in time, I had no answer and so I said, "I don't know." She acted like she knew the answer but she never answered her own question. Hindsight, she probably just wanted me to seek the Lord as to His answer to that question. That is wisdom! I ask you the same question: Why did God create man? For the benefit of any listener who has no answer to that question, I want to share with you what my answer is today. I believe that our understanding of God's eternal purpose for man is crucial to understanding everything that pertains to us as Christian believers.
For many years a "me-centered" theology has reared its ugly head. It began as far back as in the Church at Corinth in Paul's day. I call it a "popular" theology. It is very popular today in Evangelical as well as charismatic circles. The emphasis of that popular theology is salvation for me, gifts for me, ministry for me, healing for me, deliverance for me, blessing for me, prosperity for me, and heaven for me in the sweet by and by. In other words, what is in it for me?
This approach gives a distorted view of Bible, of life, and its meaning, and will lead to doctrinal errors of every kind. Man wants to begin everything with himself, but the Bible begins with God. In the beginning God... We need to see everything as it relates to God and His purposes.
Calvary was not Plan B ... Calvary was not an afterthought after the first Adam sinned. Revelation 13:8 says that Jesus was the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.
Revelation 4:11 says, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."Isaiah 14:24, 26-27 says, "The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"
The Father will have what He wants, with or without you and with or without me. Can we all agree that God never does anything haphazardly for no reason at all? Can we all agree that God had and has a purpose and plan for every human being? And that plan and purpose has never changed. Every human being has a general purpose and a specific purpose, foreordained from before the foundation of the world.
Genesis 1:26-28 - "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."
Note in Verse 26 that God's eternal purpose was and is to make man in the likeness of God's image, after their likeness. Verse 27, "so God created man ..." was the first step toward that making process.
Isaiah 43:1-7 "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
Zechariah 12:1 - "The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him."
Luke 15, starting at Verse 11, records the parable of what men call the prodigal son.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
The word "sons" means a reasonably mature son, not an infant or little boy.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Here we see the me-centered theology in full bloom ... give me.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
The word "riotous" does not mean what we think it means. It means to "tend to, preserve, or save self." In other words the younger son at that point in his life represents a carnal Christian, just like the Church at Corinth in Paul's day, just living a "Me centered" life.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Note the love of God in action. Whenever we get out of the will of God, He sovereignly arranges our circumstances to help us to repent and come back to Him.
18 1 will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Now the younger son understands the truth in Genesis 1:26 that our Father wants to make us into His image. Now he understands the truth of "not my will but thy will be done, O God." Over all of time God has been in the process of making man in the likeness of His image.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Note that the elder son also misinterpreted his brother's riotous living. He said that his younger brother had devoured their father's living with harlots. Scripture in no wise indicates that.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Although in the beginning the father divided his living with both sons, the father still had "all." Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. No one can out-give God. Further, God's living is in the realm of the Spirit.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Father's original intention was that man was first to be a created son [teknon], which speaks of a little boy, enjoying all that God by creation could give him. His intention has never changed and will never change. God then designed for man to become a son [huios] ... to enter into a living union and enjoy sonship by a relationship with Christ ... to be IN Christ. But even sons must mature, for God has planned for man to share many things from Himself as the son by faith appropriates them in his life. We were designed to become heirs of God provided that we choose to suffer with Him.
and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:17
Scripture is very clear in many places ... no suffering ... no glorification. But God has intended that we go one more step and reign with Christ. That reigning will occur for the overcomers during the millennium.
If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. 2 Timothy 2:12
Our initial salvation experience is free, by His grace. For us to become, be an heir, and reign with Christ, we must qualify; it is not automatic. Father purposed before the creation of the world to have many sons who are fully mature.
Our Father wants a family of children who will grow up to be mature, co-heirs with Christ, and joint-reigners with Him in the government of the universe. He WILL have such!
In order to appropriate the Sure Foundation, we need to start with God and who He IS. In most churches emphasis is placed on the works of God rather than on His Person. That was the major battle when Jesus walked the face of the earth. Human nature has never changed so that is still the major battle today. Although many could accept His works, the religious elite of the day refused to accept who He was!
Jesus said some people followed Him because of His miracles and others followed Him simply to eat of the loaves and be filled.
John 6 was the turning point of the ministry of Jesus on earth. The Jews could not accept who He was and even accused Him of speaking heresy.
God's general purpose for man also is seen in the life of Abraham.
Genesis 12:1-3 "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
Genesis 12:7 - "And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him."
Genesis 13:14-17 - "And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee."
Genesis 15:1-5 - "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be."
Up to this point we have shared about Gods objective to make man in His image. But we have not specifically answered the question of why God created man and is in the process of making man in His image. Genesis 1:26 states God's objective is to make man in His image.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
So Christ IS the image of God.
Ephesians 1:9-12 says, "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: 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: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ."
Note in Verse 9 that God has already made known the mystery of His will.
We read of Paul's calling in Ephesians 3:9-12,
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him."
Now, if you had one son in whom you found unspeakable delight, would it not be normal as a father to want many more? So it is with Abba, Father, Who by His nature and choice has desired and purposed to have a vast family of human-divine sons who are made in the image of His only begotten Son. That speaks of Christ in you, the hope of glory.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.11 For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.13 And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Hebrews 2:10-13
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. Romans 8:29
1 Corinthians 1:9 - "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord."1John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Unfortunately, multitudes will miss that general high calling, but there will be multitudes such as no man can number, out of every tribe and kindred and nation and tongue, who will realize it. What a tremendous privilege and honor has been conferred upon us by God that we should have been born. What an even greater privilege that we have been born again! God's purpose is to have multitudes of people conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, a people who are a universal manifestation of Christ glorified with the glory of the Father! He is bringing many sons to glory! for what purpose? to have fellowship with a multitude of sons who have been made in the image of His first begotten Son, Jesus.
Every believer is familiar with Ephesians 2:8-9 -
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
How easily God's chosen people can partake of His grace and receive His good gifts only to become completely distracted from His original purpose.
2 Timothy 1:8-9 says, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
Therefore the calling of God is according to His own purpose and grace. It is no accident that His purpose comes before His grace, so unless we understand and cooperate with His purpose for creating man, then we will always interpret God's work as it benefits and relates to us. God knew from the very beginning that Adam would fall into sin (disobedience). So God's ultimate purpose for man was not simply redemptive in nature. Also, His purpose was given to us in Christ before the world began.
Romans 8:28-30 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. 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. 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."
Does Verse 28 still apply if we respond to His call but only for MY purpose? Verse 29 spells out our general high calling. God intended that every man entering this world should be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. The first step in that confirmation is to be born again. That is the topic of our next message.
To summarize, Father's purpose was and is to give to the Son a glorious Body in which to express His very life, and a family of brothers with whom He might enjoy fellowship. Father also has declared that in all things the Son shall have pre-eminence.
In our next message, we plan to share with you on the topic of "Ye Must Be Born Again." Like any other topic in the Bible, we must be able to see how being born again fits into God's eternal purpose for man.
May each one of us press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, such that one day we will hear the Lord say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord."
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