Heavens Light 5-31-11 The Glory of God and the Plan of Redemption

The Plan of Redemption, the Gospel and Missions

Ephesians 1:3-6

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. NASB

 

The Plan of Redemption, the Gospel and Missions

Consider then how God, in His infinite Wisdom, has planned the outworking of History to achieve this great end of displaying the Glory of His Name! As we look at Scripture we see that even from the earliest sections of Scripture, God is speaking of His plan to “save and redeem”.

Genesis 3:15 – 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. " NASB

We see over and over how God is working out His plan for the ages. Consider how the Scripture plainly teaches that it was always God’s plan for mankind to Fall, for Jesus to die upon the Cross, and for God to redeem for Himself a company of people whom He has “destined for Glory.” Many of the events were said to have been “predestined according to God’s purpose” and done by the “predetermined plan” of God. The Bible is replete with such texts!

Ephesians 1:11-12 – 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. NASB

Acts 2:23 – 23 this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. NASB

Acts 4:27-28 – 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur. NASB

Ephesians 1:3-6 –  4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. NASB

Ephesians 3:11-13 – 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ

Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. NASB

Titus 1:1-2 – 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen

of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which

God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, NASB

2 Timothy 1:9-10 – 9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity NASB

If these things be true, and they are, consider how God’s plan must have a means by which it is carried out. Now this could not be more clear in Scripture. The Bible plainly declares that the Gospel message is the means by which God’s purpose to redeem is carried out in this late age. This is why the church is charged with the great task of evangelizing the nations(missions), for the sake of God’s great name, and for the Lamb to receive the reward of His suffering. Since God has created both mankind and angels as morally capable, He has also made them subject to His standards of morality. Therefore both mankind and angels will stand in judgment before God, and are accountable to God’s Sovereign Authority.

2 Peter 2:4 – 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; NASB

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. NASB

God expects His creatures which He has made for His own purposes, to live according to God’s own moral character, perfect, pure and Holy. Because mankind has fallen short of the glory of God(His perfect moral character), this has brought about the great need of redemption, which God has planned for long ages past. This we call the “Plan of Redemption.” In this late age, the Plan of Redemption is now coming to pass by the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, (who is the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind and God’s required redemption price), as the purpose of God in redemption is accomplished by His calling out of His people from every tribe and nation.

Romans 3:23 – 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NASB

Romans 16:25-27 – 25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.  NASB

Through this gospel(the message of the person and work of Christ), the judgment of God for the sins of mankind has been cancelled, for all who believe. By this faith they enter into a state of redemption having the debt of sins paid, as God’s wrath and judgment were satisfied at the cross, Christ Jesus Himself having fulfilled the law of God(God’s perfect moral character) and paid the just penalty for the wages of sin. This we call “Justification by Faith.”

Romans 3:21-27 – 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NASB

Because of this great work, God has exalted Christ Jesus the incarnate Son of God and the man, to be the Sovereign King and Judge of the living and the dead. Therefore all people in every age and generation, all nations and peoples will be subject to the Sovereign Authority of Christ and will bow the knee before Him in judgment at the consummation of God’s plan for the ages.

Ephesians 1:20-23 – 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

2 Timothy 4:1-2 – 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: NASB

Philippians 2:9-11 – 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NASB

This message of the Gospel then is the means by which God is bringing to pass His eternal purpose in Christ to redeem. This is why missions is a key element of God’s glory in the church. We must bring the Gospel to the far corners of the earth to fulfill the command of God in missions. Consider how the following Scriptures relate to this matter.

Mark 16:15 – 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. NASB

Ephesians 3:8-11 -8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the

unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery

which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of

God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our LordNASB

Matthew 24:14 – 14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come. NASB

Romans 10:14-15 – 14 How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!" NASB

So then God fully intends to save all those whom He has planned or purposed to save. This He will accomplish by His great missionary people, the Gentile Church. But consider the certainty of the salvation of God’s people. If God has planned to save all of the people whom He will save, what do you suppose will be the result? Consider that He will save all of the people whom He has intended to save, and will not lose one, but every last one WILL be saved.

John 6:37-39 – 37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. NASB

Revelation 5:9-10 – And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." NASB

Christ did indeed SECURE the salvation of His church.

John 19:30 – 30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished !" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. NASB

In all of this great plan to redeem, God’s people magnify the glory of His grace in salvation. All of God’s redemptive works throughout history are working to the end OR the ultimate purpose of the praise of the glory of God’s Excellency and nature as God our Savior.

2 Corinthians 4:15 – 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. NASB

Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-14,18 – 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation —  having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. NASB

Even the very state of being to which God’s people are destined is said to be “glory!”

Ephesians 1:18 – 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Romans 9:23-25 – 23 And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. NASB

 

 

 

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and enter into eternal life…..click here to find out how….. http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

 

Or read more about the Christian Gospel here:  http://www.ligonier.org/welcome_whatisthegospel.php

 

 

If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org

If you would like to be added or add someone to this email list, just reply with "sign me up" and the address you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep you!

 

 

Pastor Shaan Sloan

Heritage Christian Fellowship – ABQ

505-348-5092

The Lord is the Strength of My Life

 

 

 

 

Heavens Light 5-3-11 God’s Highest Purpose is NOT the salvation of Mankind

The Sovereignty of God
God’s Purposes

Romans 11:32
For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.  NASB

God’s highest purpose is NOT the salvation of Mankind
Many people have the mistaken idea that God’s highest purpose is the salvation of men. This is a false idea and foreign to the Bible’s teaching. They reason that since we are created in God’s image and are therefore the pinnacle of God’s creative works, that for mankind to fall into damnation is the worst conceivable idea. But consider that God has ordained the fall of mankind from eternity, for His own Immutable purpose and by His eternal Decree. It was always His purpose for mankind to fall, so that he could redeem some to eternal life and others would be damned. You say, how can you be so sure these are God’s purposes? Well that’s easy, this is “in fact what happens” or to put it another way, it is God’s Sovereign will. It is what unfolds in the course of history therefore it is the outworking of the Sovereign Decree of God. Not only is this reasonably inferred by common sense, but the Bible plainly states that God is responsible for the fall….and has planned redemption from before the world began…
Romans 11:32 – 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.  NASB
1 Peter 1:20-21 – 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you NASB
Many also claim that it is God’s will that all men be saved. In this they quote…..

1 Timothy 2:3-6 -3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time. NASB

Consider though that if it were God’s highest purpose to save all mankind, then that is exactly what God would do. Not only this, but God would not have shut all men up into disobedience if He desired to save them all but could have simply prevented the fall from happening. This He could have done in many ways, not the least of which would be that He could have just NOT created the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or given a law not to eat from it. 1 Timothy 2:4 then, is just an expression of the moral will of God. God does not delight in the death of anyone(Eze 18:32), even hardened sinners. However, He will see to it that hardened sinners are judged and damned because this purpose displays the Excellency of His goodness, justice and wrath. So even though in His moral will He does not delight in the death of the wicked, in His Sovereign will He will make sure it happens. God allows what He hates to accomplish what he loves. Consider the following quote from John Piper…. The misery and the suffering that judgment brings upon the impenitent, in and of itself, does not delight the heart of God. He is not malicious or bloodthirsty. That’s what Eze 18:32 is warning us NOT to believe about God. Rather, when He brings judgment on the impenitent and unbelieving and wicked, the delight that He takes in that act is delight in the vindication of His justice and His truth and righteousness, and the value of His name which has been profaned by unbelievers. God’s heart is capable of grieving over the misery and the sin, considered in and of itself, of any unbelieving lost person(Eze 18:32), while at the same time rejoicing and exulting exuberantly in the vindication of His righteousness and His name as He destroys them in hell(Deut 28:63). If that does not fit together in your own mind and heart, you are finite and God is infinite, do not shape God into your limited image, let the Holy Scriptures stand, and may God build His true character in your heart and in your eyes.”….from “The Pleasure of God in all He does” sermon Feb 1, 1987

God’s Glory displayed in all things
Consider then, how God displays His Glory in all things. In the bullets below are listed a few of the Divine Excellencies which are seen in the works of God.
·   In the creation of the universe – Power, Wisdom, Beauty, Perfection
·   In providence  – Power, Wisdom, Grace, Mercy, Patience, Omnipresence
·   In the salvation of His people – Love, Grace, Mercy, Goodness, Justice
·   In the damnation of the wicked – Goodness, Justice, Wrath, Power
Dear reader, when you consider the Almighty power and Wisdom of God, the proper response is worship and awe! Surely we see then that the Scripture plainly teaches that “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” That God is indeed the beginning, the middle and the end of all that He has purposed to do.
Romans 11:33-36 – 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. NASB
There are actually numerous biblical texts which explicitly state that God seeks His own glory. In fact, there are so many, it would be exhausting just to list them all much less examine them. But here are a few…..
Isaiah 48:9-11 – “For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off. 10 “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. NASB
Isaiah 43:7 – Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made. ” NASB
Jeremiah 13:11 – 11’For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the LORD,’ that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they did not listen. NASB
Psalm 106:7-8 – Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Thy wonders; They did not remember Thine abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.  8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known. NASB
Romans 9:17 – 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” NASB
John 7:18-19 – 18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. NASB
Matthew 5:16 – 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. NASB
John 12:27-29 – 27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 “Father, glorify Thy name.” There came therefore a voice out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” NASB
John 17:24 – 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou didst love Me before the foundation of the world. NASB
1 Peter 4:11 – 11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. NASB
Learn then, the Bible plainly declares that chief among the purposes of God is the pursuit of His own glory and the fame of His great name!

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and enter into eternal life…..click here to find out how….. http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425
Or read more about the Christian Gospel here:  http://www.ligonier.org/welcome_whatisthegospel.php
If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org
If you would like to be added or add someone to this email list, just reply with “sign me up” and the address you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Pastor Shaan Sloan
Heritage Christian Fellowship – ABQ
505-348-5092
The Lord is the Strength of My Life