Christ’s Pre-Eminence In The Purpose Of God

Colossians 1:18

The Lord Jesus Christ is pre-eminent in the eternal purpose and decrees of the triune God. Our God, the almighty, sovereign God of the Bible, the only true and living God is a God with an eternal, unalterable, absolute purpose, a purpose which can never be defeated, overturned, frustrated, or hindered to any degree. He has predestined and foreordained everything that comes to pass. The Scriptures are crystal clear in teaching this (Isa. 46:9-10; Acts 15:18; Eph. 1:11). Even when Lucifer led his revolt in heaven and threaten to overthrow his throne, the Lord God laughed and said, “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...For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isa. 14:24-27). We are assured of these five things regarding God’s purpose: (1.) His purpose is in Christ (Eph. 3:11). (2.) His purpose includes all things (Eph. 1:11). (3.) His purpose is the salvation of his elect (Rom. 8:28-31). (4.) His purpose is that in all things Christ have the pre-eminence and be glorified (Col. 1:18). (5.) His purpose shall be done (Isa. 14:24).

We will never grasp the message of the Bible until we understand that according to the Scriptures, in all the purpose and decrees of the Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ is central, primary, and pre-eminent. In other words, everything that God purposed to do and everything he does is for the glory of Christ as our Savior (Eph. 3:11). Christ was the Father’s Elect, chosen and set up in the Father’s decree from everlasting as our Mediator (Isa. 42:1; Pro. 8:23). In that same sovereign, eternal decree a great multitude of sinners was chosen in him unto salvation (Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess. 5:9; 2 Thess. 2:13-14).

All who are saved by the grace of God are saved because of God’s election of them unto salvation in Christ before the worlds were made. The Lord God purposed and resolved to save us by the substitutionary sacrifice of his dear Son. It was appointed and ordained of God that “in the fullness of time” Christ would assume a human body and soul, work out perfect righteousness for his people by his holy life of perfect obedience to God as our Representative, and then lay down his life, pour out his precious blood, as our sin-atoning Substitute, redeeming us from the curse of the law by fully satisfying the justice of God for us. And so, it came to pass (Heb. 10:5-7; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:18).

It was also purposed of God from eternity that each of these elect, redeemed sinners would be saved through the “sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth,” by the regenerating power and grace of God the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the gospel, by which faith is communicated to us (2 Thess. 2:13-14). He also purposed that all the called would be forever preserved in grace in Christ by his divine power and sealed by his Spirit, so that in the last day Christ would lose nothing (John 6:39).

Don Fortner