THE SEVENFOLD PURPOSE OF GOD

We believe, according to the scriptures, that the Lord our God is a God of purpose, absolute and unalterable purpose. Before the world began, Almighty God sovereignly purposed all that ever comes to pass. Nothing in this world is left to chance. Everything is moving toward the predetermined end of God's eternal purpose with absolute, precise accuracy. Any casual reader of the Bible must realize this fact. (Read: Rom. 8:28; 9:11; Eph. 1:11 - 3:11; and II Tim 1:9). These passages plainly state that the Lord Jehovah is a God of purpose, and clearly teach several things about the purpose of God: (1) The purpose of God is ETERNAL. (2) The purpose of God INCLUDES ALL THINGS. (3) The purpose of God has the BENEFIT OF GOD'S ELECT FOR ITS PECULIAR DESIGN. Everything that God has purposed is for the ultimate, spiritual, and eternal benefit of his covenant people. (4.) The purpose of God is IMMUTABLE AND SURE. The Lord himself says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." And (5) in its ultimate end God's purpose will accomplish THE ETERNAL SALVATION OF HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE AND THE GLORY OF HIS OWN GREAT NAME.

Here are seven things which God has purposed. Since these are things purposed of God, they MUST all come to pass.

1. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MUST SUFFER AND DIE UPON THE CROSS

The death of our Lord was no accident. It was not something which came to pass merely as the result of man's free-will, or because the Jews would not have him as their King. Christ himself told us that he MUST die at Calvary. "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day" (Luke 9:22). The death of Christ was a divine necessity an imperative event, something that had to take place, because God had purposed it. In order to fulfill his covenant engagements as our Surety, the Lord Jesus Chris had to die at Calvary. Our Lord voluntarily took it upon himself to become our Surety, and he freely laid down hill life for us; but once he volunteered to become our Surety he had to lay down his life for us. His honor and faith fulness demanded it (John 10:18). The Old Testament Scriptures could not be fulfilled until the Son of God hung upon the cursed tree. And there was no way for the Lord God to save his people except through the atoning death of his Son (Rom. 3:24-26).

2. But the death of Christ alone is not sufficient to save anyone. IN ORDER TO SAVE US THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MUST RISE FROM THE DEAD.

It is written, "He MUST rise again from the dead". A dead Christ would never have been of any value to God or to his people. But when the Lord Jesus arose from the dead, our salvation was accomplished and the foundation of our faith was fixed. "He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

3. THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD MUST BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD.

Our Lord told his disciples that prior to his second advent "the gospel MUST first be published among all nations'' (Mk. 13:l0). The gospel must be preached to declare to all men the mercy of God in Christ, for the salvation of God's elect in every nation, and in order to leave the unbelieving without excuse.

4. When the gospel has been declared throughout the whole world and before our Lord comes again - ALL OF GOD'S ELECT MUST BE SAVED.

God is longsuffering with this world and allows it to stand only because he has in it a people whom he is determined to save. Our Lord said, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I MUST bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd" (John l0:16). Yes, all of God's elect shall be saved. Not one of Christ's sheep shall ever perish. The purpose of God, the satisfied law of God, and the blood of Christ demand the salvation of every chosen one. All must be sought and found (John 4:4). All must be born again (John 3:7). All must come to God by faith in Christ (Heb. 11:6).

5. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MUST REIGN AS KING.

Beloved, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the sovereign Ruler and King of the universe. And "He MUST reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet" (I Cor. 15:25). He must reign because it is his right a Redeemer-King. God has decreed it. He must reign for the salvation of his people. He must reign, because no one can stop him. You must bow to the Lord Christ, or you must perish.

6. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MUST COME AGAIN IN POWER AND GREAT GLORY I Cor. 15:51-55).

Once all of God's elect have been saved and all the purposes of God in this world have been accomplished, Christ shall come for his people. "For this corruptible MUST put on incorruption, and this mortal MUST put on immortality." King Jesus must come again to raise his saints, to destroy his enemies, to create all things new, and to reign gloriously forever.

7. And it is evident from the scriptures that, according to the purpose of God, EVERY PERSON MUST STAND BEFORE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN JUDGMENT.

"For we MUST all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men (II Cor. 5:l0-11)."

When everything which God has purposed is done, you are going to meet God in the judgment. How will you fair in that day? Will you stand alone, in the nakedness of your iniquity? Or, will you stand in Christ complete, clothed in his perfect righteousness? I do not know whether you will in simple, submissive faith bow to the purpose of God and be saved, or not. But of this one thing I am sure - THE PURPOSE OF GOD SHALL STAND!