THE REDEEMED IN THE ETERNAL STATE - THE ALL CONSUMING PURPOSE OF GOD

THE REDEEMED IN THE ETERNAL STATE

• THE STATEMENT OF FACT CONCERNING THE ORIGINAL CREATION

The all-consuming purpose of God in creation was to establish a Kingdom on the earth, in which He could display His glory in the Person of His Son. This display of His glory was to be made to creatures made in His image, and therefore, capable of apprehending, appreciating, and applauding His glory. The unfolding drama of the Bible depicts the movements of God in the accomplishment of that purpose. Alva J. McClain

This was a work performed by the triune God. Gen. 1:1 cf. vs. 26

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

"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."

This consisted in bringing into existence the heavens and the earth without the use of preexisting material.

 

• The Father Planned it as the Originator

1 Cor. 8:6

"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

 

• The Son Performed it as the Agent

John 1:3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

1 Cor. 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

Col. 1:16-17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Heb. 1:2 "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds."

•  The Spirit Perfected it by Adorning it

Gen. 1:2 "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Job. 26:13 "By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent."

Psa. 33:6 "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."

•  This product of Creation in its Entirety was Pronounced Good

Gen. 1:31 "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."

 

There was nothing about matter nor about the intelligences in it that lacked anything to measure up to perfection.

Deut. 32:4 "He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He."

•  This Original Creation was Completed in order to Carry out an Eternal Purpose

Eph. 1:4 "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."

• This Eternal Purpose Centered in Christ

Eph. 3:11 "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

• This was to Fulfill the Divine Pleasure

Rev. 4:11 "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."

Col. 1:16 "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him."

•  This Eternal Purpose was to Establish a Kingdom in the Earth where God could Display His glory in the Person of His Son

John-1:14, 18 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

cf. Ezek. 43:2 "And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory."

Rev. 21:22-23 "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

•  Built into the Program was the Provision for Upholding Creation and Promoting its Operation to Fulfill the Eternal Purpose

Eph. 1:11 "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."

Heb. 1:3 "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Col. 1:17 "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

•  This Creation, with Emphasis Upon the Earth, was to be the Eternal Habitation of Mankind

Psa. 115:16 "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men."

 Men were made in the image of God and therefore capable of apprehending, appreciating, and applauding the glory of God.

Gen. 1:26-27 "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."

•  The Lord Jesus Christ became Incarnate in Human Flesh so that Men could see the Glory of God

John 1:14, 18 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

John 14:8-9 "Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"

• In the present to believers that glory is seen today in Christ

2 Cor. 4:6 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

• In the Kingdom His glory will make the whole earth to shine

Ezek. 43:2 "And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory."

• In the eternal state Christ will be the temple where the glory of God will forever be manifest

Rev. 21:22-23 "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."