Discovering Organic Church Life: God's Eternal Purpose

At this juncture, we want to give consideration to the following questions, "What is God’s eternal purpose? Does the Bible reveal such a concept?"  As a matter of fact it does, but when one’s ‘doctrinal perception’ is in a different place, it’s easy to simply ‘read over the top of it’ without really taking note of what’s being communicated. Let's examine two texts that are 'case-in-point':  


This grace is given to me (who am less than the least of all saints) to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations, and to bring to light what is the fellowship of the mystery which from eternity has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; so that now to the rulers and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; Eph.3:8-11 [Modern King James Version] Emphasis Mine  "Therefore you should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner.  But be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, 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 given us in Christ Jesus before the eternal times." 2Tim.1:8,9  [Modern King James Version]  Emphasis Mine

God’s eternal purpose is rarely, if ever, a sermon topic, much less a doctrine taught in Seminaries and Bible Colleges.  The reason for such gross oversight can be explained as a matter of perception - most Bible scholars, and people in general, when looking at the Scriptures, see them from a sin-point-of-view.  That is, everything recorded in Holy Writ is viewed from the perspective of man’s sin, and God’s redemptive remedy: Initially, God created a wonderful garden for humanity to 'tend and keep'.  Man, for his part, committed high treason against his Creator by obeying God's archenemy rather than God, incurring eternal separation from God as a consequence.  This set Him on a course to 'buy back' Adam's race through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Anyone placing their faith in Messiah's vicarious sacrifice would experience salvation from the penalty of eternal damnation, and recover their fellowship with God. From our point of view, this became God's eternal purpose by default, so to speak.  However, that is not what the Bible actually teaches.

The eternal purpose of God is like a fine jewel with distinct facets that contributed to His motivation behind creation in general, and man's creation in particular.  This 'intention' of the Triune God has not been evolving over the ages, but was conceived before there was an earth, before there was a universe, or even before there was time and space.  One might say, at some point in eternity past, our God had a dream - a desire.  All of His subsequent creative work was woven around this dream, this eternal purpose.  Insight into the Godhead's plan can be gleaned from Jesus' prayer to His Father recorded in John's gospel, chapter seventeen, verse ten: "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them."  [NKJV]  Dr. Marvin R. Vincent, in Vincent's Word Studies, makes the observation that 'all Mine', in this verse, should be translated 'all things that are Mine'.  Many Bibles make this their translation as well, such as the Amplified Bible, 1901 American Standard Version; 1899 Douay Rheims Bible; Hebrew Names Version; Literal Translation of the Holy Bible; The Message Bible; The World English Bible; 1912 Weymouth New Testament, to name a few.  That takes the interpretation of 'all Mine' from being strictly that of persons, (namely the disciples in this text) to all things (meaning everything).  This 'nugget of truth' isn't that hidden in the original language, but became somewhat obscured when translated into the English language.  The 1615 King James Version became the benchmark, the Authorized Version, for all subsequent translations for centuries, and it's rendering has, only of late, been challenged, and in some cases, such as the above, overruled by later translations.

John Wesley, in his Commentary of the Gospel of John, wrote concerning this verse, "These are very high and strong expressions, too grand for any mere creature to use; as implying that all things whatsoever, inclusive of the Divine nature, perfections, and operations, are the common property of the Father and the Son. . . " Jesus' remark, in the verse above, infers that at some point in eternity past, before creation of time and space, the Father heart of God wanted to give everything of Himself through the Spirit to His Son, which He did.  The Son, upon receiving such an endowment, did not keep it for Himself, but reciprocated His Father's love by giving it all back to Him by the same Spirit.  It is the nature of the Triune God to continually be giving all they are and have to each other.  John 16:15 gives further testimony to John 17:10's interpretation: "All things that the Father has is also mine.  That is why I've said, 'He takes of Mine and will announce it to you."

The Son was, and is, the Father's Beloved; the One upon whom He lavishes all the passion and love within His heart.  The Son loves His Father and reciprocates all of His love, but He, Himself, had no beloved upon whom He could pour out the overflowing passion and love that beat within His heart.  This was known and understood by the Father which became the impetus of His dream - His great desire and 'eternal purpose' - which was to: provide a 'beloved' wife for His Son; find a resting place, a home for Himself; and have a family that 'looked just like Himself', through whom He could be seen and understood by the universe that would yet be created. This is what the Apostle Paul called "a great mystery" in Ephesians 5:32. Next, we will be exploring this 'great mystery': A wife for the Son!