GOD’S PURPOSE

    God’s purpose is what He determined and decreed in eternity past. It is rooted in His will, was fixed before time began, and will be fulfilled in time. God’s purpose is therefore associated with His predestination or foreordination of all things.
     

God’s purpose is more than a mere plan. “Jehovah of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand .... For Jehovah of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it?’” (Isaiah 14:24, 27 & 46:11). Saints therefore join Job in declaring to God “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (see Job 42:2).
     

God’s purpose is all-encompassing. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
     

God’s purpose therefore extends over the wicked. For example, He told Pharaoh, “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth” (see Exodus 9:16). And certain wicked men will do wicked deeds because “God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled” (Revelation 17:17).
     

God’s purpose includes Jesus’ ministry during His incarnation.

• Jesus’ preaching was purposed by God. For Jesus said “I must preach the kingdom of God ..., because for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:43).

• Jesus’ death was purposed by God. For they who killed Him were told “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death” (Acts 2:23). And the apostles acknowledged to God that “truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done” (Acts 4:27f).

God’s purpose for His people is for their salvation. They are told “God 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 to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (II Timothy 1:9). They are identified as “the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), whom God foreknew as His own special people, predestined to be like Christ, called to salvation, justified from guilt, and glorified in both body and soul and made fit to enter His presence in heaven (vs. 29f).
     

God’s purpose for the salvation of His people is identified in various ways:

• “the purpose of God according to election” (Romans 9:11);

• “the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11);

• “the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11).

 

– preacher Daniel Parks

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