The Sevenfold Purpose of God

“This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth.” (Isaiah 14:26)

Here are seven things God has purposed in eternity, which must come to pass. The key word in each passage of Scripture, to which I direct your attention, is the word “must.” These seven things must, of a certainty, come to pass, because God has purposed that they shall come to pass.

1.    The Son of Man must suffer and die upon the cross.

            The death of Christ was a necessity. It was something that must be accomplished. He said so (Luke 9:22). But why? Why must the Lord Jesus Christ, the holy, sinless Son of God, the perfect Son of Man, the God-man, suffer and die upon the cursed tree? Why must the Lord of glory lay down his life as a sin-atoning sacrifice at Calvary?

Christ had to die at Jerusalem because God purposed it from eternity (Acts 2:23; 4:28). Our Savior had to die at Jerusalem two thousand years ago in order to fulfill his covenant engagements as our everlasting Surety. The Son of God voluntarily took upon himself the responsibility of our redemption from eternity. He freely laid down his life for us at Calvary. Yet, having voluntarily agreed to become our Surety, he had to lay down his life for us. His honor and faithfulness demanded it (Genesis 43:8-9; John 10:18).

It is only through the death of the God-man, our most glorious Christ, that it is possible for our God to be “a just God and a Savior.” Only by the sacrifice of Christ could the righteousness of God be revealed. Only by his death as our Substitute is the sin of man exposed and condemned. The justice of God could be satisfied by no other means (Hebrews 10:1-14). Only by his blood could the people of God be forgiven of all sin and justified (Hebrews 9:22). The mercy, love and grace of God are revealed and manifest to sinners only by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6-8). — But the death of Christ alone is not sufficient to save us. Something else must be done.

2.    In order to save us from our sins the Lord Jesus Christ must rise from the dead.

            A dead Christ could never save anyone. A dead Christ could never be of any value to either God or man. A dead Christ might be a good example; but he could never be a mighty Savior. It was when the crucified Christ arose from the dead that the foundation of our faith was fixed (John 20:9).

It was his resurrection that demonstrated, in an undeniable manner, that our Redeemer is the Son of God (Romans 1:1-4). The resurrection of Christ assures us that our sins have been put away and justice has been satisfied (Romans 4:25; Hebrews 9:12). The greatest apologetic for Christianity in this world is the empty tomb. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus is the sure evidence of his power and ability to save every sinner who comes to God by him (Romans 8:31-34; Hebrews 7:25).

3.    The Gospel of the grace of God, the glorious Gospel of the glorious Christ, must be preached in all the world.

In Mark 13:10 we are told that, prior to the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel of the grace and glory of God in him must be heralded throughout the whole world. There are three reasons why it must be so: (1.) To declare to all men the glorious accomplishments of the Son of God as our Redeemer, (2.) For the salvation of God’s elect out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue, and (3.) To leave the reprobate, the unbelieving, without excuse.

4.    Once this Gospel has been declared in all the world, and before Christ comes again, all God’s elect must be saved.

It is only because the Lord is “longsuffering to us,” that the world is not yet destroyed (2 Peter 3:9). Our Lord has not yet come in final judgment, because he has not yet saved all his people (John 10:16; Isaiah 65:8). The Scriptures are abundantly clear in asserting that all God’s elect shall be saved. Not one of Christ’s sheep shall perish. Every sinner redeemed by blood shall be saved by grace and crowned with glory. The purpose of God demands it. The law of God demands it. Justice satisfied cannot punish those for whom it has been satisfied. The satisfaction of Christ demands it. Were one of those for whom he died to perish under the wrath of God, the Lord Jesus could never see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11). These things are matters of certainty, because the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ shall never be discovered a miscarriage.

5.    The Lord Jesus Christ must reign as King.

            Read 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 and rejoice. Our all-glorious Christ, the Son of God, is the sovereign Ruler and King of the universe. We must either bow to his dominion or perish as his enemies. There are no other options. Repent or perish! Turn or burn! Bow or be damned! Either way, “He must reign!” And reign he does!

6.    The bodies of God’s elect must be raised from the grave.

            Once God’s elect have all been saved by his grace, and all the purposes of God have been accomplished in this time world, the Lord Jesus Christ must come again in power and great glory to gather his elect unto himself in resurrection glory (1 Corinthians 15:51-58). Oh, yes, Christ must come again! Our Redeemer shall come again to raise his saints, destroy his enemies, create all things new and reign gloriously forever (Job 19:25-27).

7.    According to the eternal purpose of God, everyone must stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment.

            When everything purposed by our God from eternity has been accomplished, you and I are going to meet God in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Acts 17:31). When you stand before Christ your God, before the august majesty of his great white throne in judgment, how will you fair?

Don Fortner

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