Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 21
April 23, 1970
NUMBER 50, PAGE 6-7a

Thoughts On Purpose - Notes On Ephesians 2:7

Gordon Wilson

.. that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus . . .

Two schools of thought compete in explaining the person of Jesus. The first school says that a man named Jesus was born normally: out of his life and thinking he evolved a set of ethics; he came to great conclusions through testing and experience; he learned of God through meditation; and died a martyr to these ideas and ideals. Therefore, it is wise to follow his teachings even today.

The second school says that Jesus, the Son of God, underwent incarnation to accomplish a certain purpose and to fulfill a predestined program: He brought with Him a revelation to men in God's words; He was incarnated to fulfill a plan that had been determined before the foundations of the earth were laid, so was never in doubt of the purpose, but always knew all things; being God, He revealed the Heavenly Father; and He died a sacrifice for sin, to atone vicariously for the sins of men. Therefore, salvation through His shed blood is the only hope of the world.

Composing the first school are learned men, university leaders, and renowned scholars of the past two centuries. The second school is made up of the apostles, the early believers, and the entire church of Christ for nineteen hundred years! We must quickly decide which school is right: is it that which holds to the philosophy of haphazardness, or that which holds the philosophy of purpose?

We can, of course, judge in part by the results. The first school brought the great "boon" of evolution, increased infidelity, and the present apostasy being witnessed throughout christendom. The second is responsible for redemption from idolatry, the transformation of history, all that is best in Western civilization, plus the happiness, salvation, eternal peace, and immortality of millions.

While all of the results afore stated can be demonstrated, it is far better that we judge instead by the authority of each school. The haphazard philosophy bases all of its conclusions and teachings on the fallible authority of men. Human reason and manmade theory thus achieve finality for its adherents. However, for these, "finality" changes in each generation. The second school bases its conclusions on the unerring word of God; to such, finality is found only in revelation.

Divine revelation makes it clear, in our text, that God had and has a plan. It is the purpose of the book of Ephesians to explain this plan. "In Christ Jesus" we stand at a point midway between ages past and ages to come. Here we look backward to the course of man's salvation when it was a silent thought in the mind of God, and we look forward to the hour when that salvation has been fully accomplished and our promised redemption has been marked paid in full.

Only "in Christ Jesus" can be administered the threefold blessings described in Ephesians (1:3-7). Careful analysis of the verses involved will enable us to recognize that these blessings are holiness, sonship, and forgiveness of sins. Spiritual blessings are God's highest and greatest gifts; other blessings also are dispensed where they are for our ultimate good. Old Testament blessings were at best typical of that which was held in store, and those mentioned in the beatitudes of the sermon on the mount were merely pointers to what would soon be available — in Christ.

It should not be overlooked that spiritual blessings come from the "father" of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph? No, God. When Mary was puzzled at the prediction of her conception, since she knew not a man, a holy angel gave the explanation: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

The coming of Christ, then, was according to a supernatural operation, and in connection with a divine choice. God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). For this purpose the world was created. Before Lucifer fell, or e'er Adam was created, this thought was in the mind of God — the thought of a people for His eternal glory. The created world is a system, therefore it had a beginning; it operates by a method; and it accomplishes a purpose. Therefore its foundation was laid. But before the foundation there had to be a Founder, and the Founder had to have a plan. Since we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, it follows that this whole marvelous cosmic system is just a nest in which to hatch the church of the firstborn.

Such a magnificent purpose pre-supposes certain things. It supposes a people of intelligence and of free moral selection. It supposes a race made holy because they desire to be. And it supposes a plan sufficient to accomplish that transformation. The problem of the text, then, is this: What can wash away my sins, and exalt me to a condition where I am fit to sit with Christ in the heaven-lies? Can education? Service? Good works? Morality? Such as these may prevent a future relapse, but can do nought toward removing the guilty stain of sins past. The answer to the problem? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

God's purpose is plain: to fill heaven with replicas of His Son. His method of accomplishing this purpose is to place at the disposal of all intelligent beings an opportunity to accept this holy condition. The result of His purpose is stated in the text very clearly: He will exhaust ages to come manifesting His kindness toward those who receive Christ and bear His cross below.

Will you join our happy, holy throng?

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