The plan of redemption as it is revealed in Scripture is according to God’s purpose and for God’s glory. We read another redemption purpose of God further on in Ephesians when we read that the mystery of Jew and Gentiles reconciled in one body in Christ is “according to the eternal purpose, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11). That was the crux of Jesus’ glorious prayer in John 17. Jesus prayed that His body would be one as He and The Father are one. Oh, that God may give unto us a revelation of the one body of Christ that He has purchased with His precious blood on the cross (Acts 20:28). Oh, that we may see the beauty of every part of the body working together for the glory of God (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
Regarding the purpose of God, it was revealed to the apostle John, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) So many people have the warped idea that God came to destroy them when the Scriptures clearly reveal that God sent His Son Jesus to destroy the works of the devil. That is good news indeed! As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), the testimony of Jesus and His Name is most glorified.
We can never over-emphasize these truths of Scripture regarding the purposes and glory of God because they are the very purpose for our existence as a local church. Lord God, unite our hearts to fear Your Name. Amen.
