The Eternal Purpose of God

Introduction:

Every wise builder works from a plan drawn up long before the first stone is laid. Paul says God’s redemption of man was no different — and no afterthought. Context: Paul is a prisoner for you Gentiles (v. 1), a steward of a mystery revealed to him by revelation (vv. 2-7). In verses 8-11 he unveils the scope of that mystery — it reaches back before time and forward into the church.

Transition: Four things stand out about God’s eternal purpose in this text: it was hidden, it was preached, it is displayed, and it was accomplished.

I. The Eternal purpose was hidden in God (v. 9)

A. It was purposed before the world began — not a divine afterthought.

a. Ephesians 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love,”

b. 2 Timothy 1:9 “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 to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”

c. Titus 1:2 “in the hope of eternal life, which the God who cannot lie promised from all eternity,”

Application: Before time began, God already had a plan and knew what was coming. Our minds cannot comprehend this nor the minds before us.

B. It was foreshadowed but not fully understood, even by the prophets who spoke it.

a. 1 Peter 1:10–12 “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries, inquiring to know what time or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He was predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

b. Romans 16:25–26 “Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the Gentiles, leading to obedience of faith;”

c. Colossians 1:26 “that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,”

Application: The Old Testament points to Christ, but He would not come until the perfect time. Now it has been manifested for all past, present, and future.

II. The Eternal purpose was preached through the Gospel (v. 8)

A. The privilege rests on grace, not personal merit.

a. 1 Corinthians 15:9–10 “For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”

b. 1 Timothy 1:15–16 “It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life.”

Application: We are blessed because God show us grace and now we have His holy word before us. We need to be thankful.

B. The message is the unsearchable riches of Christ.

a. Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to the riches of His grace”

b. Colossians 2:2–3 “so that their hearts may be encouraged, having been held together in love, even unto all the wealth of the full assurance of understanding, unto the full knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

c. Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

Application: These words that we see are life and life everlasting. It is only in this very book that we can find life and riches of Christ.

C. The same stewardship is now entrusted to the church.

a. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

b. Mark 16:15–16 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

Application: The church has been entrusted with this book that contains the words of life. We have been called to go and deliver this message to all creation.

III. The Eternal purpose is displayed through the Church (v. 10)

A. The church is not incidental to God’s plan; it is the showcase of His wisdom.

a. Ephesians 3:21 “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

b. 1 Timothy 3:15 “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

Application: We must show what God has to say to all through word and deed. The Church must be the light that shines in the dark.

B. God’s wisdom is seen in one body made of Jew and Gentile together.

a. Ephesians 2:14–16 “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having in Himself put to death the enmity.”

b. Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

c. Ephesians 4:4–6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Application: We are not divided but are one. The Church should be a family of God, but sometimes we allow division to be sowed.

C. Even heavenly beings look upon this wisdom on display in the church.

a. 1 Peter 1:12 “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

b. Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Application: The word of God is very powerful and can transform. It also sheds light on darkness and bring everything into the open.

IV. The Eternal purpose was accomplished in Christ Jesus (v. 11)

A. Christ is the means by which the purpose was carried out, not merely a messenger who announced it.

a. Ephesians 1:9–10 “making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him for an administration of the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth in Him.”

b. 2 Corinthians 5:19 “namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their transgressions against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

Application: Christ was sent into the world to fulfill His Father’s will. Without Christ, there is no life and way to the Father.

B. Nothing hindered the plan — it was finished.

a. John 19:30 “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

b. Galatians 4:4–5 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Application: No one could hinder God’s plan. Christ came and fulfilled the entire Old Law and brought us under the New Covenant.

C. Every spiritual blessing is found only in Christ.

a. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

b. Acts 4:12 ““And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.””

Application: You cannot have the Spiritual blessing without Christ. Outside of Christ you have nothing.

Conclusion:

Summary: God’s purpose was hidden before time, preached in the gospel, is now displayed through the church, and stands accomplished in Christ Jesus.

Application: If the Church is the very instrument by which God displays His manifold wisdom before the universe, then membership in it is no small or optional matter — one enter that body only by obeying the gospel of Christ.