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"BY REASON OF HIM"
God, in the hidden wisdom (1Cor.2:7; Psa.104:24) of His perfect foreknowledge
(Jb.37:16) and in the determined counsel of His "eternal (age enduring) purpose"
for "all men" (Eph.3:9-11), has set in motion a totally infallible plan of action.
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the
works of the devil." 1Jn.3:8. When this is concluded, all mankind will have
come to know Christ as their Saviour and Lord, to the glory of God the Father -
Phil.2:10,11; Isa.45:23; Rev.5:13; 15:4; Psa.22:27,29.
Our Creator has a truly great plan and purpose in creation. He alone, as "Lord
of all" (Ac.10:26; Gal.4:1), has created all things (Jn.1:3; Rev.4:11), is
reconciling all things (Col.1:16-20), and will yet restore all things (Ac.3:21)
making all things new - Rev.21:5. Mankind is the highest form of life of all
things that He has created to dwell on the earth -1Cor.8:6; Ac.17:24-28. Man
plays an important role in all that is being reconciled and saved through God's
grand age -abiding plan and purpose - Rom.5:8-11; Psa.8:4-6.
As an ongoing interim part of this plan in this present day of salvation, "of His
own will begat He us (to become faithful Christians) with the word of truth, that
we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." James 1:18. They who are
the true "born again" (1Ptr.1:23) "church" (Matt.16:18; Eph.1:22; Col.1:24), are
now also known as "the general assembly and church of the firstborn. "Heb.
12:23. Since the advent of Christ they are the first redeemed portion of all
humanity. They are only the beginning of all the new creation (2Cor.5:17; Gal.
6:15) offspring,of Him who is the firstfruit (1Cor.15:20,23) of the firstfruits, even
"the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence."
Col.1:18.
The Bible reveals that God is presently in the process of completing His
remarkable works involving all mankind and "every creature."Rev.5:12,13. This
shall not result in an incomplete nor imperfect accomplishment, nor can it, for all
His works are in perfection-Deut.32:4. "The Lord is good to all and His tender
mercies are over all His works."Psa.145:9. It is clearly not God's purpose nor
will to leave anyone nor anything to the destruction of death, hell, nor annihilation
for eternity. "Thou preservest them all."Neh.9:6. Rather, it is His full intention to
ultimately reconcile and restore all things, including all thrones, dominions,
principalities, and powers, visible or invisible, whether they be on earth or they
be in heaven - Col.1:16-20. All things are possible with God - Mk.9:23.
Therefore, in the dispensation of the fullness of times, we see God sovereignly
carrying out all His works as "He doeth according to His will in the army of
heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, nor
say unto Him, What doest Thou?" Dan.4:35; Isa.14:27. He who is the fulfillment
of agape Love cannot fail in His truly remarkable works of love - 1Cor.13:8;
Jn.3:16.
As a basic part of His counsel of divine restitution, the Lord successively, yet
intermittently, is now in the process of commanding "all men every where to
repent." Ac.17:30; Isa.45:22-25; 55:11. "The Son of man is come to save that
which was lost."Matt.18:11. In order to do this,"the Father sent the Son to be
Saviour of the world." 1Jn.4:14; Jn.12:47. It is not His purpose to save only a
portion of His creation or a portion of the world! - Jb.34:13; 1Jn.2:2. The Father
has relegated all power unto His Son (Jn.17:2), for it is His determined will and
omnipotent intention that ultimately "all men should honour the Son, even as
they honour the Father" (Jn.5:20 -23) and that "all flesh shall see (Grk. -
experience) the salvation of God." Lk.3:6; Isa.40:4,5; Psa.65:2. Now, "He hath
given assurance to all men, in that He hath raised Him (the Son) from the dead."
Ac.17:31.
Sadly, how few there are that have enough faith to believe that the
aforementioned will ever happen! Most Christian's have a hard enough time
believing "all Israel shall be saved." Rom.11:26. How much harder it must be
to believe for the redemption of "all men." Like the religious leaders of old,
some even fear it - Jn.11:47. However, after the same manner as with all Israel,
God is with all men also "able to graft them in.."Rom.11:23. The traditions of
men in their teachings of "eternal hell" and eternal annihilation have made a
good portion of the clear truth of God's word of none effect - Mrk.7:13; Rom.
4:14. Therefore, hearken unto what the holy Spirit saith unto the church. The
Gates of hell shall not predominate nor triumph forever against the Lord, nor
shall they prevail against all those whom He has ordained to yet draw unto
salvation! Matt.16:18; Jn.12:32.
Regardless of how well intentioned carnal men may be, they continue to
misinterpret and malign the holy scriptures, ignorantly insisting that the entirety
of God's work and plan shall never be fulfilled. Yet, the simple truth and the
voice of reason calls out to them, shouting out the basic principle and
foundational fact ...that "no plan (of God's) can be thwarted." Jb.42:2 (NIV).
"What His soul desireth (wills) even that He doeth."Jb.23:13.
Jehovah is a perfect God (Matt.5:48; Heb.5:9), doing a perfect work (Deut.32:4),
in His own perfect way (2Sam. 22:31), by His own perfect love (1Jn.4:12) and in
His own perfect time - 1Cor.15:23; 1Tim.2:5:6. He cannot possibly fail in
completing all the work that He began in His creation! He shall not make His
own words of no effect! Hath He not said, "I shall work and who shall let (hinder)
it? "Isa.43:13; Jb.9:12; 11:10. He alone can say this because He alone,
regardless of man, always "worketh all things after the counsel of His own
will."Eph.1:11; Psa.135:6.
In building natural structures such as bridges, towers, buildings etc., a strong
and lasting foundation must first be constructed. For them to be as strong as
possible, there can be no error or mistakes made in construction ...especially in
the foundation. Likewise, in the formation of any true doctrine, except they have
a strong and sure foundation, not only the foundation itself but the rest of the
structure as well, is invariably subject to damage and ruin. The winds of falsity
and the flood of lies break through the walls and foundations of all man made
structures, exposing their weaknesses and damaging their interiors.
To be without cracks and without any weaknesses, all true doctrinal structures in
the Bible that are built upon by man, need be built upon foundations that the
Master Builder Himself has laid or their labour is in vain - Psa.127:1. The
ingredients in His foundations always contain the rock of God (Psa.62:6,7;
Matt.16:18) combined with untempered mortar (Ezk.13:4) submerged together in
the water and spirit of God's truth - Jn.16:13; Eph.4:21. Unfortunately,
concerning spiritual truth, the natural human mind is subject to much error -
1Cor.2:10 -16. Only, "the foundation of God standeth sure."2Tim.3:1. There is
no kind of true spiritual foundation that any man can lay other than that which is
already laid and found in the Lord Jesus Christ - 1Cor.3:10-15; Matt.7:24 -27.
In completing the foundation for mankind's salvation, Jesus proclaimed these
wondrous words concerning the pending purpose, the accomplishment, and the
fulfillment of His being lifted up to a literal death upon the cross. He stated
matter of factly and prophetically saying, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will
draw all men unto me..."Jn.12:32-34; 3:14; 8:28; 18:32. In order "that He might
fill all things" (Eph.4:10; 1:20-23), our ascended (Eph.4:8-10) "King of kings and
Lord of lords", (1Tim.6:15), "the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up"
(Isa.6:1; 52:13) saith, "I will say the word and perform it...the word which I have
spoken shall be done." Ezk.12:25-28; Isa.46:11; 55:11. He said He will draw
not just some, not even many, but all unto Himself. His word shall not return
void of its fulfillment nor be found ineffectual in its efficacy. This principle is
contained throughout the Bible and is foundational truth for all believers. We
can be sure the word of "the blessed and only Potentate" (1Tim.6:15) contains
the fullness of truth (Jn.6:63; Prv.22:20, 21), for Christ is the personification of
God's truth (Jn.14:6) and all fulness of truth is to be found in Him - Col.2:9.
"The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." Tit.1:2.
Through the lifted up and risen Christ alone (Ac.4:12), all men now "have
access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph.2:18) so "that all men through Him
might believe."Jn.1:7,9. It is of a basic truth that...not only through (Rom.11:36)
Christ, but also with (Eph.2:5) Christ, by (Rom.5:18,19) Christ, as well as "in
Christ shall all be made alive" (1Cor.15:52), whereby the Spirit of the Father and
Christ shall ultimately become matured and complete "in all." 1Cor.15:28. That
means "be everything to everyone, supreme, the indwelling and controlling factor
of (eternal) life." 1Cor. 15:28 (Amplif.).
If Christ fails or misses in attaining to this lofty goal, then the sinless Son will
surely have committed the world's greatest sin, for the meaning of the word "sin"
is "to miss the mark. "There is no restraint unto the Lord to save by many or by
few."1Sam.14:6. Jehovah brings the counsel of the ungodly to naught and
makes their rebellious thoughts to be of no effect. It is the sovereign counsel of
the Lord that stands throughout the ages. The thoughts of His heart are given
in grace to all generations - Psa.33:10:11. Eventually, through the greatness of
His power, all (1Cor.15:25) His enemies shall submit themselves unto Him
(Psa.66:3,4), even that "last enemy"..death - 1Cor.15:26. He is well "able to
subdue all things unto Himself."Phil.3:21. His work is as sure as His word. His
"works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able
to abase." Dan.4:37.
To accomplish this, the Almighty has ordained a divine process of election
through His Son in bringing salvation and repentance to "every man in His own
order."1Cor.15:23;12:8. The timing of personal salvation is in God's hands -
Jn.3:8. We have this blessed assurance through the death of our Lord
(Ac.17:31), "for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself "a ransom for all to be testified (made
evident) in due time." 1Tim.2:5,6; Gal.1:15. Therefore as Christians, we are
exhorted to pray, intercede and give thanks for all men (1Tim.2:1) and to
completely "trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially
(now in this life made evident) of those that believe."1Tim.4:10. "Even so then
at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
Rom.11:5.
Death and hell have only a temporary role in the span of the ages. The duration
of the ages is not eternal for they have both a beginning (Rom.16:25; Tit.1:2)
and an ending. Christ Has been manifested "at the end of the ages" (Heb. 9:26)
to put away sin. However, There are more ages to come (Eph.2:7 ASV), until in
"the fulness of times" (Eph.1:10) "then cometh the end.." 1Cor. 15:24.
Meanwhile, in the interval of the ages, age abiding condemnation (Mk.3:29),
punishment (Matt.24:26), judgment (Heb.6:2) and fire (Matt.25:41) remain an
essential part of God's eonial program.
As sure as the powers of death and hell which prevail in the ages had a
beginning, so shall they also have an end - 1Cor.15:24-28. Simply put, hell is
only a state or place of unholy sin and death. This is all part of the first death,
which death is not only physical but also a temporary spiritual veil that covers the
earth - Isa.25:6-9. In contrast, heaven is any place or state wherein dwells
holiness and eternal life.
Godly fire is a process of salvation - 1Cor.3:13-15; Mk.9:49; Lk.3:16,17; 12:49;
Jer.23:29. Its ultimate purpose is to judge and consume all sources of the hellish
fires of ungodliness (Jas.3:5,6; Hab.2:12,13) sin and evil whereby "judgment
shall return unto righteousness." Psa.94:15; 9:8; 103:6; Isa.5:16. Because the
holy Spirit of "our God is a consuming fire" (Heb.12:29), no longer shall the place
nor need for hell be found...when all the numerous powers of the first death
have been totally destroyed by the all-consuming fire of the Spirit of our living
God - Rev.20:14; 21:4,5; Jb.28:3.
The second death is a most holy operation. It progressively works to destroy
that first working power (1Jn.3:8) which presently holds the first man adam and
the rest of nature in "the bondage of corruption" -Rom.8:21,22. The incorruptible
life that comes forth from the second and last man adam (1Cor. 15:45) and from
the power of His sinless life and death, shall swallow up (1Cor.15:54,55) and
consume all elements that are a part of the first death until our Almighty "God
omnipotent" (Rev.19:6) truly becomes "everything to everyone." 1Cor.15:28
(Mof.). "Thus, in the end, shall God be wholly and absolutely God." 1Cor.15:28
(Phil.).
Our omnipotent Almighty "Lord of all" (Ac.10:36) was in the past, is in the
present, and surely will be in the future fulfillment of His redemptive plan, nothing
less than "the Saviour of all men". "I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the
Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Rev 1:8
(ASV).
Concerning the work which Jesus accomplished on earth with its far reaching
effects and ordained results, Christ in His divine foreknowledge could say of a
surety, "It is finished." Jn.19:30. If all that He desired to do were not finally and
fully accomplished, then His divine work would have failed and the foregoing
titles denoting who He is, was, and always will be, would be exposed as a
fallacy. Jesus Christ would not be "the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
"Heb.13:8. He would have proven to be far less than Almighty, certainly not
"Lord of all" and forever would be only the Saviour of some men!
"Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O
God."Heb.10:7,9; Jn.4:34. We are even now to put our trust in our competent
and faithful (Deut.7:9) Saviour of all who proclaimed He will ultimately draw all
men unto Himself and "will have all men to be saved, and come unto the
knowledge of the truth." 1Tim.2:4. This truth concerning His will is not
contained in the mere whim or wish of an impotent or incompetent God -
2Chr.20:6; Isa.45:20-32; 59:1. This is the Lord's revealed conclusive will and
infallible determinate intention already put into action by our Potentate
Saviour...and the fulness of truth is "there is no resisting His will." Rom.9:19
(Knox).
With regard to the interim period of His ongoing program the Lord says, "I will
have mercy on whom I will have mercy.." Rom.9:15; Hos.1:7; 2:23. Again, in
the same manner as He "who will", this is not a mere desire or wish to act but a
divine working action being carried out through a supreme and absolute will. It is
a positive affirmation inherent in His attribute of omnipotence. We must continue
to trust that "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count
slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish
but (His absolute sovereign determination is) that all (men) should come to
repentance." 2Ptr.3:9; 2Cor.1:20; Matt.18:14. Concerning His merciful election
of mankind, He "doeth according to the good pleasure of His will, to the
praise and glory of His grace." Eph.1:5,6.
It is an ordained purpose of His plan to use ungodly things and people "to fulfil
His will." Rev.17:17; Rom. 8:28. Again, this is all foundational truth, yet
stubborn men continue to deny it. Whatsoever thing pleases the Lord, that He
does - Psa.135:6; 115:3; Eccl.8:3. Whether one has the faith now to believe it
or not..."that that is determined shall be done" (Dan.11:36) for who can withstand
His ultimate, absolute, unrestrained will forever? Rom.chptrs. 9-11.
Respected theologian John Calvin correctly taught the total depravity of
mankind and also that divine election, redemption, and regeneration through
repentance from dead works is totally the work of God and by grace alone. Thus
God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of salvation. He taught a
portion of the basic truth of unconditional election believing that to deny
God's sovereignty is to affirm an unbiblical Arminianism. However, some cracks
in his own foundation began showing when he put an overemphasize on man's
responsibility and hence believed in a limited election.
The biblical truth is, that it's primarily God's responsibility to rescue man from the
total depravity of sin and death which was initially ordered upon him as a
result of his induced disobedience. [For a solid scriptural foundation concerning
this, ask for our booklet "The Sinless Son"]. This He does in his totally
sovereign unrestricted universal election. "Thou [God] turnest man to
destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men." Psa.90:3; Ac.17:30. In the
same working principle as was in the original fall of man and then later applied to
Israel, we learn that "God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might
have mercy upon all." Rom.11:32.
It was "by reason of Him", by reason of His will, not man's, that the Creator
Himself essentially subjected man and nature to these vanities - Rom.8:29,30.
Therefore, it is essential and appropriate He that takes the primary initiative and
responsibility in rescuing and reconciling mankind from his total blindness and
sinful depravity -Psa.90:3; Psa.94:10; Isa.45:7; 2Cor.5:17. Mercifully, and
certainly not by accident, provision was made for man's reconciliation before the
foundation of the world - 1Ptr.1:19,20.
Apart from divine spiritual intervention, man is deaf and blind to the gospel
message - Mk.4:11; Jn.12:39,40. He is said to be born spiritually "dead in
trespasses and sins" - Eph.2:1; Rom.8:6; Rom.3:11; 2Cor.5:14. The dead
cannot rise on their own. Not in resurrection and not in initial salvation.
Therefore, man can in no way effect his redemption until "the inspiration of the
Almighty" (Jb.32:8) actively and graciously empowers him - Ezk.36:24-27;
37:5-14; Rom.5:5. This is why man must be born a second time - Jn.3:3-8. This
supernatural spiritual birth is entirely "according to the election of grace."
Rom.11:5. Concerning human salvation, "there is no power but of God."
Rom.13:1. [See our booklet "The Power Of God Unto Salvation" which has
several hundred scriptures in the foundation of this truth].
In his teaching, Calvin limited God by believing in a partial or limited
atonement. But the scripture rightly divided points to an all encompassing
universal atonement. It could not properly be termed unlimited because there
is ultimately to be an end in the final consummation of God's will for mankind. It
is true that Christ died for all those that God gave Him to save - Jn.17:2,6,9,12.
But the number of persons He died for was not just some, or many. It was all
persons who have ever lived and will ever live or die in this earth. Christ
became the propitiation (appeasement, covering, atonement etc.) "for the sins of
the whole world."1Jn.2:2; Jn.1:29. He became "a ransom for all" (1Tim.2:6) by
"tasting death for every man." He did not die for a limited number of men,
rather "He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again." 2Cor.5:15.
Neither was Christ's death a death only of potential atonement for all men. This
would be leaving it to chance. The real bottom line is it would be leaving it up to
man! Theoretically, if none claimed his death, He would have died for naught.
It's amazing the number of Christian's who mention the words "chance" or
"another chance" when talking about salvation! Neither "chance" nor its
companion "choice" which originates with man have anything to do with personal
salvation! The atonement is totally conditional upon God to make it effectual.
Believing that Christ's death was a potential symbolic atonement for any
person in the future who might possibly accept Him, trivializes the act of
atonement. It makes it insignificant. Jesus died expressly to atone for all the
specific sins of all men who are specified as sinners and there is no
impartiality with respect to persons or nations with God - Rom.2:11; Gal.3:8, 28;
Ac.10:34-36. An unrestricted universal atonement lays the foundation for an
unrestricted universal election and an unrestricted universal salvation
magnifies and fully reveals the infinite universal grace and love of God.
Calvin believed Christ did not atone for all men because he believed much of
mankind was not then, nor ever would be saved. Hence, He died for many but
not all - Matt.26:28. Here is where his foundation developed a bad crack.! The
word "many" in Matt.26:28 is not what it seems! Nor does it contradict other
scriptures which show the all inclusiveness of Jesus' death. The original Greek
is "the many" which can only have the meaning of all as it surely does in
Rom.5:19 where the same words describe those who were made sinners as well
as those yet to become righteous. Ro.5:12 and 3:23 says all became sinners,
so "the many" are actually "all". "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment
came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the
free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's
disobedience (the) many (all) were made sinners, so by the obedience of one
shall (the) many (all) be made righteous." Rom.5:18,19; 1Cor.15:21.22.
To more easily grasp the concept of this consider the following. Recently I saw
a large crowd of people in a room. The many that I saw were really all who
were there. I have gone fishing many times in the past. These undetermined
number of times were all the times I have gone. When I say there are many
people on this planet I am speaking of them all! The many I mentioned includes
all that there are!
In order for the foregoing to be so, repentance must also be the result of an
unconditional as well as an irresistible grace. All whom God elected must
eventually come to the saving knowledge of Christ and the Father (Jn.6:45)
when God draws them (Jn.6:44) and causes them to come (Psa.65:4) through
Christ - Jn. 14:6. His goodness (Rom.2:4) and His Spirit grants them repentance
- Rom.8:14. Jesus said that it is through the work of God that ye believe on
Him - Jn.6:29; Isa.26:12. Our saving faith comes entirely through the "operation
of God." Col.2:12. This initial work is unconditional and unsolicited.
Truly, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."
Jn.3:27; Jas.1:17; Lk.10:22. This is truly irresistible grace in action - Eph.2:8-10;
2Tim.!:9; Tit.3:3-7. God has added to the church wholly "as it hath pleased
Him."1Cor.12:18. "As many as were ordained unto eternal life believed."
Ac.13:48. As many as were given to receive the powerful gift of faith unto
repentance and salvation to become the adopted sons of God (Jn.1:13), were
said to be born from above, "born again", "born of the Spirit." Jn.3:3-8. They
"were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man (their
own will) but of (the will of) God."Jn.1:13; Eph.1:5,11; Jas.1:18. They were
"born of Him" 1Jn.2:29; 5:1. No human will nor effort was involved!
Because our original inclusion in vanity is "by reason of Him" (Rom.8:20), our
saving faith also comes from above, for it is actually "the faith of God" (Rom.
3:3) and "of Christ." Gal.2:16,20; Eph.3:12; Phil.3:9. It comes not at all from
ourselves. Jesus is "the author... of our faith" Heb.12:2. We can not of
ourselves work it up or produce it in any way. Our calling and election is entirely
"of Him." Rom.9:16. Grace and mercy is also solely from or "of God" (Rom.
9:16; Tit.1:4), for only "of Him (& not of yourself) are ye in Christ Jesus."
1Cor.1:30.
To believe man's autonomous self - will can really resist God's absolute
sovereign will is to believe in the impossibility of resistible grace and sovereign
human will. To believe Jesus died merely wishing or hoping all men would
accept Him is demeaning to God's sovereign nature and many of His attributes.
It puts the owness for salvation on man and robs glory from God. To believe
God looked into the future and saw a limited number only who would ever accept
Him as their Lord, does away with the necessity and especially the established
fact of an atonement for all. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it
cannot save." Isa.59:1; Dan.4:35. Nor is it shortened that He will not save, "for
of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things concerning creation,
redemption and restitution - Rom.11:36. It is wholly Gods work!
Christ has been "appointed heir of all things" (Heb.1:2) by the Father who
"loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand." Jn.3:35. "All things"
necessarily includes all people in His creation. Those whom God draws and
calls unto eternal salvation remain in the Lord's hand until they are glorified -
Rom.8:28-39; Isa. 43:13; Jn.10:27-29; 6:37-39; Psa.37:28 etc. Christ will not
lose anyone His Father has given Him (Jn.6:37) for it is not in God's ultimate will
that any should perish - 2Ptr.3:9. However, it is God's will that He who has
power and authority over "all flesh" give eternal life to as many as the Father has
given Him - Jn.17:2.
Just who and how many will be given and be drawn through Christ unto Himself
by the Father? Jn.6:44,65. Jesus revealed these ones to be "every man that
hath heard and learned of the Father."Jn.6:45. He later revealed the true scope
of this truth when he said of a great truth, "I will draw all men unto me (Jn.
12:32; 1Tim.2:4)," "even as many as the Lord our God shall call. "Ac.2:39.
Therein shall the saying be fulfilled, "Of them which thou gavest me have I lost
none." Jn.18:9. Not one will be lost! Lk.15:4-6; Lk.19:10.
How will this marvelous thing be accomplished? Jesus said, "My Father worketh
even until now, and I work." Jn.5:17 "The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth
the works."Jn.14:10. "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him
that sent me, and to finish His work." Jn.4:34; 5:36; 9:4. The great "Alpha and
Omega" (Rev.22:13) who is the author and the finisher of our faith (Heb.12:2)
cannot help but also be the same author and finisher of all His natural and
spiritual creations - Rev.1:8; 21:5,6.
Make no mistake for God is not at all like the man in Lk.14:28-30. He is patiently
and primarily working in a firstfruit portion of mankind "both to will and to do of
His good pleasure." Phil.2:13. All God's gracious works and purposes
including those involving the whole of mankind, were foreknown, foreordained
and predestined from the foundation of the ages to attain completion - Ac.15:18;
17:26; Heb.4:3; 11:3; Isa.46:9-11; 43:13; Eph.1:4,5,11; 2Ths.2:13; Tit.1:2;
2Tim.1:9. In confirming this great truth the Lord saith, "As surely as I have
thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand."
Isa.14:21. "There is no wisdom nor counsel nor understanding against the Lord"
(Prv.2130) that could cause His will and purposes to return void! His infallible
word shall accomplish that which it pleases and shall prosper in the thing
whereunto it was sent - Isa.55:11.
Truly, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou
hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev
4:11. Thou hast declared "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times
the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all
My pleasure. Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my
counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I
have purposed it, I will also do it." Isa. 46:10,11. Therefore, in all things, "the
pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand, He shall see of the travail of
His soul and shall be satisfied." Isa.53:10:11.
God certainly has all the necessary tools and resources at hand to complete
every purpose of His plan wherein now He hath "appeared to put away sin by
the sacrifice of Himself." Heb.9:26. We can be confident that He who hath
begun His good work of restoration in you performing it unto perfection (Phil.1:6),
will also perform His perfect work in the rest of His creation wholly fulfilling it
"according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself."
Eph.1:9. He hath made known to us "the mystery (secret) of His will--of His
plan, of His purpose. [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure
(His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him,
[He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all
things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in
heaven and things on the earth." Eph:1:9,10 [Amplif.].
"In Him we also were made [God's] heritage (portion) and we obtained an
inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in
accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the
counsel and design of His [own] will." Eph.1:11 (Amplif.).
"And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and
unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as
demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He {the Father}
exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own]
right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all rule and authority and power
and dominion, and every name that is named---above every title that can be
conferred---not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the
world which are to come.
"And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal
and supreme Head of the church (a head-ship exercised throughout the church)
[Ps.8:6], which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all---for in that
body lives the full measure of Him who makes everything complete, and
Who fills everything everywhere [with Himself]." Eph.1:19-23 [Amplif.].
By reason of Him, "the whole creation (of irrational creatures) has been moaning
together in the pains of labour until now" (Rom.8:22 Amplif.), yet mercifully "by
Him actions are weighed. The boughs of the mighty men are broken and they
that stumbled are girded with strength" (1Sam.2,3,4), again.. "by
Him."Col.1:16-20. Listen carefully beyond the moans. Surely now you can hear
the words and melody of a most beautiful song rising above the din. How utterly
glorious is that great and marvelous song of total victory; the song of Moses and
the song of the Lamb! Rev.15:3, 4.
*All scripture references other than those noted are from the KJV.
K. Ross McKay