1115 God, purpose of
God has a plan for his creation which he will certainly accomplish. It is carried out through the control of circumstances and his choice and use of people, and above all in the life, death, resurrection and second coming of Jesus Christ.
God’s purpose will be accomplished
Isa 46:10-11 See also Ps 135:6; Pr 16:4; Ecc 3:14; Isa 14:24,26-27; Isa 25:1; Isa 55:11; Eph 1:11
God’s purpose prevails
It stands for ever Ps 33:11 See also Job 42:2; Jer 23:20
It cannot be thwarted by human beings Pr 19:21 See also Job 9:12; Job 23:13; Isa 8:10; Da 4:35
It cannot be thwarted by evil powers Rev 17:17 See also 1Sa 16:14 The implication is that evil is subject to God’s control and operates within the determined limits of his sovereign purpose; Job 1:12; Job 2:6; 2Co 12:7
It prevails in people’s lives and circumstances Pr 16:9 See also Pr 20:24; Pr 21:1
It is fulfilled through his choice of individuals Eph 1:11 God’s choice of individuals does not invalidate their free will to do or not to do anything, nor remove their answerability to God for their actions. See also Ge 18:19; Ro 11:5; 1Co 1:1; Eph 1:4-5; 2Th 2:13
Examples of the actions of evil people serving God’s purpose Ac 2:23 See also Ge 50:20; Isa 10:5-7
God’s purpose is founded on divine wisdom
Eph 3:10-11 See also Ps 104:24; Ro 11:33
God’s purpose is determined from eternity
2Ti 1:9 See also 2Ki 19:25; Isa 25:1; Isa 46:10; Mt 25:34; Eph 1:4; Tit 1:2; 1Pe 1:20
God’s purpose is for his own glory
Ex 9:16 See also Ro 9:17; Eze 36:22-23; Eph 1:5-6,11-12
God’s purpose for his people
God reveals his purpose to his people Am 3:7 See also Ge 18:17; 2Sa 7:20-21; 1Co 2:9-10; Eph 1:9
Its fulness is beyond human understanding Ro 11:33 See also Dt 29:29; 1Co 2:9-10; Eph 1:9; Eph 3:4-5
It is good and loving Ro 8:28 See also Jer 29:11; Ro 12:2; Eph 1:4-5; 2Ti 1:9
God’s purpose is revealed through Jesus Christ
In the church Eph 3:10-11
It centres on the cross Isa 53:10 See also Ac 4:27-28; 1Pe 1:19-20; 1Jn 4:10
It is God’s purpose to redeem the world through the cross Mt 26:18,45 Jesus Christ often speaks of his appointed “hour”. In John’s Gospel in particular his “hour” refers to the cross. Jesus Christ refuses to allow anything except the cross to be the climax of his ministry (Jn 12:27). pp Mk 14:41; Jn 7:6-8; Jn 12:23; Jn 13:1; Jn 17:1
It is God’s purpose to exalt and establish Jesus Christ as Lord Eph 1:9-10 See also Ac 2:36; Php 2:8-11; Col 1:18; Heb 1:2-4
Jesus Christ submits to God’s purpose Jn 6:38 See also Mt 26:39-42 pp Mk 14:35-36 pp Lk 22:42; Jn 4:34; Jn 5:30; Heb 5:7-8; Heb 10:7
God’s ultimate purpose is to save
The salvation of people through Jesus Christ Jn 6:40 See also Jn 3:16-17; Gal 1:3-4; 1Ti 2:3-4; 1Pe 1:2; 2Pe 3:9
Specific aspects of God’s purpose in salvation 2Co 5:5 knowing heavenly life; Ro 8:29 being conformed to Jesus Christ; Eph 1:4 being holy and blameless; Eph 2:15 becoming unified; Eph 3:10-11 that the wisdom of God be revealed
God wills that people submit to his purposes
Jas 4:15 See also Ps 40:8; Ps 143:10; Mt 6:10
God’s people should pray for the fulfilment of his purposes
People can reject God’s purposes in their lives
See also Lk 7:30; Lk 19:41-42; Ac 13:46Examples of God’s purposes being worked out
Ge 45:5-9 in the life of Joseph Through Cyrus: Isa 41:2,25; Isa 45:1,13; Isa 46:11; Isa 48:14 In the life of Paul: Ac 18:21; Ac 21:14; Ro 1:10; Ro 15:32; 1Co 4:19