God's Wonderful Purpose

by G. E. HORNE | Category: General | Sept 1944

This heading is suggested by the words of Ephesians 3.11, "the eternal purpose," or, as the margin of the Revised Version shews, literally, "the purpose of the ages." We conclude that this is God's great transcendent purpose. "Things which eye saw not,, and ear heard not, and which entered not into the heart of man, whatsoever things God prepared for them that love Him. But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2.9, 10). Surely this wonderful purpose of God is among these things. It was not made known in past generations, as we learn from the earlier verses of this chapter (Ephesians 3.), though, we believe, it lay hidden in the types of the Old Testament. These can only be understood in the light of New Testament revelation.

That redeemed men of all nations-Jews and Gentiles-are now joined in an eternal and indissoluble union to Christ and to one another is a glorious truth. How little we enter into this blessed relationship What a transformation it would make in our lives if it were more fully appreciated! This union of Christ and His members is so close and real that it is spoken of as" the Christ" (I Corinthians 12.12). Those forming this blessed company are called "the Church which is His (Christ's) body (Ephesians 1.22, 28). What brings them into this Church is baptism in the Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus. Every believer at the time of the new birth is baptised in one Spirit into one body, and is "sealed with the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12. 18; Ephesians 1.18).

It is God's unalterable purpose that every member of Christ's body shall be conformed to the image of His Son. All such are embraced in this purpose, and were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1.14; Romans 8.28-30).

"With such a blessed hope in view,

We would more holy be;

More like our risen, glorious Lord,

Whose face we soon shall see."

It is God's desire that we shall now "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3.18). Paul travailed for the Galatians, that Christ might be formed in them (Galatians 4.19). He could say, "I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me " (Galatians 2.20). The Holy Spirit indwells all believers with the object of producing in each His lovely fruit, which was seen in full perfection in the Lord Himself. If we allow the Spirit to work unhindered, then indeed shall we be" a sweet savour of Christ unto God." We shall be a mighty power for God, and a great blessing to others.

If we realise that all believers are fellow-members of the one body, this will make us very loving towards each one. We shall feel their sorrows, and rejoice in their honours, as though these were our own (1 Corinthians 12.26). Entering into this precious truth will eliminate jealousy and faction.

Believers were first baptised in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and it was then the Lord Jesus began to build His Church. It is built upon the Rock (Christ) and against it all the power of Hades cannot prevail (Matthew 16. 18).

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I cannot desert to its foes

That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,

I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

When the Church is complete, we understand, the Lord will come to take it to Himself.

"Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing" (Ephesians 5.25-27). A careful reading of this chapter would surely lead to the conclusion that the Church, which is Christ's body, is also the Bride of the Lamb. Marriage is certainly brought before us, and we are taken back to the institution of this ordinance in Eden. We are reminded of what is said of the first bride: "The rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man made He (builded He into) a woman " taken from his side during a deep sleep, into which God had caused him to fall.

Graphic figure this, we believe, of Christ's death. From His wounded side the Church is being built. A man should love his wife because she is part of himself, "bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh." For the same reason the Lord Jesus loves His Church: it is His body.

God said concerning the first Adam, "It is not good that the man should be alone "(Genesis 2.18). So it is not good that the last Adam, the Head of the. new creation, should be alone, therefore God has given Him one to share His glory. In His exaltation far above all created things, the Church will be associated with Him. Joseph was alone in his sufferings; he was alone when he was bound in the pit, when sold as a slave, and when in the prison, but Asenath, who had no share in these trials, was associated with him in his glory. A foreshadowing surely of Christ and the Church.

"Alone He bare the cross,

Alone its grief sustained;

His was the shame and loss,

And He the victory gained.

The mighty work was all His own,

Though we shall share His glorious throne."

Christ's love for the Church, for which He gave Himself, is faintly prefigured in Jacob, who loved Rachel, and served seven years for her, "and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her" (Genesis 29.20).

The Bridegroom and bride are suggested to the mind of the writer in this delightful epistle to the Ephesians. Paul was commissioned to preach unto the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ " (chapter 3.8). This takes us back in thought to Isaac and Rebekah. God had blessed Abraham, who had become great and rich. All that he had he had given to his son Isaac. Abraham sent his servant to get a bride for Isaac. Into the ears of Rebekah the servant pours the story of Isaac, of his greatness, his riches, and her heart is won. Then comes the question, "Wilt thou go with this man?" and her loving response, "I will go" (Genesis 24.). God has given all authority in heaven and on earth to the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28.18). The Holy Spirit, of whom Abraham's servant speaks, is now, through God's servants, telling the story of the unsearchable riches of Christ, arid winning for Him a bride. The sinner's heart is ravished by the story of Him who is" altogether lovely" ; the decision is made," I will go."

When God would tell of the precious relationship existing between Christ and the Church, He uses as a figure the closest and most sacred of human relationships that of husband and wife. No other could adequately set forth this close and indissoluble union.

Soon shall we hear the Bridegroom's voice calling us up to be for ever with Himself. Till then may we be faithful to Him, and not" be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ" (2 Corinthians 11. 8).

G. E. HORNE | Sept 1944
General