A recognition of the primary purpose of GOD in the creation of the world is not a widely proclaimed truth in the present day. The average so called Christian today generally views the fall of Adam into sin as being an interruption of that purpose. It is widely taught that GOD made the world as a nice place for Adam to live, and gave Adam a free will and intended for him to remain a faithful and obedient servant. Yet GOD not wanting to influence him one way or the other, tested him or put him on probation to see if he would choose good or evil.
Then the teaching goes that; lo and behold Adam disobeyed GOD and caused the LORD to have to come up with a way to rescue HIS creature and so devised the scheme of redemption wherein CHRIST would come into the earth to die for men, with the hopes that some of them would see what a wonderful GOD HE really was and would embrace what CHRIST had done making it an effective means of their deliverance.
This makes for a nice fairy tale but there is no truth in it. The scripture plainly says of the LORD; “Declaring 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:” (Isa 46:10) HE changes not nor does HE ever alter HIS determined purpose. (see Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8)
The LORD’s purpose in the creation of the world is to magnify the glory of HIS grace in the sending forth of HIS SON to redeem HIS people which HE chose in CHRIST before the foundation of the world was ever laid. Before the firmament was created, in which the heavens and the earth now abide, the LORD had set HIS KING over all of that creation and HE fashioned every jot and tittle of it for HIS glory and pleasure.(see Revelation 4:11) By observing the things which do occur we can be certain what the purpose of GOD is because as David said, “Our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” (Psa 115:3)
The LORD JESUS CHRIST, the eternal and only begotten SON of GOD did ask and receive the heathen for HIS inheritance, according to Psalm 2 and then HIS purpose for them was revealed to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 when the LORD said, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
No attempt is mentioned nor is there any doubt that HE would accomplish exactly what HE came to do. “HE shall save HIS people from their sins.” This forms the very foundation upon which the gospel stands and is the basis for the glorious “good news” which is proclaimed by those sent into the earth with it. If CHRIST did not absolutely obtain the redemption of those for whom HE died, then we have no certain message of salvation to bring to fallen sinners.
It is an amazing turn of events and deceptions that has turned the preaching of the “gospel of the glory of the blessed GOD” (see 1 Timothy 1:11) into a weak kneed plea for men to let HIM save them by the addition of their faith to that which HE has accomplished. Preaching which does not proclaim the securing of redemption for those for whom HE died cannot be the gospel since we read, “Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb 9:11-12)
There is no uncertainty as to HIS purpose or HIS accomplishment of that purpose. HE has redeemed those who were HIS from before the foundation of the world. HE is magnified in that accomplishment as Paul declares, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1Cor 1:30-31)
Because of the everlasting justice of GOD we are certain that if a man’s sin is borne by JESUS CHRIST then it can never be charged to that man. Even as Augustus Toplady wrote:
From whence this fear and unbelief? Hast thou, O Father, put to grief
Thy spotless Son for me? And will the righteous Judge of men
Condemn me for that debt of sin Which, Lord, was charged on thee?
Now if all of the sin of every man in the world was laid on HIM, we are quite certain that every man in the world would be saved. However, the scriptures plainly declare that there is a number of the human race who shall be ultimately cast into the lake of fire. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:12-15)
We take no particular delight in this somber scene and the resultant destruction of the wicked, however this separation of the sheep from the goats does cause the saints of GOD to rejoice, as we contemplate the mercies of GOD which has spared us from a like fate. Our eyes are turned to Calvary’s cross and our exultation is the same as the apostle Paul’s when he said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal 6:14)
We rejoice not simply in our sonship, nor our resultant election unto salvation, but our rejoicing is at its fullest as we contemplate HIM who took upon HIMSELF our sin and imputed HIS righteousness to us when HE accomplished our redemption and took away our sin. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col 2:13-15)
This is HE who “is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isa 63:1) HE is our REDEEMER who has tread the winepress of GOD’s wrath alone and no man stood with HIM. Yet HE did triumph in our behalf and has delivered a complete and full salvation unto all of those for whom HE shed HIS precious blood. May HIS name be ever glorified for HE is worthy of all praise.
Complete atonement thou hast made, And to the utmost farthing paid
Whate’er thy people owed; How then can wrath on me take place,
If sheltered in thy righteousness, And sprinkled with thy blood?
If thou hast my discharge procured, And freely in my room endured
The whole of wrath divine, Payment God cannot twice demand,
First at my bleeding Surety’s hand, And then again at mine.
Turn, then, my soul, unto thy rest; The merits of thy great High Priest
Speak peace and liberty; Trust in his efficacious blood,
Nor fear thy banishment from God, Since Jesus died for thee.
Gadsby’s Hymns #227