Ephesians 3:11
11 According to [kata] the eternal [aion] purpose [prothesis] which [hos] he purposed [poieo] in [en] Christ [Christos] Jesus [Iesous] our [hemon] Lord: [kurios] KJV-Interlinear
11 This
was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus
our Lord, NASB
Purpose, ‘prothesis,’
means resolve, plan, shew-bread (as in the temple tabernacle), setting forth,
place before, intent, design.
The word this, is a
reference to the previous verses, wherein Paul has listed the plan for salvation,
for humanity, for the ages and so forth.
God created the angels a
very long time ago. He must certainly
have told them of His plan in some form of detail, which they rejected at some
point. And thus the plan unfolded in the
form of humanity and was set out in the various dispensations of human history. This all culminating in our Church Age, as a
result of the historical occurrence of the Cross. Our dispensation summarizes
Gods overall intent and purpose, namely people universally indwelled by all
members of the Trinity, guided by doctrine, forever.
Our dispensation is
characterized by Gods control of history without being physically present, and
guiding human history through the completed canon of scripture. Of course we now only have the mere shadow
pattern of Gods plan, but in eternity we will all have a far better personal access
to God. But now, angels do not live
here, angels do not have the indwelling of God, angels do not have any control
of history or life. They can merely
watch and learn.
Christ completed
salvation and thus won the strategic victory of the angelic conflict. The tactical victory will occur at the Second
Advent.
But the point of this
verse is to make it very clear that God has a plan. He originated that plan in eternity past, and
that plan continues into eternity future. He has but one plan, not several
plans. He does not have a plan and then
renews or modifies it. God does not have
a series of plans or options and then engages one or another depending on how
the previous plan works out.
God decreed a single plan
in eternity past and that same single plan continues unchanged, unmodified, unencumbered,
unhindered, and will continue into eternity future.
And, furthermore, that
plan is centered on the person of Jesus Christ.
It was not centered on Mohammed, not on Allah, not on Brahman, not on
Buddha, not on anyone or anything else.
Jesus Christ is the single and sole focus of Gods plan.
Access to God (the
Father) is through Christ, salvation is through Christ, the spiritual life is
through Christ, the creation of all that is, is through Christ, judgment and
justice and righteousness are through Christ.
And that is why the world, Satan, religion, philosophy, and evil in
every aspect, opposes Christ, because evil rejects Gods plan and the mechanism
of Christ which is the central focus of Gods plan.
God purposed it, He made
it intentionally with Christ as the single objective and basis of His divine
plan.
There is only one Lord of
all, and that is Jesus Christ.
E-Books, E-Book Reader
Your Comments
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Subscription Options
