The Purpose of the Ages

I. The Existence of the Ages
A. Before the ages - 1 Cor. 2:7; Jude 25
B. Hidden from the ages - Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26
C. From of age - Acts 3:21; 15:18
D. This present age - Gal. 1:4; Rom. 12:2
E. The age of this world - Eph. 2:2
F. The age to come - Heb. 6:5; Eph. 1:21
G. The ages to come - Eph. 2:7
H. The consummation of the age - Matt. 13:39-40; 24:3; 28:20
I. Into the age - Rom. 11:36; 16:27
J. Into the age of the ages - Gal. 1:5
K. Into all generations of the age of the ages - Eph. 3:21
II. The Significance of the Ages
A. The goal of all the ages - Heb. 1:2
B. The framing of the ages - Heb. 11:3 (cf. Heb. 10:5)
III. The Uniting Factor of All the Ages
A. The purpose of the ages - Eph. 3:11
B. Our daily life and purpose - Rom. 8:28-29
C. The purpose of the universe to inherit Christ - Eph. 1:10-11
D. The uniqueness of God's purpose - 2 Tim. 1:9
IV. The Formation of the Purpose
A. God's wisdom exhibited in Christ and the church - Eph. 3:10-11, 21
1. Blessed us in Christ - Eph. 1:3
2. Chose us in Christ - Eph. 1:4
3. Predestinated us through Jesus Christ - Eph. 1:5
4. Graced us in Christ - Eph. 1:6
5. Prepared for the church life as His master piece - Eph. 2:10
6. He planned out the universe in Him - Eph. 1:9-10; Col. 1:16-17
7. He created all things with Him - John 1:1-3
8. He made the ages with Him - Heb. 1:2
V. The Execution of the Purpose
A. Through the process of Jesus Christ
1. Incarnation - Rom. 8:3
2. Human living - Heb. 2:9-18
3. Crucifixion - 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:13-16
a) Making both one - Eph. 2:14
b) Making peace - Eph. 2:15
4. Resurrection - Eph. 1:19-23
5. Ascension - Eph. 1:21-23; Acts 2:32-36
6. Descension as the Spirit - Eph. 4:8-11
7. Producing His Body, the church - Eph. 1:22-23; 4:3-4
8. The consummation of His process in the church - Col. 1:16-18
B. Through His acts
1. Redemption - Eph. 1:7
2. Revelation - Eph. 1:8-9
3. Heading us up in Christ - Eph. 1:10
4. Making us an inheritance - Eph. 1:11-12
5. Saving us - Eph. 1:13
6. Guaranteeing us - Eph. 1:14
7. Making us alive together with Christ - Eph. 2:5
8. Raising us with Christ - Eph. 2:6
9. Seating us with Christ - Eph. 2:6
10. Displaying His kindness in Christ - Eph. 2:7
11. Making us one new man in Christ - Eph. 2:13-15
12. Making us His Body - Eph. 2:16; 3:6
13. Making us His family and His citizens - Eph. 2:19
14. Making us His building - Eph. 2:20-22