Knowing the Eternal Purpose
I. The Definition of the Eternal Purpose
- A. That which was hidden in God - Eph. 3:9b
- B. The purpose of creation - Eph. 3:9c
- C. That which exhibits God's multifarious wisdom - Eph. 3:10
- D. That which God has done in Christ Jesus - Eph. 3:10-11
- 1. He released His good pleasure in Him - Eph. 1:5
- 2. He planned out the universe in Him - Eph. 1:9-10; Col. 1:16-17
- 3. He created all things with Him - John 1:1-3
- 4. He made the ages with Him - Heb. 1:2
- 5. He graced (provided for, covered, and supplied) us in Him - Eph.
1:6
- 6. He produced the eternal purpose in Him
- a) Through incarnation - Rom. 8:3
- b) Through His human living -
- c) Through His crucifixion - 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:13-16
- d) Through His resurrection - Eph. 1:19-23
- e) Through His ascension - Eph. 1:21-23
- f) Through His descension as the Spirit - Eph. 4:8-11
- g) Through His Body, the church - Eph. 1:22-23; 4:3-4
II. The Administration of the Eternal Purpose
- A. The administration embodied in the original apostles - Eph. 3:1-5,
7-8a
- B. The nature of knowing the eternal purpose
- 1. Revelation - Eph. 3:3-5; 1 Cor. 2:9-12
- 2. Reading with comprehension - Eph. 3:4
- 3. Enjoyment of Christ and enlightenment - Eph. 3:8b-9
- C. The content of the eternal purpose
- 1. Organically the Body in Christ Jesus - Eph. 3:6
- 2. Meeting together as the assembly - Eph. 3:9-10
- D. The experience that can bring in the eternal purpose
- 1. Being full of faith through trials - Eph. 3:12-13
- 2. Being full of prayer according to the eternal purpose - Eph.
3:14
- 3. Strengthened into the inner man - Eph. 3:15-16
- 4. Christ settling down in us - Eph. 3:17a
- 5. Being full of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ - Eph.
3:17b-19a
- 6. Being filled unto the fullness of God - Eph. 3:19b
- E. The expectation for the eternal purpose - Eph. 3:20-21