God's Divine Purpose for the World

Who am I? Who am I? Why am I here Why am I here for?for?

U in God's P_RPOSE: Session 1: God's Divine Purpose

Who am I? Who am I? Why am I here Why am I here for?for?“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.”

- Apostle Paul in Eph.1:3-6


Who am I? Who am I? Why am I here Why am I here for?for?

“You were made by God and for God and until you understand that, life will never make sense.”- Rick Warren


in God’s P RPOSEU

Our Focus

U in God's P_RPOSE: Introduction

• Find out the purpose of God for us and Find out the purpose of God for us and

the world the world

• The Fulfilment of God’s purpose in The Fulfilment of God’s purpose in

history hithertohistory hitherto

• Understanding our individual roles in Understanding our individual roles in

accomplishing the overall purpose of accomplishing the overall purpose of

GodGod Slide 6

Introduction 1God’s Divine

Purpose

2God’s

Purpose - The History

of its Fulfillment

3God’s

Purpose - Where are we now?

4God’s

Purpose – Where do I

fit in?

U in God’s P RPOSE

What is God’s Divine Purpose for the World?

U in God's P_RPOSE: Session 1: God's Divine Purpose Slide 8

God’s Divine Purpose

Revelation in parts and parcels & Revelation in parts and parcels & lock, stock and Barrel lock, stock and Barrel


GOD@ Work

John 5: 17


God has a plan for the World


History is not a random flow of History is not a random flow of events. For events. For God is working out in out in

time time a plan which he conceived in a which he conceived in a past eternity and past eternity and will consummate

in a future eternity.in a future eternity.John StottJohn Stott


What is God’s Plan for the World?


•God’s plan is eternal, which is accomplished only through Christ Jesus (Eph.3:11)

•The plan of God remained a mystery for sometime. It was not very clear for the Old Testament people (Eph.3:8-9)

What is God’s Plan for the World?


•But now in the New Testament times through Jesus Christ the mystery is now made known to us (Eph.1:19-10)

•And the purpose of God is to sum up all things in Christ and create a new humanity (Eph. 1:10, 2:14-15)

What is God’s Ultimate Plan for the World?


God’s plan and purpose is to Establish his kingdom on Earth by summing up all things in Christ and creating a new humanity

Flash Back!


•The World and all in it belongs to Him. He is the rightful ruler (Gen.1:1). Man was created as God’s representative (Gen.1;26-29).

•The purpose of God’s creation was to show forth his glory (Ps.19:1, Isa.43:7)

•Sin (Satan) separated mankind from God and marred the glory of God (Rom. 5:12 & 3:23, 8:22). “There is no one who acknowledges God.” “The whole of creation in groaning…”

Flash Back!


•Satan usurped God’s rule in the world by deceiving people (Jn. 14:30)

•To win back his glory and reign among his creation God sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ into the World.

•Jesus through his death on the cross of Calvary and resurrection crushed Satan and his power.

And now...


•Now God is reconciling the world unto Himself through Jesus Christ. II Cor. 5:18

•He has already started the glorious task of establishing his kingdom. He is creating a new humanity.

And very soon..


He will reign supreme over everything

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil.2:9-11

How does God go about fulfilling his Divine Purpose?

For this we look at History – For this we look at History – His StoryHis Story•The story of the BibleThe story of the Bible•The story of the ChurchThe story of the Church


Genesis-RevelationPresents a unified story of God @ Work

• Genesis 1-11: Creation, Fall, Judgement, Nations

• Genesis 12-Jude: Salvation plan unfolds through the nation of Israel & reaches its pinnacle with the coming of Jesus Christ and formation of the Church

• Revelation: Gives a glimpse of the culmination of God’s divine purpose


The story of the Bible...


HHuman beings have always been at the centre of God’s strategy – Individuals & Communities

The Story of the Bible...


GGod calls out individuals first and then reaches out to others.

GGod calls out a nation (Israel) and reaches out to others (Gentiles).



• Abraham (Gen 12)Abraham (Gen 12)

• I'll make you a great nation and bless you. I'll make you famous; you'll be a blessing. I'll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I'll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you."

• Promise to Isaac

• Promise to Jacob

Slide 24

IsraelIsraelGentilesGentiles

//nationsnations



• The nation of Israel was called to be The nation of Israel was called to be

a light to other nations/ instrument in a light to other nations/ instrument in

drawing others to God (Exo.19:5-6, drawing others to God (Exo.19:5-6,

Ps.67, Isa.25:6-7, 49:6)Ps.67, Isa.25:6-7, 49:6)

• However, they failed many a time to However, they failed many a time to

be the light to nations – idolatry, be the light to nations – idolatry,

immorality, indifference, immorality, indifference,

ethnocentricism, etc ethnocentricism, etc



•In spite of their failures, God used Israel in In spite of their failures, God used Israel in fulfilling his purposes: fulfilling his purposes:

•Exodus 7:4-5 (The Egyptians knew...)Exodus 7:4-5 (The Egyptians knew...)

•1 Samuel 17:45 – 46 (The Philistines knew...)1 Samuel 17:45 – 46 (The Philistines knew...)

•Jonah 1-4 (The Assyrians knew...)Jonah 1-4 (The Assyrians knew...)

•Daniel 4:1-3 (The Babylonians knew...)Daniel 4:1-3 (The Babylonians knew...)•The Ancient Near East (ANE) knew the God of The Ancient Near East (ANE) knew the God of Israel – Joshua 6/Jonah 1Israel – Joshua 6/Jonah 1



Slide 27

•God in his appointed time sends Jesus into God in his appointed time sends Jesus into the world – A significant step in God’s the world – A significant step in God’s divine plan (summing up...) - Matthew 1:1, divine plan (summing up...) - Matthew 1:1, Acts 3:25-26, Galatians 3:8 Acts 3:25-26, Galatians 3:8

•All those who believe (both Israelites & All those who believe (both Israelites & Gentiles) are now called the holy nation (I Gentiles) are now called the holy nation (I Pet.2:9)Pet.2:9)

•The book of Acts describes how the The book of Acts describes how the Church carried out its task – Acts 2, 8, 10, Church carried out its task – Acts 2, 8, 10, 19...19...



Slide 28


Overview of Acts:

Witness in Jerusalem 1:1-6:7Witness in Judea and Samaria 6:8 – 9:31Witness to ends of the earth 9:32- 28:31

Extension to Antioch 9:32 – 12:24Extension to Asia Minor 12:25 – 16:5Extension to Greece 16: 6- 19:20Extension to Rome 19:21 – 28:31


During all these periods of history, the promised blessing – and the expected mission to share that blessing with the other nations of the world – all but disappear from the sight, as a result where possible God accomplished His will through the Voluntary Obedience and godliness of his people. But where necessary He does His will through involuntary means.

- Ralph Winter


Going Voluntary: Minor prophets to preach in nearby nation (OT)/ Paul & Barnabas (NT)

Going Involuntary: Joseph in Egypt (OT)/ Philip to Samaria (NT)

Coming Voluntary: Naaman the Syrian (OT)/ Cornelius sends for Peter (NT)

Coming Involuntary: Gentiles settled in Israel by Cyrus (OT)/ Roman military occupation in Galilee

...now continues as the ...now continues as the story of the Church.... story of the Church....


The story of the Bible...The story of the Bible...

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God's Divine Purpose for the World

Spiritual

Transcript of God's Divine Purpose for the World