purpose p-u-r-p-o-s-e purpose
What is purpose? What does purpose mean? If you
look the word purpose up in a thesaurus dictionary, you'll find many
uses of the word purpose. As you know, a thesaurus dictionary
is a book of synonyms, different words that mean the same thing
or nearly the same. A thesaurus dictionary gives
you different uses and different meanings of the same word used
in different ways. We ask questions like, did your
house catch on fire accidentally? Was it an accident? Or was it
vandalism? Did someone do it on purpose? Did someone intentionally set
your house on fire is what we're asking. I went to the doctor
the other day and the assistant asked me, what's the purpose
of your visit? She was asking my motive. She
was asking my reason for making an appointment. The doctor wanted
to know why, he wanted to know the reason, the purpose, the
cause of my visit. What was the basis and the justification
of me making an appointment? Another way we use the word purpose
is to describe our plans. What is your purpose for doing
a particular thing? What's your purpose for going
to a particular place? What's your aim? What's your
goal? What's your objective in doing so? What is your aspiration? What's your ambition? What's
your purpose and your plan in this endeavor? Have you ever
had anyone ask you, what is your purpose in doing that? What they
mean is, what's the benefit in doing such and such? What advantage
is there? What value? What merit? What worth is it to you? The
word purpose could also mean function. What was the original
purpose of the building? What was the original function?
What was the original use of that structure? How was it used?
What role did it serve? Many ways to use the word purpose.
The word purpose could also mean determination and resolution. One who has purpose is said to
have backbone, to have dedication. Those young men worked at their
jobs with purpose, meaning they worked with dedication, with
resolve, with determination, commitment, and conviction. And used as a verb, the word
purpose often means a good intention, something we aim to do, something
we hope to get around to, something that we hope to do, something
that we plan to do, something that we propose to do, but maybe
never quite get around to it. I purposed to clean the garage
out, but never got around to it. Do you have things that you
never get around to? My dictionary defines the word
purpose as the reason for which something is done or created,
the reason for which something exists. It's God's purpose. that brings all things that exist
to pass. And all things created exist
according to the purpose of God. It doesn't take long to see that
most folks have a completely different definition and understanding
of God's will and God's purpose than I might have. God's purpose
is nothing like we naturally think it to be. I just gave you
several ways that natural men and women use the word purpose,
but they're nowhere close to being correct when aiming to
describe God's purpose. It's God that tells us why, because
our thoughts are not His thoughts, and our ways are not His ways.
Have we figured that out yet? He says, for as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and
my thoughts than your thoughts. You see, our problem in considering
God's purpose is tainted severely by our natural lack of understanding
of who God is. God said, your problem is that
you thought that you were altogether such a one as I am. And we're
nothing like Him. How is God's purpose different
than ours? Well, with God's purpose there
are no accidents. I'm going to give you five quick
things here. With God's purpose, there's no accidents. Everything
is done on purpose. God does everything intentionally. The first time the word purpose
is used in the Scripture is in the book of Ruth chapter 2. It
was there that Boaz commanded his men to let Ruth glean in
his field. But not only that, but that they
let some handfuls of purpose fall for her that she may glean
them. They were handfuls of purpose. left on purpose. Oh, He didn't leave her handfuls
of accidents. He didn't leave her handfuls
of ambitions. He didn't leave her handfuls
of hope. He left her handfuls of purpose. Boaz purposed to
redeem her. And redeem her he did. And that's
what our Boaz, the Lord Jesus Christ, purposed to do for His
elect people. God saves His people on purpose. Secondly, God's purpose needs
no motive or reason. God is sovereign. He simply does
whatsoever He pleases. He's omnipotent. He needs no
reason from another to act. God purposes to do whatever He
pleases, and God is pleased to do what He purposes. That's what
makes Him God. And none can stay His hand. None
can ask Him, what doest Thou? Whatsoever the Lord pleased,
that did He. He hath done whatsoever He hath
pleased. God needs no grounds or motivation
to exercise His purpose, the counsel of His own will. No,
sir. He's God. He answers to no one. Everything
He does, He does for the glory of His own great namesake. For
the Lord will not forsake His people for His own great namesake,
because it had pleased the Lord to make you His people. He purposed
it to be so. The Lord's pleased with everything
He purposed to do. Third thing, God's purpose is
not a plan. God's purpose is not a plan.
God has no plan. A plan is a proposal. God doesn't
make proposals. God purposes. God doesn't have
a plan for the future. God is Alpha and Omega. He's
the beginning and the end. And believe me that redemption
in Christ was not a backup plan. Not a backup plan that God came
up with because Adam caught him off guard with his sin. You can't
catch God off guard. God is God. He purposed Adam's
sin and disobedience. He didn't catch God off guard.
Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
And God purposed before time ever was to glorify Himself and
His Son in the redemption of ungodly people like you and I
made perfect. Did you know the words plan?
Plans. Planned. are not even found in
the scripture. We talk about God has a wonderful
plan for your life. No, He doesn't. God's purposed. And if He's purposed to save
you, you'll be saved. That brings me to the next thing.
Fourthly, God's purpose is sovereign. As we said, God doesn't need
a reason to do something. God does something because it
simply seemed good in His sight. Matthew 11, 26. God does something
because it's lawful for Him to do what He will with His own.
And it all belongs to Him. He just simply pleased the Lord
to save you. No other reason was required.
God determines and God does what He wants to. And that brings
me to the fifth and the final difference between God's purpose
and ours. God's purpose is not just a good
intention. I always had good intentions.
My mother told me often that good intentions paved the road
to hell. I know what she means. We kind
of like our getting around to it. We just never do, do. But
God is not a God of good intentions. God is a God of sovereign purpose. God doesn't aim to do anything. God does. God never aims and
misses. God never comes up short. God
never misses His target. Never. God doesn't hope to get
around to doing something. God's purpose is not something
that He plans to do. Turn with me to Romans chapter
8. Romans chapter 8 verse 28. Many of you know and can quote
this verse by heart, but when speaking of God's purpose, what
better place to start? Look at verse 28, Romans 8. And
we know, who does? God's people. We know that All
things work together for good. Now let me interpose a question
right here. For whom do all things work together
for good? He tells us right here. Is it
everybody? Is it the whole world? Is it everyone in the world?
No, it tells us very plainly who God works everything together
for good for here. First, to them that love God. Secondly, to be called according
to His purpose. All the good things that God
does in this world, He does for the sake of His elect people.
He causes all things to work together for their good. Who? To them that love God. To them that are be called according
to His purpose. Did you notice that this is a
title here? They are called THE called. You
see how distinguishing that is? They are THE called. They are
a specific people. They are THE called according
to God's purpose. What is God's purpose? Verse
29, For whom He did foreknow, whom He did know beforehand.
In other words, for whom God purposed, He also did predestinate,
meaning predetermine. God predetermining something
is God purposing something. They are one and the same. Well,
what did God predetermine to do for those that He knew beforehand? He predetermined them to be conformed
to the image of Jesus Christ, the image of God's dear Son. And because God knew His elect
beforehand, and because He predetermined to save them, because He predestinated
them, He purposed them beforehand, He then called them, He then
justified them, and one day soon He's going to glorify them. Every
single one of them. Why? Because He determined to
do so. He purposed to do so. Look at
Romans 9 verse 11. Here God tells us about two twin
boys that hadn't been born. Twins not yet born. Verse 11.
For the children being not yet born, neither having done any
good or evil, that the purpose, the purpose of God according
to election might stand. What is the purpose of God according
to election? That we should understand that
salvation is not of works, but of Him, of God, that calleth.
Now here's the purpose of God. Are you interested? Salvation
is not of your works. Salvation is according to election,
God's choosing. Not due to any good that you've
done. Not prohibited by any evil that you've done. God's election
stands in this. It's not of man's works. but
of Him, of God that calleth. It's God that calls, so salvation's
of the Lord. Now I found this very interesting.
The original Greek word for purpose in this verse means to expose. It actually gives reference to
the exposing of God. This could be correctly read
that the exposing of God according to election might stand. God's
election, friends, exposes Him. Now what do I mean by that? It
exposes Him as God. What He purposes comes to pass. God says, surely as I have thought,
so shall it come to pass. And as I have purposed, so shall
it stand. Isaiah 14, 24. And we just read
in Romans chapter 9, purpose the exposing of God according
to election might stand. What message has stood the test
of time? The gospel message. The message
of the cross. And that message is not of works. Do you see that? It is not of
works, but of Him, of God, they call it. Salvations of the Lord. The Greek word for purpose in
verse 11 also means setting forth. The setting forth. The doctrine
of election is the setting forth. The exposing of God. And it's done so according to
election. In election, God is revealed.
Election is not salvation. Christ is salvation. We know
that. But election reveals the kind
of God that saves. Are you following me? It's the
God of sovereign election that saves. Election is the reason
that God loved Jacob. God loved Jacob in His elect,
the Lord Jesus. There was no reason outside of
Himself, no reason apart from God's grace for God to love Jacob. He was a scoundrel. He was a
deceiver. He was a supplanter. You know
what? So are we. That's right. So are we. God's people understand
how God could hate Esau, because we understand how He could hate
us. But God's people have difficulty understanding how God could love
Jacob. You know why? Because we don't
see how God could love us. But He does, and it's only in
Christ. So we see that the word purpose
means to expose, it means to set forth God according to election,
and that simply means that in election we see who God is and
how He saves sinners. And to prove this very thing
concerning the exposing and the setting forth of God in election,
Paul in verse 15 adds, For He, God, saith unto Moses, I will
have mercy on whom I'll have mercy, and I'll have compassion
on whom I'll have compassion. Now let me ask you a question.
Does that sound like God looked ahead in time and saw who would
choose Him, and who would love Him, and who would be little
good boys and girls, and that God would purpose to save them
based on their actions? Does that sound like a God that
would do that? No, sir. Not at all. Absolutely
not. God purposes. God decides. God determines. God chooses whom
He'll have mercy and compassion on. Therefore, teaching us very
clearly what verse 16 says is so. Look at it. So then it, what? Salvation, the mercy, grace,
and compassion of God is not of him that will it. nor of him
that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." You see, it didn't
have anything to do with your way. It doesn't have anything
to do with your work. Salvation is of God who shows
mercy. Look at verse 17. For the Scriptures
saith, or God saith, the same thing. For God saith to Pharaoh,
even for this same purpose, have I raised thee up, that I might
show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout
all the earth. Now God dealt purposely with
Pharaoh. This was God's purpose in dealing
with him. First, that God might show forth
His power in His dealings with Pharaoh. He certainly did that.
And secondly, that God's mighty name might be, and God's mighty
power I might add, might be declared throughout all the earth. And
it certainly was. That was God's purpose. It was
for the glory of His own great name. Paul told Timothy in 2
Timothy 1 verse 9, he said, God who had saved us and called us
with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to
His own purpose and grace which was given us. Given us where? In Christ Jesus. When? Before
the foundation of the world. What did you have to do with
that? It wasn't according to our words. What was it according
to? According to His, God's own will and purpose. Folks need
to dust this book off and read it. This is God's Word to us. Look at Romans chapter 3. Turn
back a few pages. Verse 25. Paul says, whom God has set forth. If you've got a marginal Bible,
you may notice that the word set forth here in verse 25 means
foreordained. Whatever God foreordained or
ordained beforehand, that's what the word means. That's what He
purposed. That's what foreordained means. God has set forth, God hath purposed
Jesus Christ who justifies us freely according to verse 24.
God purposed Christ to be a propitiation. Now that's a big word, isn't
it? Kind of hard to say, difficult to spell. But propitiation simply
means appeasement. What does appeasement mean? It
means to appease. What does appease mean? It means
to satisfy. To satisfy God, to satisfy His
law, to satisfy His justice, God purposed before the foundation
of the world that Christ the Lamb slain, who was slain before
the foundation of the world, God purposed that in time He
would shed His blood and that that blood would propitiate,
that blood would satisfy the wrath, judgment, and justice
of God that was against His elect. This propitiation is said to
be through faith in Christ's blood. Perpetuation is found
in trusting the shed blood of Christ to satisfy every single
sin against God and all our sins against Him. Ephesians 1.7 tells
us in whom? Christ Jesus. We have redemption
through His blood. That's where we have redemption.
the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. Paul
said in Colossians 1.14, in whom, speaking of Christ, we have redemption
through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Now this faith in His
blood is nothing for us to take any glory in. And the reason
is that we're saved by grace through faith, and neither the
grace nor the faith are given because of something that you
and I have done. No, as He says, it's not of yourselves. Both are the gifts of God. Both
grace and the faith that God gives us to believe. They're
God's gifts to us. You didn't work up your faith.
It was a gift of God. It's not our faith in Christ
that saves us, it's the faith of Christ that does. Our faith
is weak even at best. The Lord called His closest disciples. Many times He referred to them
as, O ye of little faith. And we certainly are. But God
purposed our redemption and His satisfaction is to be made in,
by, and through faith in Christ's blood. And by the way, that's
God's blood. Do you have faith in His blood?
Are you relying on and in what Christ has done for you in order
to save you? Friends, He shed His blood. Do
you have faith in His blood? Verse 26, to declare, to preach,
I say at this time His righteousness, not ours, that He might be just
and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. The only
thing that God will accept from you, dear sinner, is the perfect
righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if it was something
you and I did, why would Paul ask, where is boasting then?
And then why would he answer his own question and say, it's
excluded. Friends, it's excluded because
you and I can't do what God's law and justice require. And
Christ had to do it for us in order for us to be saved. He
had to give us life and faith to believe it or we never would
have. Do you believe what I'm telling you? Listen to this verse
in Job chapter 23. Job said, but He, speaking of
God, is in one mind, and who can turn Him? And what His soul
desire, even that He doeth. Now that verse pretty much says
it all. Who can turn God? What His soul desires, that's
what He does. He's an unchangeable God. He
has an invariable will. His grace is immutable. It's
unchanging. His gifts and His calling are
without repentance, without change. Everything God does, He does
on purpose. We talk about divine providence.
Oh, I tell you, if I didn't know something about God's divine
providence, I'd go crazy. I'd go crazy worrying and fretting
about everything. Well, what about this? What about
that? I know because I used to do that. Until God showed me
He's on the throne. And that everything that comes
to pass is working together for my good. According to the counsel
of His own will. And everything's going to be
just fine. He's in one mind. He has a fixed and a settled
purpose. So could we. So could we. Every purpose of the Lord will
be performed. Jeremiah 51 29. All things happen
according to the eternal purpose which is purposed in Christ Jesus
our Lord. Ephesians 3 11. The Lord is in
one mind. Who can turn it? God's purpose
remains unchanged. You know that God never responds. God never reacts. God has no
contingency plans. God's purpose is unchanging. Whatever His purpose was, that
His purpose still is. Whatever His purpose is, His
purpose will always be. I am the Lord, I changeth not.
Therefore, here's why you sons of Jacob are not consumed. I
chose you before the foundation of the world. I gave you to my
Son. And you're going to come. Because my calling is effectual. And you'll be justified. And
one day you'll be glorified. Because that's God's will and
purpose for you. Have you ever heard such? To
everything there is a season. And a time to every purpose under
the heaven. To everything there is a season.
What is a season? Well, it's an appointed time.
It's an occasion. Do you know what an appointed
occasion is? It's the purpose and the providence of God. The
word appointment usually has to do with a time that's determined
or decided by at least two parties. But divine appointment involves
only one. Only one. God. It's an appointment
that is determined and decided by God alone. Human life is by
divine appointment. Genesis 18, 14. Is anything too
hard for the Lord? At the time appointed, I will
return unto thee according to the time of life, and Sarah shall
have a son. Well, Sarah's 90 years old, and
her husband's 100. How are they going to have a
son? Because God purposed it. Our death and judgment is by
divine appointment. Hebrews 9, 27. And it is appointed
unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment. And God's
the one who purposes, decides, and determines these things.
Not us. So preacher, you believe that
God purposed and elected and predestinated a people to hell,
don't you? No. No sir, I don't believe that
at all. Predestination has nothing to
do with hell. God predestinated people to be
like Christ. God predetermined, God purposed
His elect to be conformed to the very image of His Son. Predestination
has nothing to do with judgment. Predestination has nothing to
do with damnation. Predestination has everything
to do with what God's elect people are going to be. They're going
to be conformed to the image of Christ. They're going to put
on incorruption. They're going to put on immortality.
They're going to be just like Christ. Just like Him. Let me close with this. I love
the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. God predestinated,
God predetermined, and God purposed that Joseph would one day rule
in Egypt. How did Joseph get there? By
the means that God devised. He got there by the will and
the purpose of God predetermined before the world ever was. He
was hated by his brothers. God was behind that. He was thrown
into a pit and told to be dead, and then sold into Egyptian slavery. God was behind that. He served
in Potiphar's house. He was accused of rape. He was
accused of raping the master's wife, which he did not do. And
he was thrown into prison for several years. He was forgotten
by those who promised to remember him. Then after that, you know
the story, Pharaoh had some dreams, and the cupbearer remembered
Joseph and told the king about him. He went and interpreted
the dreams, and the next thing, God raised him to the throne
of Egypt, only under Pharaoh. What a story. Now let me ask
you, where was God when all that was happening to Him? Genesis
39 verse 21 says, The Lord was with Joseph. He was with him
in the pit. He was with Him in Potiphar's
house. He was with Him in the prison. And He was with Him on
the throne. Oh my, Christ didn't come into
the world to condemn the world. The world was already condemned.
Christ came into the world to seek and to save that which was
lost. Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners. To save those who have a need
of a physician. Do you have a need? Preacher,
you believe that a man is elected to salvation. He will be saved
no matter what. Why do you even preach if a man
is elected? Won't he be saved if he never
hears the gospel? If he never believes on Christ?
No, no, no. I don't believe that at all.
Who told you that? Somebody lying on me. Somebody
lying on God. Christ said, you go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And he that
believeth, he that believeth, did you hear that? He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be
damned. It pleased God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe. Do you know what that
means? If God purposed to save you, He's going to put you under
the sound of true preaching of the gospel. I believe the gospel
is what you've heard preached this morning. God's purpose. God's purpose. God does everything
on purpose. God saves His people on purpose. Do you believe? If not, may God
enable you to do so right now. And if He does, and if you believe
today, He purposed it before the foundation of the world.
You say, I don't understand that. Guess what? Neither do I. But I believe it with all my
heart. Don't you? I know you do. I see you smiling. Your purpose salvation is in,
by, and through the work, righteousness, and blood of another. And His
name's Jesus Christ, and He's none other than God. And if He
purposed to save you, you'll be saved. Isn't that a comforting
thing to know? May God make it effectual to
your heart and to mine.