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Life in the Bible Club
Maple Woods College

Bible Study Outlines

September 29, 2005

God's Eternal Purpose and His Marvelous Rescue of Fallen Man

  1. God's marvelous rescue of fallen man
    1. The Bible, and especially the New Testament, describes a marvelous rescue by the Triune God of fallen man who was stolen unrighteously by God's enemy, Satan, ruined by the Sin which consequently dwells in the flesh, and then man thru disobedience not only became one with God's enemy, but also became God's enemy himself.
      - Romans 7:18 - For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but to work out the good is not. Read footnote 182 in the Recovery Version.
      - Romans 5:8-10 - 8 But God commends His own love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified in His blood, we will be saved through Him from the wrath. 10 For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled
      - 2 Corinthians 5:18 - But all things are out from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
  2. God's eternal purpose is much more that just to be saved from hell with a ticket to go to heaven when we die.
    1. Saved from eternal death in the lake of fire
      We were saved from God's condemnation in the lake of fire by being reconciled to God. Thus, we no longer share the fate of Satan and his fallen angels. This much more salvation frees us from condemnation so that we might begin to live a new life by the zoe life that was "born" into us.
    2. At best, just to be saved us from the lake of fire and being reconciled to God (in our experience) only brings back to our position in the garden of Eden.
  3. God's Eternal Purpose
    1. In previous weeks we have seen that God sent his Son that man may believe "into" Him (John 3:16) and receive into his vessel the zoe life of God, which is the eternal, uncreated life of God. Thus, in Ephesians, Chapter 3 we see that God desires that Christ make home in our hearts, and that eventually we be "filled unto all the fullness of God."
    2. This eternal purpose began in eternity past and will stretch to eternity future.
      - Ephesians 3:11 - According to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
      - Ephesians 2:7 - That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
    3. Because of our salvation we have been joined to God in spirit.
      - John 3:6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
      - 1 Corinthians 6:17 - But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
    4. The first creation is just a background and preparation to the "new" one.
      - Zechariah 12:1 The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Thus declares Jehovah, who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him.
      - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, they have become new.
    5. Described as a "masterpiece" and the "one new man" in Ephesians chapter 2.
      - Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them. Read the footnote on masterpiece carefully. (footnote 101)
      - Ephesians 2:15 - Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace,
    6. In Genesis the name "Adam" is plural in the original language. Thus, there is an old man, Adam, and a new man, Christ. The Bible calls this new man the Body of Christ, the church. Thus the head of the church becomes the life supplier to every member of the Body.
      - Ephesians 1:22-23 - And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, 23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
      - 1 Corinthians 15:45b - So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul"; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.
      - Ephesians 5:29-30 - For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the church, 30 Because we are members of His Body.
    7. The Father God desires to produce a corporate man, the Body, which when matured and without spot or wrinkle is a spotless bride. This bride marries Christ upon His return to this earth, and in eternity enjoys a married life being the wife of the Lamb.
      - Ephesians 5:25-27 - Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word, 27 That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.
      - Revelation 21:2 - And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
      - Revelation 21:9 - And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

 

NOTE: The footnotes referenced in the outlines are from the The Holy Bible, Recovery Version © 2003 Living Stream Ministry. An online Recovery Version may be searched for verses and footnotes at: The Holy Bible, Online Recovery Version. You may also obtain a free Recovery Version New Testament by filling out a request form on the Bibles for America website.