GOD’S PLAN FOR MAN

In the middle of writing this study guide, I came to realize that unless the Body of Christ truly understood the redemption plan of God, none of the teaching on salvation would make sense. We have taught much on the mystery of Christ and all of its aspects. However, we have done very little to explain the extraordinary plan to take back his creation that the Father hid within himself.

I am choosing my words very carefully here. I say ‘take back’ because it was always the intent of the Father to live in man. He made mankind according to the image, (body), he took pleasure in. I want us to consider that God is omniscient, knowing all things. He knew Satan would rebel and that Adam would betray him. One would readily ask, “Why then did he allow these tragedies?” The answer would be ‘love.’ Love made him do it. You see, there was something else the Father wanted; ‘children’ of his own kind, who loved him in the way he is capable of loving them.

Though we will go into this in more detail later in the lessons of this book, it is profitable for us to see how meticulous the Father was and is in his plan to have a family.

Ephesians 1:3-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Paul makes it clear whose plan it is; the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He also makes it clear that the blessings we have received from the Father are all spiritual in nature. This is worth mentioning because so much is preached on natural blessings, (money, houses, cars, etc.).

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Here is where we begin to see his magnificent power. How is it that he had already chosen us, the Body of Christ, the Church, before he ever laid the foundations of the world. The prophet writes in Isaiah 46:9-10

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

This was the plan. The members of Christ, would be holy and blameless before him in love. This was determined to be so before the world was ever made. These things took place in eternity past. God is a Spirit, who lives in a spiritual world. He is able to devise a plan and work it out in the spirit world before setting it into motion in our world.

Ephesians 1:5-6

5 Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Now we come to another detail in the plan which also confirms that God knew beforehand what Adam and satan would do. He predestined us to be adopted into his family by Jesus Christ. My point is, adoption was the plan from the beginning. Now we know, adoption implies the creation belonged to another. And yes, Jesus did say you are of your father, the devil. However, the devil was a usurper. He seized the creation through sin. But the father of all mankind was Adam.

Therefore, we see in 1 Corinthians 15:45; And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. This is a comparison of the two men in whom the whole human race was placed. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. God purposed before the dawn of time, that Jesus would make alive all who died in Adam if they choose Christ.

We also need to consider the fact that God made man in his likeness, (a being with arms, legs, feet, eyes, mouth, ears, etc.). This was the temporary body the Father was willing to dwell in until the time of its redemption. But because this body was given to Adam, if God was going to live in it as his own, then it was necessary to send forth a Spirit of Adoption. The truth is, God always intended to redeem his creation. He never conceded that it was eternally lost to satan. I believe Paul sums it up nicely in his letter to the

Romans 8:28-30;

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

This was the plan which became a mystery to the sons of men. But it is now revealed to us, his children; born of his Spirit, abiding in his Temple (his body), and waiting for the redemption of our bodies; that they may be likened unto his glorious body.

Beloved, wait on Him.