The Whole Plan of God

Part 2 

Russ and Mary Doty are based in Denver, where they serve on the eldership of Redemption City Church as well as the Ephesians 4 Team of New Covenant Ministries International. 

With that foundation in mind, we are going to take a look at an overview of the 'Whole Plan of God', as He has revealed it, and Himself, in the Bible.  In other words, a 'Biblical Theology".

Starting at the beginning in Gen. 1. 26-28 we see two words that each appear 3 times in there two verses.  "Image" and "rule" both appear 3 times in these verses.  They give us an introduction to God's plan.  He made man in "His image" or likeness.  Being made in God's image gives us the capacity for relationship with Him.  In fact, we see this is one of the main themes of the Bible.  In Jn. 17.3 Jesus says, "This is eternal life that they know You, the only True God, and the Son whom you have sent."  Paul writes in Phil. 3.7, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."  In Deut. 5.4 it says, "The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire."  Knowing God is part of His plan.  He has made us to know Him and revealed Himself to us so we can know Him.  

But, we are not only made in His image but he also gave us authority or dominion over the creation.  He made us to rule.  Another way to say this is that God made us for relationship and rulership.  Why?  If we look at the end of the book we see in Rev. 19.7  "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

One of the goals of creation is a bride for Christ.  Col. 1.16 tells us that "all things were made through Christ and for Christ."  So, then, God looking down the corridor of time, while He is making man, sees the goal of a bride for Jesus, and makes man with the capacity for relationship (love) and for rulership.  He is putting in place the characteristics that will eventually produce a loving bride for the King of the universe.  Amazing.

  But this original plan was changed with the introduction of sin.  The fall altered God's plan.  We see that both relationship with God and rulership over the planet were lost at the fall.  Gen 3.1-24 shows us this.  We need to recognize that both were lost.  Mankind is forced to fend for himself.  But also, we see that Satan is now referred to as the 'ruler of this world'.  In Jn. 12.31 Jesus refers to the devil as the ruler of this world.  When the devil offered to give Jesus all the kingdoms of this world in Matt. 4. 8-9, Jesus doesn't dispute his authority to make that offer.  We see in Eph. 6.12 that we are in a battle 'against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.' 

The story of the Bible is the story of the restoration of God's original order and plan.  We see this as a progressive revelation by God of Himself and His plan, beginning with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and continuing to every individual in the New Testament.  

In the Old Testament the Tabernacle represents the restoration of relationship; God dwelling with man and speaking to man again.  Ex. 40 shows us that when the tabernacle was completed as God had directed(this was not initiated by mankind) that His glory, presence , was manifested so that the priests were overwhelmed.  Just as the tabernacle represents the restoring of relationship, so the taking of the promised land is the restoring of rulership.  If it were only about relationship, then the Israelites didn't really need a land.  They had the presence of God as they travelled as nomads.  But God's plan was both relationship and rulership, so He led them to a land so they could begin to learn rulership again.  Deut. 8.1 says, "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you man live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers."  Therefore, many of the commandments were not about earning God's favor or love, but about how to live in the land, and rule once again. 

This beginning of revelation is extended in the New Testament to every individual.  Under the New Covenant "they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest." (Jer. 31. 34).  Jesus says, "this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Jn. 17.3.  When we come to know Him and submit to His Lordship and Rulership, we also become part of His kingdom.  We are transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God.   And in that relationship with Him we begin to extend His kingdom rule once again on the planet.  This kingdom is in opposition to the 'ruler of this world'.  We are restoring God's original rule and plan for this planet.  There is no kingdom rulership with relationship with the King.  We can't do it on our own, but in partnership with Him.  

Let me make a side note here.  Relationship is all of grace; the unearned, unmerited favor of God offered to us in Jesus.  We don't earn it, and we surely don't deserve it.  While alot has been written about grace, and I won't spend time on it here; just suffice it to say, that when we really grasp the magnitude of God's grace, we find it not only amazing, but also humbling.  For us to be the objects of His love is beyond incredible.  But while relationship is all of grace, rulership (or the extending of His kingdom) is a partnership with Him.  The New Testament talks of being empowered by the Holy Spirit, about obedience and the importance of prayer.  These are all referring to partnering with the King, not in earning His favor or love.  Some, thinking we are only made for relationship, and that relationship is all of grace, have diminished or even thrown out much of what the New Testament says that expects an effort or response on our part.  Thinking that these portions of scripture are "law" and an effort to earn God's love, they have ignored or even removed them from focus.  Its not that they misunderstand grace, but that they have missed that we are made for both relationship and rulership, and that rulership is a partnership between us and God.  

Understanding that the Kingdom of God is in opposition to the kingdom of this world is vital to grasp a truly Biblical view of God's plan.  1Jn. 5.19 says, "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one."  This overview is important to give us a foundation in order to look at more specific issues and 'doctrines'.  Understanding these kingdoms in conflict, will also help us to better comprehend the progress of history and its affect on the church and theology.  

Next Week: Part 3, Living by Hearing God's Voice