Dictionary of Bible Themes God has a plan for his creation which he will certainly accomplish. It is carried out through the control of circumstances and his choice and use of people, and above all in the life, death, resurrection and second coming of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 46:10-11God's purpose will be accomplished See also Psalms 135:6Proverbs 16:4 Ecclesiastes 3:14 Isaiah 14:24,26-27; 25:1; 55:11 Ephesians 1:11 Psalms 33:11 God's purpose prevails See also It stands for ever Job 42:2Jeremiah 23:20 Proverbs 19:21 See also It cannot be thwarted by human beings Job 9:12; 23:13Isaiah 8:10 Daniel 4:35 Revelation 17:17 See also It cannot be thwarted by evil powers 1 Samuel 16:14Job 1:12; 2:6 2 Corinthians 12:7 The implication is that evil is subject to God's control and operates within the determined limits of his sovereign purpose Proverbs 16:9See also It prevails in people's lives and circumstances Proverbs 20:24; 21:1Ephesians 1:11 It is fulfilled through his choice of individuals See also Genesis 18:19God's choice of individuals does not invalidate their free will to do or not to do anything, nor remove their answerability to God for their actions. Romans 11:51 Corinthians 1:1 Ephesians 1:4-5 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Acts 2:23 See also Examples of the actions of evil people serving God's purpose Genesis 50:20Isaiah 10:5-7 Ephesians 3:10-11 God's purpose is founded on divine wisdom See also Psalms 104:24Romans 11:33 2 Timothy 1:9 God's purpose is determined from eternity See also 2 Kings 19:25Isaiah 25:1; 46:10 Matthew 25:34 Ephesians 1:4 Titus 1:2 1 Peter 1:20 Exodus 9:16 God's purpose is for his own glory See also Romans 9:17Ezekiel 36:22-23 Ephesians 1:5-6,11-12 Amos 3:7 God's purpose for his people See also God reveals his purpose to his people Genesis 18:172 Samuel 7:20-21 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Ephesians 1:9 Romans 11:33 See also Its fulness is beyond human understanding Deuteronomy 29:291 Corinthians 2:9-10 Ephesians 1:9; 3:4-5 Romans 8:28 See also It is good and loving Jeremiah 29:11Romans 12:2 Ephesians 1:4-5 2 Timothy 1:9 Ephesians 3:10-11 God's purpose is revealed through Jesus Christ In the church Isaiah 53:10See also It centres on the cross Acts 4:27-281 Peter 1:19-20 1 John 4:10 Matthew 26:18,45 It is God's purpose to redeem the world through the cross John 7:6-8; 12:23; 13:1; 17:1Jesus Christ often speaks of his appointed "hour". In John's Gospel in particular his "hour" refers to the cross. Jesus Christ refuses to allow anything except the cross to be the climax of his ministry (Jn 12:27). pp Mk 14:41 Ephesians 1:9-10See also It is God's purpose to exalt and establish Jesus Christ as Lord Acts 2:36Philippians 2:8-11 Colossians 1:18 Hebrews 1:2-4 John 6:38 See also Jesus Christ submits to God's purpose Matthew 26:39-42John 4:34; 5:30 pp Mk 14:35-36 Hebrews 5:7-8; 10:7pp Lk 22:42 John 6:40God's ultimate purpose is to save See also The salvation of people through Jesus Christ John 3:16-17Galatians 1:3-4 1 Timothy 2:3-4 1 Peter 1:2 2 Peter 3:9 2 Corinthians 5:5 Specific aspects of God's purpose in salvation Romans 8:29knowing heavenly life Ephesians 1:4being conformed to Jesus Christ Ephesians 2:15being holy and blameless Ephesians 3:10-11becoming unified that the wisdom of God be revealed James 4:15God wills that people submit to his purposes See also Psalms 40:8; 143:10Matthew 6:10 Matthew 6:9-10 God's people should pray for the fulfilment of his purposes See also pp Lk 11:2 People can reject God's purposes in their lives Luke 7:30; 19:41-42Acts 13:46 Genesis 45:5-9 Examples of God's purposes being worked out Isaiah 41:2,25; 45:1,13; 46:11; 48:14in the life of Joseph Through Cyrus: Acts 18:21; 21:14Romans 1:10; 15:32 In the life of Paul: 1 Corinthians 4:19See also 1020 God, all-knowing1045 God, glory of 1105 God, power of 1130 God, sovereignty 1175 God, will of 1180 God, wisdom of 1439 revelation 2057 Christ, obedience 2354 Christ, mission 5376 law, purpose of 6638 election 7032 unity, God's people |
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