A DIVINE INTENTION
The Gospel Without Limits
By Michael Clegg
A DIVINE PLAN
One of the main questions in traditional Christianity is God’s authority in the
earth and the extent of that authority in the affairs of men. Is man left to fully
control his destiny or does God have a far greater plan? Does God control the
boundaries of the waters and the dispersion of man in the continents (Acts 17:
26) but cannot control the final outcome of His creation. Can God exactly count
and know the number of hairs on your head and see every sparrow that falls but
was not paying attention when Adam and Eve fell? If God is Omniscient then
nothing happens without His knowledge (Acts 1:18). He knew from eternity all
that ever would be. He foresaw every act that we each would commit. If we
could have committed any act that would affect His regards for us—He knew it
before He created us—and yet He still created us and still loved us.
God is working through a series of ages or aeons to accomplish His purpose. Just
like our English word “eon,” they are not eternal periods of time. God has
established these ages and in the course of these ages various aspects of God’s
plan will occur.
God in His creating did not create anyone or anything that He cannot control
(Col. 1:16-21)—simply meaning His authority is supreme over all authority and
all authority is given by Him (Rom. 13:1). Throughout these orchestrated ages
the ‘manifold wisdom’ of God will be made known BY the church TO the
principalities and powers (Eph. 3:10) and this purpose which Father God
planned is being brought about in and through Christ (Eph. 3:11).
God has a purpose devised before the ages (2 Tim. 1:9-10) and it is being
revealed by the appearing of Christ. Part of that plan revealed by Christ is the
gift of life and a release from death for all creation through the Gospel. The
purpose of God cannot be annulled or thwarted by any action of man or any
other power (Isa. 14.24-27, Psalm 33:10-11, Prov. 19:21, Heb. 6:17, Isa. 46.10,
Acts 5:29). The entire plan of God has been hid in and by God until the time
appointed by God Himself and the plan works according to the counsel of His
own will (Eph. 1:11).
This plan consists of more than one age and many aspects of God’s character
including the subjection of creation to futility (Rom. 8:20-21) and Israel’s
rejection of God for a period of time (Isa. 54:7-8, Rom.11). Man did not
volunteer for this time of travail but the plan of God included the process and
His plan will also cause a return of all men to Himself through His sovereignty.
Conybeare says “ the very struggles which all animated beings make against
pain and death show that pain and death are not part of the proper laws of
their nature, but rather bondage imposed upon them from without. Thus every
groan and tear is an unconscious prophecy of liberation from the power of evil”.
If God is Omniscient then nothing happens without His knowledge. If He is
Omnipotent then He has power to permit or stop anything that is not His will. If
God is Omnipresent then He is always present and sees the travail of men. The
fall was not an accident nor was it by chance. Then what is left? Could the fall
have been His purpose (Rom. 8:20-23)? It will be by His plan as an all wise
Father that all creation will be brought back to Him for He loses nothing or no-
one.
There are more than one age (Eph. 1:21, Eph. 2:7, Heb. 1:1-2, Eph. 3:9-11) in
God’s plan. 1 Corinthians 10:11 (YLT) states “now all these things happened to
them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the
ends of the ages have come.” Note the tense in this verse—for it says the end of
the ages HAVE COME. The end of the ages began when He put away sin by the
sacrifice of Himself. These ages were perfectly planned and fitted together by
God in His wisdom and love (Heb. 11:3). God has divided His plan in dealing
with man into ages and in these ages His redemptive dealings with man are to
occur. Ferrar Fenton says of Hebrews 11:3 in part, “…the ages were arranged by
the continuous attention of God…” Remember, God did not create anything He
cannot control nor is His creation careening out of control—but it is fully in His
hands.
The world system is not controlled by the power of God but by the law of God.
The law of God is not the Ten Commandments, nor the Old Testament but it is
the outworking of His plan through His will utilizing His character, attributes,
and power. Every aspect of creation is under the careful hand of God inclining
toward His purpose and plan. Is there a difference between God’s will and His
plan? Yes. His plan contains His will. The word used for plan is ‘boulema” and
refers to one’s resolve or determination in that it does not mean a ‘wish’ but
the actual intention to bring about the will. So, to say it another way, The will
of God shall be accomplished because of His plan and purposes.
The Hebrew word “olam” has been translated into English as for ever. Words
are best defined by their usage and by letting Scripture define the Hebrew word
“olam” it cannot mean without end. Case in point, In Jonah 2:6, it says the
earth with its bars was about Jonah “for ever” referring to his stay in the whale’
s belly which was three days duration (Jonah 1:17). Another instance was when
a servant wanted to stay with his master and he was to puncture his ear with
an awl (Ex. 21:6) indicating he would serve his master for ever. How long can
that be? Fifty years? 100 years? Or until the death of the servant?
In the New Testament the Greek word “aeon” is translated for ever. Hebrews 1:
8 says the throne of Jesus is “for ever and ever”. How long can that be? 1
Corinthians 15:24 says that Jesus submits His throne to Father God.
These instances indicate that the words “olam” and “aeon” are all relative to
the object they are modifying and one cannot state that they mean on certain
time frame. For example, a tall dog, a tall man, and a tall building do not
indicate that all three are of equal height but modifies the object described.
When we read Hebrews 1:8 and then 1 Corinthians 15:24; it seems contradictory
but when the correct meaning of “unto the ages of the ages” is used then
clarity is established. It is similar to Song of songs meaning the chief song of all;
or King of kings which simply means the greatest or supreme king. So the
meaning of “unto the ages of the ages” simply means the most glorious age
when Jesus’ throne is surrendered to Father God and He becomes all in all.
Eternal Life as discussed in John 17:2-3 is more correctly translated “life of the
ages”. This is not taking away from the fact that we inherit unending life but
life that is changeable cannot by definition be eternal for eternal means
unending and unchanging. Actually, eternal means unchangeable THEREFORE
without end. Our spiritual life is in constant change therefore the life we
receive is not eternal but is the life of the ages—the best life—God’s life
injected into time to be processed and matured into unchangeableness.
Time and eternity seem to be opposing ideas. The Word of God is a book of
periods of time (ages) for a specific time. Time was created by God. It has a
beginning and will have an end. Time, which is set forth in measurable units, is
relative only for the physical universe. In time there is change but in eternity
there is no change. All change and development must take place in time. The
ages belong to and in time while eternity is without time. Eternity is not
composed of time nor is it time standing still. Time is being governed by
eternity and creatures governed by their Creator in time.
During these various ages God deals with man differently and each age brings a
new mode of God dealing with man. When we become like Him there will be no
more change. But as long as life changes, grows, develops, it is not eternal life—
but the life of the ages—the best life in the age—a life that undergoes the
dealings of Father God in His plan operating in time.
One of the main questions in traditional Christianity is God’s authority in the
earth and the extent of that authority in the affairs of men. Is man left to fully
control his destiny or does God have a far greater plan? Does God control the
boundaries of the waters and the dispersion of man in the continents (Acts 17:
26) but cannot control the final outcome of His creation. Can God exactly count
and know the number of hairs on your head and see every sparrow that falls but
was not paying attention when Adam and Eve fell? If God is Omniscient then
nothing happens without His knowledge (Acts 1:18). He knew from eternity all
that ever would be. He foresaw every act that we each would commit. If we
could have committed any act that would affect His regards for us—He knew it
before He created us—and yet He still created us and still loved us.
God is working through a series of ages or aeons to accomplish His purpose. Just
like our English word “eon,” they are not eternal periods of time. God has
established these ages and in the course of these ages various aspects of God’s
plan will occur.
God in His creating did not create anyone or anything that He cannot control
(Col. 1:16-21)—simply meaning His authority is supreme over all authority and
all authority is given by Him (Rom. 13:1). Throughout these orchestrated ages
the ‘manifold wisdom’ of God will be made known BY the church TO the
principalities and powers (Eph. 3:10) and this purpose which Father God
planned is being brought about in and through Christ (Eph. 3:11).
God has a purpose devised before the ages (2 Tim. 1:9-10) and it is being
revealed by the appearing of Christ. Part of that plan revealed by Christ is the
gift of life and a release from death for all creation through the Gospel. The
purpose of God cannot be annulled or thwarted by any action of man or any
other power (Isa. 14.24-27, Psalm 33:10-11, Prov. 19:21, Heb. 6:17, Isa. 46.10,
Acts 5:29). The entire plan of God has been hid in and by God until the time
appointed by God Himself and the plan works according to the counsel of His
own will (Eph. 1:11).
This plan consists of more than one age and many aspects of God’s character
including the subjection of creation to futility (Rom. 8:20-21) and Israel’s
rejection of God for a period of time (Isa. 54:7-8, Rom.11). Man did not
volunteer for this time of travail but the plan of God included the process and
His plan will also cause a return of all men to Himself through His sovereignty.
Conybeare says “ the very struggles which all animated beings make against
pain and death show that pain and death are not part of the proper laws of
their nature, but rather bondage imposed upon them from without. Thus every
groan and tear is an unconscious prophecy of liberation from the power of evil”.
If God is Omniscient then nothing happens without His knowledge. If He is
Omnipotent then He has power to permit or stop anything that is not His will. If
God is Omnipresent then He is always present and sees the travail of men. The
fall was not an accident nor was it by chance. Then what is left? Could the fall
have been His purpose (Rom. 8:20-23)? It will be by His plan as an all wise
Father that all creation will be brought back to Him for He loses nothing or no-
one.
There are more than one age (Eph. 1:21, Eph. 2:7, Heb. 1:1-2, Eph. 3:9-11) in
God’s plan. 1 Corinthians 10:11 (YLT) states “now all these things happened to
them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the
ends of the ages have come.” Note the tense in this verse—for it says the end of
the ages HAVE COME. The end of the ages began when He put away sin by the
sacrifice of Himself. These ages were perfectly planned and fitted together by
God in His wisdom and love (Heb. 11:3). God has divided His plan in dealing
with man into ages and in these ages His redemptive dealings with man are to
occur. Ferrar Fenton says of Hebrews 11:3 in part, “…the ages were arranged by
the continuous attention of God…” Remember, God did not create anything He
cannot control nor is His creation careening out of control—but it is fully in His
hands.
The world system is not controlled by the power of God but by the law of God.
The law of God is not the Ten Commandments, nor the Old Testament but it is
the outworking of His plan through His will utilizing His character, attributes,
and power. Every aspect of creation is under the careful hand of God inclining
toward His purpose and plan. Is there a difference between God’s will and His
plan? Yes. His plan contains His will. The word used for plan is ‘boulema” and
refers to one’s resolve or determination in that it does not mean a ‘wish’ but
the actual intention to bring about the will. So, to say it another way, The will
of God shall be accomplished because of His plan and purposes.
The Hebrew word “olam” has been translated into English as for ever. Words
are best defined by their usage and by letting Scripture define the Hebrew word
“olam” it cannot mean without end. Case in point, In Jonah 2:6, it says the
earth with its bars was about Jonah “for ever” referring to his stay in the whale’
s belly which was three days duration (Jonah 1:17). Another instance was when
a servant wanted to stay with his master and he was to puncture his ear with
an awl (Ex. 21:6) indicating he would serve his master for ever. How long can
that be? Fifty years? 100 years? Or until the death of the servant?
In the New Testament the Greek word “aeon” is translated for ever. Hebrews 1:
8 says the throne of Jesus is “for ever and ever”. How long can that be? 1
Corinthians 15:24 says that Jesus submits His throne to Father God.
These instances indicate that the words “olam” and “aeon” are all relative to
the object they are modifying and one cannot state that they mean on certain
time frame. For example, a tall dog, a tall man, and a tall building do not
indicate that all three are of equal height but modifies the object described.
When we read Hebrews 1:8 and then 1 Corinthians 15:24; it seems contradictory
but when the correct meaning of “unto the ages of the ages” is used then
clarity is established. It is similar to Song of songs meaning the chief song of all;
or King of kings which simply means the greatest or supreme king. So the
meaning of “unto the ages of the ages” simply means the most glorious age
when Jesus’ throne is surrendered to Father God and He becomes all in all.
Eternal Life as discussed in John 17:2-3 is more correctly translated “life of the
ages”. This is not taking away from the fact that we inherit unending life but
life that is changeable cannot by definition be eternal for eternal means
unending and unchanging. Actually, eternal means unchangeable THEREFORE
without end. Our spiritual life is in constant change therefore the life we
receive is not eternal but is the life of the ages—the best life—God’s life
injected into time to be processed and matured into unchangeableness.
Time and eternity seem to be opposing ideas. The Word of God is a book of
periods of time (ages) for a specific time. Time was created by God. It has a
beginning and will have an end. Time, which is set forth in measurable units, is
relative only for the physical universe. In time there is change but in eternity
there is no change. All change and development must take place in time. The
ages belong to and in time while eternity is without time. Eternity is not
composed of time nor is it time standing still. Time is being governed by
eternity and creatures governed by their Creator in time.
During these various ages God deals with man differently and each age brings a
new mode of God dealing with man. When we become like Him there will be no
more change. But as long as life changes, grows, develops, it is not eternal life—
but the life of the ages—the best life in the age—a life that undergoes the
dealings of Father God in His plan operating in time.