THE EXTENT OF GOD'S PURPOSE IN ELECTION.
RECALL again that our previous studies revealed that God's purpose in creating this earth was that it should be inhabited by a certain definite number of righteous characters; that these characters were written from before the world in the book of life; that the name expressed the character and implied the experience thru which must pass the one upon whom the name is bestowed; that a crown of victory awaits each one who answers to God's call and purpose; and that these altogether will compose the great human family bearing the new name of Christ Jesus. Before sin entered the earth these characters were chosen, "before the foundation of the world." God then foreordained, predestined, or marked out, the perfect characters, as sons of God, thru Christ Jesus, "according to the good pleasure of His will." Eph. 1:4, 5. And He did it all so wisely and so well that those who develop these characters shall be "to the praise of the glory of His grace," given us in Christ Jesus, and thru Him freely bestowed. Eph. 1:6. Sin entered. God's creation was marred, and man, the sinner, more than all else. Is God's plan thwarted? Will He still have the requisite number out of this rebellious, sin-laden earth? God's plan is not thwarted. His purpose still holds. The requisite number of the requisite characters will inhabit the earth freed from sin. What God planned in eternity, Jesus Christ purchased, redeemed, in time. In other words, He manifested in time the power and love of God for all eternity. Verses 7 to 12 of Ephesians 1 clearly set this forth. God's grace is freely bestowed in the Beloved. In the Beloved we have our redemption, the forgiveness of sin in all its fulness, according to the "riches of His grace." These riches He makes to abound toward us as we need them; for they are all bestowed in "all wisdom and prudence." In connection with this giving of Christ is made known "the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed" in Christ Jesus, "unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth." Thru Christ God's universe will be cleansed. No gulf of separation will exist between earth and heaven. No black land of sin and Satan will blot God's universe. All shall be one in Christ Jesus. And in Him an inheritance in that country is ours, if we will let His grace work in us, who "worketh all things after the counsel of His will." Then the sin-cursed earth, touched by His presence, the sinners of earth perfected by His power, shall eternally be to the praise of His glory. Verses 13 and 14 teach us that the agency by which such poor, marred material may be made to praise God's workmanship thru all eternity is His Holy Spirit. He gives us thru the Spirit the earnest of the inheritance now, His pledge of the fulfilment of all His purpose in the glad consummation to follow, when Christ shall come. Then in this wonderful chapter there follows the Spirit-inspired prayer that all this foreordained of God, purposed of God, willed of God, may be wrought out in believers in Him, the members of His body, the church. Does the battle seem hard, fellow soldier?—Read the prayer and the promise, and plead His power. Do you seem to be wholly sinful and worthless?—It is just such that God has promised to make to the praise of the glory of His grace. There is everything to encourage us in His plan.