Page 60 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to
come to repentance.” That’s what I mean my redemptive purpose.
God controls everything to bring redemption into the world.
Ephesians 1:22, “And He put all things in subjection under His feet,
and gave Him as head over all things to the church.” He works all
things for the church. It’s all redemptive.

Even the wicked who are against God fulfill His purpose. A great
illustration is Acts 2:23&24, “…this Man, delivered up by the
predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross
by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” God planned
the cross and wicked men put Jesus to death. Even the wickedness
is redemptive.

There’s a great illustration of this in Matthew 27 when Jesus was on
the cross, wicked men mocked Him but when they mocked Him they
praised Him. They didn’t try to praise Him. They tried to mock
Him. Matthew 27:29, “And after weaving a crown of thorn, they
put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they kneeled
down before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the
Jews!’” They put a crown of thorns on His head and in mockery
they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” But that’s actually a praise;
“Hail, King of the Jews!”

Matthew 27:37, “And they put up above His head the charge against
Him which read, ‘This is Jesus the King of the Jews.’” Over his
head they put the cause of His death but listen to what they said,
“This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” They didn’t try to praise Him
but they ended up praising Him.

Matthew 27:42, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is
the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we
shall believe in Him.” They tried to mock Him and they said, “He
saved others; save Himself!” But in that mockery they confessed
that He saved others. God turned the mockery into praise.