Page 63 - BACK TO BETHLEHEM

Lordship are absolute. He is in perfect control of the world and
everything in it. Ephesians 1:11, “…also we have obtained an
inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose
who works all things after the counsel of His will…” Job. 42:2,
“I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of
Thine can be thwarted.” Psalm 135:6, “Whatever the LORD
pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all
deeps.” Psalm 103:19, “The LORD has established His throne
in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all.”
That’s the purpose; God gets what He wants but we’re
calling it “redemptive purpose”. What is meant by the
“redemptive” part? John 3:17, “For God did not send the Son
into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be
saved through Him.” God has redemption on His heart and He
wants to save people. Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man has
come to seek and to save that which was lost.” It’s His heart to
seek and to save that which is lost. 1 John 4:14, “And we have
beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be
the Savior of the world.”
The Lord is in control of everything, so that He can
redeem the world. Whatever happens, in some way is
redemptive. 2 Peter 3:9, “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
61