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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 by 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 thorns, 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