The complete manifestation of divine grace which is to be revealed in the glory will be by means of all that combines in Christ, the glorious Head together with His redeemed Body, every member of which will have been transformed into His very image. What a spectacle for angels and archangels, principalities and powers, mankind and demons. What a spectacle for God Himself, for He will then gaze upon that surpassing manifestation of His grace to His own exceeding joy, Jude 24.
Divine grace had no place in this universe until sin entered. Through creation, the wisdom and power of God has been disclosed, but there has been no unveiling of God's love for the undeserving because there has been no occasion for its manifestation.
This statement does not imply that we are to sin that grace may abound. There is a wide difference between the fact that God permitted sin to enter the world and the thought that He has there by licensed man to sin.
Whether there were greater motives which activated God in permitting sin to enter the world then He has revealed, no one can say. It is certain, however, that the greatest motives He has been pleased to reveal are to be inferred from two facts. 1- that Grace cannot be exercised where there is no demerit and 2- that He designs above all else that His saving grace shall have an actual and adequate demonstration in all ages to come. Such is the spectacle that will cause angelic hosts and human thrones to marvel and about which they will sing throughout the ages to come.
The Apostle Paul was sent to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8–11. Such riches could be brought to light only by means of sin and it's cure through the cross of Christ. The apostle was sent to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which, from the beginning of the world, hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ.
This liberating secret is, according to the text, the calling out and saving of a company of both Jews and Gentiles, a company which is the true church and is his body. By this salvation, He proposes to unveil before all the heavenly hosts His greatest display of wisdom. This wisdom is seen in the manifestation of His love through the coming of Christ into the world to redeem the lost.
We read in verses 10 and 11, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Divine grace had no place in this universe until sin entered. Through creation, the wisdom and power of God has been disclosed, but there has been no unveiling of God's love for the undeserving because there has been no occasion for its manifestation.
This statement does not imply that we are to sin that grace may abound. There is a wide difference between the fact that God permitted sin to enter the world and the thought that He has there by licensed man to sin.
Whether there were greater motives which activated God in permitting sin to enter the world then He has revealed, no one can say. It is certain, however, that the greatest motives He has been pleased to reveal are to be inferred from two facts. 1- that Grace cannot be exercised where there is no demerit and 2- that He designs above all else that His saving grace shall have an actual and adequate demonstration in all ages to come. Such is the spectacle that will cause angelic hosts and human thrones to marvel and about which they will sing throughout the ages to come.
The Apostle Paul was sent to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8–11. Such riches could be brought to light only by means of sin and it's cure through the cross of Christ. The apostle was sent to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which, from the beginning of the world, hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ.
This liberating secret is, according to the text, the calling out and saving of a company of both Jews and Gentiles, a company which is the true church and is his body. By this salvation, He proposes to unveil before all the heavenly hosts His greatest display of wisdom. This wisdom is seen in the manifestation of His love through the coming of Christ into the world to redeem the lost.
We read in verses 10 and 11, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
