1. Humanity’s Creation: Free Will Beings Made Imago Dei
The creation of humanity in the image of God (Imago Dei) is central to His purpose. To be made in God’s image is to reflect His attributes—rationality, creativity, morality, and relational capacity. Essential to this image is the gift of free will, which allows humans to choose between communion with God and self-sufficiency. This freedom, while opening the door to rebellion, is necessary for authentic worship and love.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, ESV)
Free will magnifies God’s glory by enabling humans to respond voluntarily to His authority. Christ’s lordship is not imposed but embraced by those who, through grace, align their wills with His. This dynamic, however, introduces the necessity of rebellion and sin, as free beings inherently test the boundaries of their autonomy in pursuit of self-sufficiency. Humanity’s fall into sin, therefore, was not a disruption of God’s plan but an integral element of His purpose to glorify Christ.
2. God’s Foreknowledge of Communion and Disunity
God’s omniscience encompasses more than knowledge of events; it includes an intimate understanding of each spirit’s unique disposition. In eternity, God foreknew every individual spirit He created, discerning whether their free will inclination would lean toward communion with Him or disunity through self-sufficiency:
“Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29, ESV)
This foreknowledge does not override free will but reveals God’s comprehensive wisdom and sovereign purpose. Each spirit, uniquely patterned and foreknown, plays a role in God’s plan to glorify Christ. Disunity, while tragic, serves to magnify Christ’s roles as Judge and Savior, while communion demonstrates His lordship over willing subjects.
3. The Necessity of Rebellion and Sin
The freedom inherent in humanity’s nature as Imago Dei beings, coupled with their inclination toward self-sufficiency, makes rebellion a necessity. Humanity’s fall into sin, beginning with Adam, is the manifestation of this inherent self-sufficiency:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, ESV)
This rebellion was not an accident or disruption of God’s plan but an integral aspect of His eternal purpose. Sin exposes the futility of self-sufficiency and the need for redemption, paving the way for the greater glory of Christ. In the words of Augustine, “God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist.”
Through sin and rebellion, the roles of Christ as Judge and Savior are revealed, showcasing the fullness of God’s holiness, justice, and mercy.
4. Election in Eternity and Actualization by the Holy Spirit
From eternity, God conceptualized the elect—those foreknown as inclined toward communion and predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. This election is not based on merit or works but entirely on God’s sovereign grace and purpose:
“...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” (Ephesians 1:4-5, ESV)
The elect are not merely theoretical entities but are actualized in history through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts, regenerates, and sanctifies, transforming the elect into the likeness of Christ and securing their place in His kingdom:
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
5. History as the Stage for Christ’s Glory
God’s eternal plan unfolds in history, which serves as the stage upon which His purpose is revealed. Each individual is placed in a specific time and context, ordained by God to fulfill His purpose:
“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” (Acts 17:26, ESV)
6. Christ Glorified as Lord, Judge, and Savior
The culmination of God’s purpose is the exaltation of Christ in His threefold role:
- Christ as Lord: His reign brings order and peace to what was once disordered and rebellious.
- Christ as Judge: His justice reveals God’s holiness and holds rebellion accountable.
- Christ as Savior: His sacrifice reconciles the elect and restores communion with God.
Conclusion: God’s Good Purpose
God’s good purpose is to glorify His Son as Lord, Judge, and Savior over free will beings made in His image. Through foreknowledge, God discerns each spirit’s inclination toward communion or disunity. Humanity’s inherent self-sufficiency leads to rebellion and sin, which, in turn, magnifies the glory of Christ in His roles as Judge and Redeemer. The elect, conceptualized in eternity and actualized by the Holy Spirit, serve as living testimonies to God’s grace and power.
History itself is the stage upon which God’s purpose unfolds, culminating in the ultimate exaltation of Christ:
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36, ESV)
This purpose is good because it reveals the fullness of God’s character, giving meaning to human existence and offering hope through redemption. It is a purpose that invites all creation to bow before the Son, to the glory of God the Father.
“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18, ESV)
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