Our Father in Heaven had a plan in mind for all of us even before He began to form His creation. All that He has done and shall do is for a reason and purpose. He has an eternal purpose for us as the members of His Son's body, the church. We learn the time of God's choosing us in Paul's comment, "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:4-5). Of course, when Paul writes of our being "in Him," he means those who are Christians. Having chosen us, we can stand before God "holy and without blemish." How can such a thing be? Because in Christ, our sins are washed away in His blood (1 John 1:7). That God had us in mind for eternity is seen in Paul's use of the word "foreordained." This word comes from a Greek word (proginwskw) which means "to know beforehand, that is foresee: -foreknow (ordain), know (before)." God knew beforehand that He was going to save man only through His Son Jesus. This does not mean that God has chosen certain ones to be saved and certain ones to be lost. This cannot be since God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Later in this chapter, Paul tells us that this group of saved people is the Body of Christ, the church (1:22,23).
In Ephesians chapter three, again Paul writes of God's eternal purpose. Hear him, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him" (Ephesians 3:8-12).
It has always been God's plan to show the world His desire by means of the church. The church then has always been in God's mind to be the vehicle for man's salvation. In Ephesians chapter five, Paul uses the illustration of marriage to show the relationship of Christ to the church. The church is His bride, His "wife" (verses 22-33). Within this section, we learn that Christ will save His body. Since the church is the body and the body is what is to be saved, we conclude that only the church of our Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. How vitally urgent it is for men and women to become a part of the church, the body of Christ.
To Timothy, Paul explained that the church is God's household. Notice, "but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).
Since it is the case that the church is God's eternal purpose, we must conclude that the church has purpose. There are three areas of work in which the church must busy herself. Paul said, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). What would God have us to do? We are to preach the gospel to the world (Mark 16:16). We are to edify and teach the brethren the doctrine of Christ (Matthew 28:19,20). Finally, we are to busy ourselves in good works of benevolence (Galatians 2:10).
It is our hope that you understand God's eternal purpose which He carried out in the church of Christ. This purpose is for the good and eternal life of mankind. It sets before the members of the Lord's church the life of duty and service to our God and creator, the Master of the universe. This is a great privilege and responsibility. How blessed are we that God has chosen each of us to fulfill that purpose here on this earth!
Now, read the study questions and answer them. God bless you as you continue to see your place in God's eternal purpose.