The Purpose of God's Glorious Redemptive Plan
Revelation 1:6b

Paul J. Bucknell
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Purpose

Revelation 1:6b highlights the grand purpose of the redemptive plan. The clearer we grasp the purpose of our lives is to bring glory to the Lord, the easier it will be for us to find fulfillment as we serve the Lord.

Introduction to Revelation 1:5-6

5 And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood,
6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation1:5-6)

We will follow the leading in Revelation 1:5-6 and discuss God’s Glorious purpose and plan. The purpose tells us what chief thing God is accomplishing through everything that He does. The plan tells us crucial components by which He accomplishes these things. We will take the liberty to first discuss God’s glorious Purpose.

A. God’s Glorious Purpose for His Redemptive Plan (Rev 1:6b)

“To him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen” (NIV) (1:6b)

1. The Large Picture

Let us start by discussing the end. This is the large picture. We already had enough hints to get this point but somehow it seems to go right by us. Most people have without knowing it become humanists. They believe that they think the end purpose of life is to satisfy oneself. Western education thrives on this form of human worship. Each person is equipped with great knowledge so that they can become the ultimate controller of their lives.

This is the reason so many of us don’t like thinking about God’s sovereignty. We think it violates our right to rule our own lives. But look closely with me at these words. What is the end purpose of all things as far as earth and redemption on earth is concerned? Clearly He says it is to bring great glory and dominion to Him unto eternity. Let’s define a few of these terms.

2. All the Glory

All the glory is to go to Him. No honor, respect or fanfare is to go to anyone but Him. Whether you are looking for fame and recognition through your degrees, discoveries, wealth or position, you need to turn away from your self. You need to turn the focus on the Lord Himself.

The glory will go to the Lord but so will the dominion or power. When we think of dominion, we of course think of the power or might of a king. We are not asking what local police chief can do. Presidents have limited power. They have congress. A king, though, can and does on his own make a decision to go to war. Once having been made, the whole nation shapes itself to fight. God’s power is just awesome.

Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth. So anything God wants done can effectively be done. This would lead us into a good series on discerning God’s will and especially on “Waiting upon God.” In the end we must recognize that power is not the reason God does or not do certain things. It is because of His wise plan.

Now it is great that this Christ would love us and save us from our sin. But the purpose just doesn’t stop there. This is the greatest problem with modern preaching. They think life rotates around their own desires and preferences. They in the end are like the five foolish virgins. In paying to much attention to other things, getting caught up in life’s snares, they just got caught off guard.

3. Our Only Opportunity

This is the reason that the Lord reminds us in Revelation 1:7 of our life’s final scene.

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is, and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8)

The five foolish virgins lost their chance. Their lives showed they were not mostly concerned with the Bridegroom. I wonder what we will have to show the Lord that we were waiting and desiring His coming.

In summary, we must acknowledge that all the purposes of God are for His own glory. God wants us excited about Him and His power. For this reason God often holds off answering prayer so that we come to understand that it is by His might. God wants to create a testimony in our lives about His greatness, not our own. Having said the end reason for all the activity on the earth, let us see the chief means God accomplishes His glorious plan.

Continue reading => B. God’s Glorious Redemptive Plan (Revelation 1:5-6)

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Biblical Foundations for Freedom ( BFF )

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell