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#339 Kingdom: The Predestined Plan Of God


The Father’s Plan was predetermined before the world was restored. We were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world was laid. God knew the end of His plan before His plan began to take shape. Therefore, we have been predestined to that end. It is obvious that all who are called will not strive to enter into the rectification necessary to fulfill our part of the purpose of God.


Obviously, God’s plan was not affected by sin, or by time or by situations or by anything that man did. The end to his plan was already determined before the world was.


An example could be when a plan is decided upon to build a house or an automobile the end is determined before the process begins. In that same way God created Adam with a finished goal in mind. Adam would be created from the dust of the earth and be endued with a natural life. He would be given a soul and a spirit that would have the embryo of God’s image and likeness.


Then God gave Adam the necessary facilities to make a series of moral choices to develop into a biological son of God. Adam was a “created son” but with natural, created life. Through a series of choices Adam was to develop into the character of God, with His vision, His Spirit, His goals, His attitudes, and His disposition fully in harmony with that of God.


In order to accomplish this end Adam must begin by choosing to reject his own selfish way and to develop spiritually and also to reject the desire to live independently of God. He could select, by a moral choice, the Tree of Life and be totally dependent upon God for his life by coming into a “life union with God.” This would set Adam into a Vine-branch connection by sharing THE LIFE with God.


Even though both Adam and Eve chose to develop naturally and independently from God, His eternal plan did not change. Even though man completely lost his way and could no longer understand the mystery of his creation, the plan of God never changed.


Even though man must be redeemed if he was to fulfill the plan of God, the plan of God never changed. God would have a man that would share His Life, live in Life-union, adapt to His eternal plan and enter into a rectification of his inner life as his main purpose of existence. Some place in this process of rectification man must receive an inner revelation of God’s eternal plan so he can inform others of the reason for their existence. This plan would be included in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.


The Gospel of the Kingdom must include the clear understanding that God has provided everything necessary for man to begin his own moral development and start the process of transforming his “natural life” into the “spiritual life” and become a “spiritual son” like the only begotten Son. Through a series of moral choices man may voluntarily take part in this wonderful process of metamorphosis, to grow up into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.


Dictionary– metamorphosis >noun (pl. metamorphoses) 1 the transformation of an insect or amphibian from an immature form or larva to an adult form in distinct stages. 2 a change in form or nature.


-ORIGIN Greek, from metamorphoun ‘transform, change shape’


In nature the metamorphosis is from one physical form to another. As an example from a worm into a butterfly. The transformation is physical but the life of the original worm is retained. However, the spiritual metamorphosis requires an exchange of life. Our original life from Adam is not sufficient to grow up into the fulness of Christ and be conformed to His image. The old life must be laid aside and the new eternal life must be developed for the metamorphosis to be complete.


From the position of son-ship [ born of God] man could continue to develop in his son-ship until he is qualified to be an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. As a joint heir, man is still encouraged to enter into a deeper consecration and a greater rectification of his inner life to develop God’s own character and embrace His ultimate goals. Why? Because God has predetermined that He will have many sons who can share the glory with His only begotten Son and to develop into the Life of Reigning with Christ. This means to live a life of complete overcoming and to sit with Christ on His Throne. This is not by developing the physical life but by developing the spiritual life that is received by the new birth. If we retain the life of Adam we will perish but if we lay that aside we can receive Life eternal.


John 12: 25] “He who loves his life [psuche] loses it; and he who hates his life [psuche] in this world shall keep it to life [zoe] eternal. Retaining the old life of Adam might be a fatal mistake because the Eternal Life of God [Zoe] is available to all who ask. However, developing this life into the character and nature of Christ is another matter. This is what really constitutes spiritual maturity along with the development of the new spirit in man. Multitudes have been born as spiritual babies by receiving His [zoe] life but then never develop that life into maturity and manifesting the character and fulness of Christ.


Making proper moral choices and living a moral life by natural means is sometimes accepted as “Christianity.” However, unless the life [zoe] of God is the source of morality this is not really “Christian.”


1 Pet 1:23] for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God. [24] For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, [25] BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER.”


Only that which is born of God can return to God. This “life” is birthed in us by receiving the living and abiding Word of God, the Spirit of Christ! All regular flesh will not survive but like all natural things will decay.


This is a such high calling that it is totally beyond the ability of the natural man. For that reason we must permit God to begin an eternal work IN US. Our gospel should begin with this vision of God’s Eternal Purpose as our message. No time can be wasted with a lesser gospel because of the tremendous work that God must accomplish during our stay on earth. The process then is Like This; 1: Receiving His Life


2: Surrender to the Process of Metamorphosis


3: Participation in the process experientially


4: Consecration to do the whole will of God


5: Laying down the life of Adam by the exchange of Life


6: Transformation into Christ


7: Qualifying and being counted worthy of the Kingdom.


Since we must be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, there is a continuous process in the development of our inner life. There is also a continuous opportunity to make moral choices to continue the process of rectification. This means to be in a continuous process of change to transform us from we are to what He is. This “process” involves our spiritual growth or more precisely the growth of our spirit and the cleansing of our soul of all the garbage left from our union with the first Adam.


As we delve into the process of development we discover that some things come to us simply by the GRACE of GOD through faith in what Christ has accomplished for us at Calvary.


A simple Diagram may help us understand the process of “going on with God.”


We should understand that each growth stage begins in the “inner life” and not just by some outward ministry. Each of these stages of growth BEGIN in the Inner Life!


Being Born Again and forgiveness of sins is something that happens in the inner life.


Surrender to God and to His purpose is an activity of the inner man. The new man is the inner man not the outward person. Priesthood is primarily an inner work of God. We have assumed that “Ministry” was just an outward work rather than an “Inward Life.” Ministry in not just a matter of training but of development. Because we accepted Outer Court ministry by outward training, the inner life is ignored.


However, there are many things of the inner life become our experience by discipline, by trials, hardships, testings, through intense inner training by God and by overcoming the obstacles in our path.


These work into us His Life, His Character, His mind, His vision, and His goals. All these things were planed for Adam EVEN IF HE DID NOT SIN. Therefore, we need to make some distinction between what comes to us simply by the grace of God and what comes to us by the working of God in us.


Phil 2:12-----work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.


We may assume that God will automatically do everything that is necessary simply because we are born again. However, as we see with Adam, he must continually choose God’s way and God’s will. We must ask, seek and knock and participate in our own development through our consecration and obedience. Then, as sons, we must be ready for the Holy Spirit to impart to us the Father’s Mind, His purpose, His Vision, His Wisdom, and His Revelation of His eternal purpose.


Eph 1:15----while making mention of you in my prayers; [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.


This IS the reason that some growth process precedes this revelation. There must be some growth and consecration before we can receive understanding of His will, of His work in us and our need for development and character and to receive the knowledge of His ultimate intension when we finally qualify for the “adoption of sons.”


GAL 4:1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, [2] but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. [3] So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. [4] But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, [5] in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.


A shallow reading of this scripture may suggest that all born again people are “sons of God.” Of course they are by birth, but as babes or small children we are still under tutors and discipline until we grow to the position in Christ that was established by the Father! This growth and development is essential so we can receive the “adoption as sons.” The Holy Spirit was sent to tutor, to discipline and train us to the standard and growth set by the Father. At this time, He informs the Father that this one meets the Father’s requirements and can now be adopted into the Father’s family. We might call this “adoption by growth and by qualification.”


Mat 12: 48] But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” [49] And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold, My mother and My brothers! [50] “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”


To be included in the family of Christ we must each one do the will of the Father. If this fact is overlooked we may fail to see the importance of this growth, rectification and development so that we have the ability to do His will!


God has already predetermined the standard for us to achieve before we are “adopted into His family.” Of course we are “heirs by birth” but we are adopted by meeting the standard set by the Father. Jesus demonstrates this at the Jordan River when He was baptized.


Mat 3: 16] And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, [17] and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”


This was confirmed again when Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration. Luke 9: 7] Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”


At this time the Father confirmed that Jesus was qualified to speak for the Father so you listen to Him. Jesus had the use of the Father’s name and the authority to speak for the Father AS HIS BELOVED SON. For Jesus to speak was exactly the same as the Father speaking.


If Jesus made a promise, it was the same as the Father making the promise. He stood with the Father and the Father stood with Him. This IS THE IMMEDIATE GOAL FOR THE CHURCH TODAY. To grow up into SON-SHIP.


John 14:13] “And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.


Of course Jesus gave us the use of His name but it appears to me that too many are shouting out the name of Jesus that are still so immature that they really are not making a practical and possibly legal use of that name. The Bible seems to make the use of His name unconditional. It is unconditional in certain circumstances. For example; all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Mark 16: 17] “And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; However, to use His Name in an unauthorized way or for unauthorized things, is a waste of time and energy.


Mat 10: 22] “And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved


Mat 24: 5] “For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.


It is my opinion that those who have grown and developed into His character will have incredible use of His name, AFTER they can be trusted with Kingdom responsibility.


While we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ by birth we only receive the adoption as sons by qualification.


Rom 8: 17] and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.


Those who only read part of the scripture and ignore the “Ifs” assume if we are born again we will inherit everything that belongs to Christ!


My interpretation of the goal of the Christian Life is to become an entirely God centered son who is living in His Eternal Vision and for His ultimate Purpose with His wisdom and understanding. I believe this is extremely important because we cannot live beyond our own vision and goals and run the race to the end if we have no idea where we are going. Our vision and goals must be HIS own vision and goals or we may run in vain. For this reason it is clear that our very starting point must be “IN GOD.”


The Next part of this document will be titled “Going On Unto Employment.”


This assumes that the Eternal Kingdom of God will be a functioning Government that will employ those who are qualified by their honesty, integrity, character, compassion, attitudes and Christ like qualities. “EMPLOYMENT” assumes that to rule with Christ in His Kingdom we must be like Him. To rule over the nations we must be broken the same way that He received authority.


Rev 2:26] `And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO him I will give authority over the NATIONS; [27] AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father.