called by God `the fulness of the time', marked by the most wonderful event

made known to men:

`When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of

a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law'

(Gal. 4:4,5).  (See Pleroma, p. 197).

So the purpose unfolds, ever revealing more and more the central place

that the Son of God holds in its development, until we read of its fruition

and full accomplishment when the Son, having brought the purpose of the ages

to a glorious consummation, hands over to the Father a perfected kingdom,

that `God' (not specifically the Father or the Son) may be all in all (1 Cor.

15:24 -28).

Not only have we the fact, the fulfilment, and the glorious centre of

this purpose, but we further learn that all creatures are in some way agents

in the mighty plan.  So far as mankind is concerned it is divided into three

classes, two of them racial and one spiritual.  First, we have the two

national divisions of Jew and Gentile.  Israel's agency in the great purpose

may be summed up in three particulars: (1) a chosen people, (2) a city

(Jerusalem), and (3) a king (David typically, but Christ really).  The

Church, the spiritual agency, made up of an election from Jew and Gentile,

constitutes the third agency.  These three divisions run their appointed ways

without fusing, but are drawn near together by two great outstanding events,

namely, the First and Second Coming of Christ.

Satan works along lines that closely resemble the working of God in

some particulars, and his activities constitute a great opposing feature,

overruled and made to contribute finally to the outworking of the purpose of

the God of all grace.

The one great purpose of God is displayed under varying forms again and

First we have a perfect creation (Gen. 1:1).

Then a fall, darkness and chaos.

Then a renewal (Gen. 1,2).

If we leave the cosmic platform and limit ourselves

to the human plane, the purpose is again displayed in Genesis 3:

First a perfect creation.  Man.

Then a fall, death and expulsion.

But a restoration promised and typified.

Leaving the wider circle of the human race we notice the story of the

First the nations divided by God (Gen. 10)

Then their rebellion (Gen. 11)

Then their only hope of restoration (Gen. 12)

This is as far as Genesis takes us.  Exodus now expands the theme, but

confines itself to the fortunes of the one nation Israel.  The same order is

First the fruitful and mighty people (Exod. 1:1 -7).