THE WILL OF GOD,

AND THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL

`The earth shall cast out the dead (Rephaim)' (Isa. 26:19).

` In that day the LORD -- shall slay the dragon that is in the sea' (Isa. 27:1).

Coming back to the subject of redemption, we learn:

(1) Redemption can only be effected by the next of kin.

(2) Who at the same time is the avenger on the enemy.

(3) The two main types for which redemption was provided are:

(a) A forfeited inheritance (Ruth).

(b) Bondage (Lev. 25:47-52).

(4) That resurrection life is the outcome (Hos. 13:14; Psa. 49:7-9; Job 19:25-27).

(5) That in this new life the redeemed are reinstated, the adoption is realised, the inheritance secured, the

bondage removed, and the way made clear for the outworking of the original purpose of God.

A. -- I suppose you would say that the fact that we have been redeemed will be sufficient to prevent us from falling

B. -- No, I do not. Eternity would never be free of the dreadful possibility of failure if that were so. Once more to

our type. Boaz, not only redeemed the forfeited inheritance, HE MARRIED THE WOMAN. Our security for ever is that

we are not only redeemed by His precious blood, but made one with Himself; that is our stay.

A. -- I must admit that your presentation of redemption is very convincing and seems to fit in with many passages of

Scripture, but when we were looking at Ephesians 1:1-14 I think you said that redemption was not included in the

will of the Father. Would you mind making your meaning clear?

B. -- My meaning was that in the will of God, speaking of it `after the manner of men', He appointed His heirs, and

their place in His purpose. The question of their possible fall and need for redemption does not figure therein, but is

indicated by a special term in the section which is connected with `the work of the Son'.

A. -- My own conception of the subject is that God's Fatherly love could never have been manifested or experienced

had not sin given it the necessary background of hatred and distance, and that sin was as much the purpose of God as

any other part of His creation.

B. -- I know there are some who do not hesitate to say that God would never have known the sweet response of love

apart from sin, but such is not the truth. In John 17:23 the Lord Jesus says of the Father:

`Thou -- hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me'.

Unless you are prepared therefore to say that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the chief of sinners, you must

confess that those who teach that it was necessary for God to plunge men into sin and wickedness in order to show

how much He loved them, are perilously near to becoming blasphemous. Imagine a father exposing his sons and his

daughters to lives of shame and vice, so that when they had sounded the depths of degradation and sin he could

show his fatherly love in their reconciliation! The idea is monstrous, and only gains in its terrible character as it is

suggested of God the Father.

A. -- I am afraid I had not looked at the subject in that light, and certainly feel it does not square with John 17:23.

Yet God loved the world of sinners, and Christ died for such.

B. -- That is blessedly true. It is one thing to believe that God's love is such that neither sin nor death can alter it or

make it fail of its purpose; it is quite another thing to teach that He plunged us all into sin in order to impart to His

creatures the delicious sense of His Fatherly affection.

A. -- Yet redemption cannot be something outside the will of God.