God’s eternal purpose is not shallow, nor is it limited to human sight. His intention is that the Church would display His manifold, multifaceted wisdom—not just to humanity, but to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Every move God makes is profound, accomplishing layers of purpose that no human scheme could ever rival.
The Sending of the Son: The Seed and the Heir
God’s self-revelation reaches its climax in the sending of His Son. Christ is not merely a teacher or a moral example; He is the Seed of the Woman, the Seed of Abraham, and the Seed of David. These titles are not ornamental—they are the legal and covenantal basis for everything God has promised. In Christ, every promise finds its “Yes” and “Amen.” He is the rightful heir of all that God pledged to humanity, and He stands as the federal Head—the representative—of the entire human race before God. As the Last Adam, He alone possesses the authority and legitimacy to inherit and administer every covenant God ever made.
The Voluntary Sacrifice: Authority Exercised in Death
Before the cross, Christ was already the heir by right. Yet He did not cling to His status. Instead, He exercised His authority by laying down His life. This was not a tragic loss or an act forced upon Him by men. It was a deliberate, voluntary act of obedience to the Father’s command:
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
—John 10:18
Here is the depth of God’s move: Christ’s death was not defeat, but the very means by which He fulfilled the Father’s will and secured redemption. This voluntary sacrifice is the tool by which God’s wisdom is enacted and His purpose advanced.
Resurrection and Exaltation: Declared the Son of God with Power
But God’s work did not end at the cross. He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand. In that resurrection and exaltation, Christ was not merely restored—He was declared (designated) the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness:
“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
—Romans 1:3-4
This is not a mere title; it is the public, heavenly, and legal affirmation of Christ’s authority as the heir and representative of humanity. He is now enthroned, possessing all authority in heaven and on earth.
The Church: The Display of God’s Manifold Wisdom
Why did God orchestrate all of this? So that His manifold wisdom would be put on display through the Church—not just to the world, but to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms:
“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”
—Ephesians 3:10
The Church is not a footnote or an afterthought. She is the living proof, the vessel through which God’s eternal purpose is revealed. In Christ’s death, resurrection, and exaltation, the Church becomes the means by which God’s wisdom is broadcast to the cosmos.
What Is Lost If This Is Denied?
If you reduce Christ to a mere example, or if you neglect His federal headship and the fulfillment of covenantal promises in Him, you lose everything: justification collapses, inheritance is forfeited, and sonship is rendered meaningless. If Christ is not the designated, authoritative heir—if His death and resurrection are not the foundation of our standing—then the Church has nothing to display but human effort and religious pretense. The manifold wisdom of God is obscured, and the eternal purpose is left unfulfilled.
The Unfolding of God’s Eternal Purpose
Everything in history is moving toward this: the heading up of all things in Christ, the fulfillment of every covenantal promise, and the public vindication of God’s wisdom through the Church. We are not merely forgiven; we are joined to the Heir, the One who has already secured the victory and sits enthroned with all authority. God’s redemptive plan is not a patchwork—it is a finished masterpiece, and His move is deep.
Read more: Romans I-VIII – Righteousness in Heaven. Life on Earth.
