What was/is the purpose of Jesus coming to Earth according to the Bible?

[Marston]

In Genesis we see that Satan and then humanity rebelled against God. The following verses suggest that Jesus's purpose was/is to unite ALL THINGS back to God the Father. Do you agree?

Ephesians 1:7-10
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

 

[Lamb]

God told us about His promise in the book of Genesis after Adam and Eve fell, and that promise was a Savior.

We also see that in Galatians 4-5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

 

[Marston]

God told us about His promise in the book of Genesis after Adam and Eve fell, and that promise was a Savior.

We also see that in Galatians 4-5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Is it God's plan to use Jesus to unite "all things" back to him?

 

[BruceLeiter]

Is it God's plan to use Jesus to unite "all things" back to him?

@Marston, please read Ephesians 1:1-14 a few times and tell me whether or not "all" means every human and thing in the universe. It doesn't, because Paul addresses just the believers at Ephesus and describes our future inheritance of the new universe, which God plans before he creates anything. "All things" refers to all believers and that new universe.

 

[Marston]

"All things" refers to all believers and that new universe.

I don't share your interpretation. Paul said "all things" because that is what he meant.

Edited to add that Jesus says that he is making "ALL THINGS" new in Revelation 21:5, which confirms what Paul said.

Revelation 21:5
English Standard Version
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

 

[Marston]

In keeping with his mission to reconcile ALL THINGS back to God the Father and to make "ALL THINGS NEW", it is necessary for Jesus to destroy all of Satan's works.

1 John 3:8
English Standard Version
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.


One reason that I reject the theology of forever punishment is that when Jesus destroys the works of the devil, all beings will be free from the affliction of sin. Why would someone be subjected to forever punishment AFTER Jesus removed all of the works of the devil and made everything new?

 

[BruceLeiter]

In keeping with his mission to reconcile ALL THINGS back to God the Father and to make "ALL THINGS NEW", it is necessary for Jesus to destroy all of Satan's works.

1 John 3:8
English Standard Version
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.


One reason that I reject the theology of forever punishment is that when Jesus destroys the works of the devil, all beings will be free from the affliction of sin. Why would someone be subjected to forever punishment AFTER Jesus removed all of the works of the devil and made everything new?

So, have the works of the devil been completely removed, @Marston? They have in principle at the cross but not in practice in believers' and unbelievers' lives yet. That final accomplishment has yet to happen. In quoting 1 John 3:8, you assume that those works are completely finished. Yes, Jesus provided the turning point at the cross and with the empty tomb, but he is still at work in believers' lives to root out the old, sinful nature that we all have within us.

To answer your last question, you are trying to reason out God's mysteries beyond Scripture. "Forever punishment" is what most humans apparently want because they turn their backs on the true Creator-God during their whole lifetimes. God is a God of justice, and his just actions merely let unbelievers have their own way in being eternally absent from God's loving and gracious presence, the way they have always lived this life.

 

[Marston]

In quoting 1 John 3:8, you assume that those works are completely finished.

No brother. I am saying that Jesus will destroy all of Satan's works. For now Satan is doing EXACTLY what God set forth for him to do, which is to torment (test) us. Eventually ALL beings will follow Jesus and then Jesus will give the completed Kingdom to God the Father!

1 Corinthians 15:28
28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

 

[BruceLeiter]

No brother. I am saying that Jesus will destroy all of Satan's works. For now Satan is doing EXACTLY what God set forth for him to do, which is to torment (test) us. Eventually ALL beings will follow Jesus and then Jesus will give the completed Kingdom to God the Father!

1 Corinthians 15:28
28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Brother @Marston, when you say, "eventually ALL beings will follow Jesus," you change the text to fit your own universalist-tending ideas. Here is the context:

1Co 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1Co 15:21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
1Co 15:28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Paul contrasts the result of Adam's sin, death, with the results of Jesus' resurrection (verse 22), our resurrection "in Christ," Paul's favorite phrase. Obviously, only true believers are "in Christ," as he explains further in verse 23.

Jesus "destroys" all evil power, his enemies who will be put "under his feet." Perhaps, you know that in those days, after a king wins a war, the defeated king has to come and let the winner put his feet on the loser's neck to symbolize his dominance. What Paul does not do in this passage is to describe what will happen to his defeated enemies. That result is shown in other passages. Please don't change the exact meaning of a passage.

Verse 28 shows that the enemies of Jesus who will be defeated will become "subject" to him, not that they will be converted.

 

[Marston]

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

You're misunderstanding this verse. It's saying that Adam brings death to all but that Jesus brings life to all.

 

[Marston]

 

[BruceLeiter]

You're misunderstanding this verse. It's saying that Adam brings death to all but that Jesus brings life to all.

You neglect to notice that Paul uses his favorite phrase "in Christ."

You're misunderstanding this verse. It's saying that Adam brings death to all but that Jesus brings life to all.

The context of the phrase "in Christ" and the word "all" qualifies the latter word so that all believers will be given resurrection life in contrast with all unbelievers' death through Adam. It's not what you think it means but what the text and the context say it means, @Marston. I hope that you can interpret the Bible on its own merits but not with your presuppositions.