BY HUGH FULFORD ─ With reference to the development and unfolding of God’s eternal purpose to redeem mankind by Christ, the observant reader of scripture will be struck by the use of such expressions as “once,” “then,” “at that time,” “in other ages,” etc., followed by “but now.”
For instance, in Ephesians Paul speaks of “the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:5-6). He speaks of the fellowship of the mystery “which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church …” (Ephesians 3:9-10). In Colossians he writes of “the mystery which has been hidden … but now has been revealed to His saints” (1:26). In Romans he speaks of “the mystery which was kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest” (Romans 16:25-26).
Thus, there was the age of mystery when God’s plan was hidden, followed by the age of manifestation when it was made known.
The “then” and the “now” of the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose carries over to the “then” and the “now” of those who enter into that purpose by faith in Christ and obedience to the gospel.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh … that at that time you were without Christ, beings aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13). He goes on to say, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. . .” (verse 19).
Earlier he had reminded them that they had been dead in trespasses and sins when they “once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind . . . But God, who is rich in mercy … even when we were dead in trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:1-5). Later, he would affirm, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8).
To Titus, Paul wrote: “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived … but when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared” (Titus 3:3-7). Peter reminded his readers that they “once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (I Peter 2:10).
The reality is that all—whether Jews or Gentiles—who have never become participants in God’s eternal purpose find themselves in the “then, at that time” situation.
Only those who have obeyed the gospel and become Christians are in the “now” situation. Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, that he must be born again—of water and the Spirit—in order to enter the kingdom (John 3:3-5). His Jewishness did not automatically make him a part of God’s eternal purpose “which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11). In Acts 2, about three thousand Jews heard and believed the gospel, repented, and were baptized for the remission of their sins (verses 22-41), and thereby became participants in God’s eternal purpose. In Acts 10, the first Gentiles were told of God’s eternal purpose, and wishing to be a part of it, they were commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord (verse 48).
When we come to comprehend the “then” and the “now” of God’s eternal purpose, key scriptures in the Old Testament take on greater significance and deeper meaning for us, e.g.,: Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 18:15-17; II Samuel 7:1-17; Psalm 110; Isaiah 2:1-4; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 53; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Daniel 2:44 (to mention only a small handful).
Likewise, landmark texts of the New Testament will be more greatly appreciated, e.g.,: Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Titus 2:11-14; John 1:1-3, 14, 18; John 3:16-17; I John 1:1-3; Hebrews 2:14-15; Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; I Timothy 1:15; I Timothy 3:16; John 14:6; II Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 16:18-19, 24-27; Luke 24:44-47; Romans 1:16; Jude 3; Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 22:17 (again, only a handful).
No longer will the Bible be a disjointed, unintelligible book, but it will be seen as the systematic unfolding of one grand eternal purpose—God’s purpose to redeem man through Jesus Christ—the Old Testament being preparatory for the New Testament, with the former seamlessly giving way to the latter.
Most of all, when we come to grips with the “Once, then, at that time” and the “but now” of God’s eternal purpose, our lives will be tremendously impacted and transformed. We will say,
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Hugh sends out his ezine, “Hugh’s News & Views,” on a regular basis. He currently lives in Florida.
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