The Purpose Of God
The Purpose of Elohim
By: Irnawan Silitonga
Our theme this time is ‘The Purpose of Elohim’. Why is it absolutely essential for Christians to understand the purpose of Elohim? A Christian who does not understand the purpose of Elohim will easily be tossed about in life, even lost. Many Christians sincerely want to follow the Lord, but because they do not understand the purpose of Elohim, they end up not only lost but also enslaved. Jesus said in John 8:32, “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Understanding the truth of the purpose of Elohim will free Christians from slavery.
Let us be open about this matter of slavery, even though such openness may be painful, especially for the majority of religious leaders in the Christian world. Christians who attend worship services in denominational buildings, perform various rituals, and pay tithes, firstfruits, and other offerings, generally do so with the purpose of being blessed by God, entering heaven, and avoiding the torment of an allegedly eternal hell. This purpose of the majority of Christians can be proven: if an angel were to say that there is no heaven, no hell, and everyone is free to do whatever they like… if such news were heard, perhaps more than half of the visitors to denominational buildings would no longer come.
If a Christian truly understood the purpose of Elohim as revealed in the Bible, then certainly he would not want to do the things mentioned above, nor would he be motivated by fear of an allegedly eternal hell. Generally, the teachings about heaven with its streets of gold where we worship God forever, or about hell that is also allegedly eternal, or about having to pay this and that, having to go to this or that building, or having to do this or that to be blessed… all these are usually the “merchandise” sold by religious leaders in the Christian world. There are even certain leaders who claim to have gone to hell, or visited heaven several times, and so on and so forth.
This brief writing intends that His chosen people may come to know the truth of the purpose of Elohim and thus be freed from such bondage. Let us begin by paying attention to Ephesians 1:9–10, which says: “He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ”.
We will not discuss this passage of God’s Word in detail at this moment. However, it is clear from these verses that Elohim has a purpose. Not only does Elohim have a purpose, but He has also predestined everything in advance. Not a single event in this universe happens outside of Elohim’s arrangement; even the fall of a sparrow does not occur apart from His will (Matthew 10:29). Paul affirms, “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Everything exists and was created by Elohim with a definite purpose. Therefore, Elohim has a purpose, and He will surely accomplish His purpose.
Let us return to Ephesians 1:9–10, which says,
“He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
There are several things we need to pay attention to from the verses above.
First, that all things will be united in Christ, both in heaven and on earth. In the original text, there is no term ‘head’ as it appears in the Indonesian Bible version above, even though, of course, in reality Christ Jesus is the Head. So, all things will be united in Christ. The expression ‘to unite’ is translated from the Greek term ‘anakephalaioo’ (a verb), which comes from the root words ana and kephalaioo. The preposition ‘ana’ means ‘again’. This shows that everything will return to its original condition where there was no separation. To unite all things in Christ means everything will RETURN TO BEING UNITED IN CHRIST. There will be nothing ‘outside of Christ’ that remains separated.
Adam’s sin brought about separation everywhere in Elohim’s creation. But our verse above affirms that there will come a time when nothing will be separated anymore, and ALL THINGS WILL BE UNITED IN CHRIST. The phrase “all things” in the verse comes from the Greek ‘pas, which means ‘all’, the whole, every kind of. This means everything created by Elohim—not only living beings, but also the entire universe as a whole. This is the ‘purpose of Elohim’ as revealed in the verse above.
Second, the Indonesian Bible’s translation, ‘the plan for the fullness of time’, comes from the Greek phrase ‘oikonomia ho pleroma ho kairos’, which is more precisely translated in Young’s Literal Translation as ‘the dispensation of the fullness of the times’. As we know, Elohim’s plan, or Elohim’s purpose, will be fulfilled through several dispensations (or ages). The verse above speaks of an age in which all things will be united in Christ, namely the age (dispensation) of ‘the fullness of the times’, or ‘the fullness of time’ according to the Indonesian translation. We will not discuss now about ‘the fullness of the times’ or the various ages through which the fulfillment of ‘the purpose of Elohim’ unfolds. What is important for us to understand now is that THERE IS A MOMENT OR A TIME when all things will be united in Christ.
Third, what we need to notice from our verse above is the expression ‘the mystery of His will’. The word ‘mystery’ (Gr. ‘musterion’) does not mean something hidden and impossible to understand. Rather, it requires revelation for the Lord’s disciples to understand ‘the mystery of His will’. In fact, the revelation of the mystery of His will, or ‘the purpose of Elohim’, has already been clearly declared in Scripture—that all things will be united in Christ. Unfortunately, however, within Christianity it has been taught and believed by the majority of the Lord’s disciples that Elohim will only choose some people to enter heaven while others (perhaps the majority) will be cast into hell and tormented forever. This results in the CREATION OF ELOHIM REMAINING SEPARATED FOREVER. This doctrine of ‘eternal hell’ is what keeps ‘the mystery of His will’ as a mystery for most of the Lord’s disciples. But His chosen ones will receive revelation concerning ‘the purpose of Elohim’ which is clearly stated in Scripture.
We have seen that God’s purpose is to unite all things in Christ, and this will be fulfilled in the dispensation of ‘the fullness of times’. Now we will discuss who Christ is. Colossians 1:28 affirms, “Him we proclaim… leading everyone to perfection in Christ”. Paul preached Christ, and even with all his strength according to His power which worked mightily in Paul (verse 29). Why is that so? Let us look at some points about Christ.
First, Christ is the mystery of God (Colossians 2:2). As we know, to understand a mystery requires revelation. If God grants His grace to us, then we will come to know His mystery.
Second, Christ in us is our Life, and also our glory. In Colossians 1:27 it is written, “…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (LITV). Likewise, Colossians 3:4 affirms, “…Christ, who is our life…”. Christ in us is not merely doctrine or knowledge in our minds. If indeed ‘Christ in us’ has become revelation knowledge, then this will have a great impact on our daily life and the way we worship. In John 4, Jesus clearly said that the time is coming when people will worship God not “on this mountain or that mountain.” This means that worship is in Christ (in our spirit). But, religious leaders in Christianity generally make the Lord’s disciples worship with the focus that it ‘must be in this building or that building’, ‘must give this offering or that offering, ‘must follow this liturgy or that liturgy’… must… must… and must. Such teaching about worship not only enslaves the congregation but also violates the word ‘Christ in us’. Worship, as Jesus taught, must be inward and expressed in everyday life—not about this or that requirement. Surely, we know what these religious leaders mean when they insist on all these requirements.
Furthermore, the glory of His chosen people is inward, because Christ is in our inner being. If someone, in his ministry, tends to seek human glory or tries to please people, he is not truly a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). But it is common in Christianity that when someone is called a “great pastor,” what is considered great are the number of followers, the size of the building, the amount of money, or perhaps the theological school—not Christ in his inner being. If indeed Christ is our life and our glory, then this revelation will be clearly seen in both our ministry and our daily life. “Christ in us” is not a theory or doctrine, but something very practical.
Third, Christ is the Head (Jesus) and the Body (the church), and Christ takes the form of a Kingdom. Ephesians 5:5 affirms, “…having a part in the Kingdom of Christ…”. The kingdom of God is within you, and we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. If someone is still teaching the Lord’s disciples about a heaven far away where the streets are supposedly paved with gold, and that we will enter there someday after we die… and even adding that we will be raptured from the earth to sing forever in heaven… this proves that he has not yet received the revelation of ‘Christ in us’.
Furthermore, His chosen people are formed to function as kings and priests according to the order of Melchizedek, within the kingdom of Christ. If someone studies the matter of priesthood, he will come to know that the priesthood in Christianity is neither according to Aaron’s order nor according to Melchizedek’s order.
We have already briefly discussed three points about who Christ is: that Christ is the mystery of Elohim, Christ is our Life and glory, and Christ is corporate in the sense of Head and Body as well as in the form of a kingdom. We have also seen that Christ is within our inner being.
Now we will discuss the next point, the fourth, that Christ is the new creation. Revelation 3:14 affirms, “…the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation” (LAI). In Revelation 3:14, the faithful and true witness is, of course, Jesus Christ. This verse asserts that Jesus Christ is the beginning of Elohim’s creation. Indeed, the Greek term ‘arche’ can mean ‘ruler’ (chief), but it also means ‘beginning’. Some Bible versions translate it as ‘ruler’ or ‘chief’.
Let us carefully consider incarnation, even though today it is much debated. John 1:1,14 clearly states that the Word (Logos) became flesh, that is, Jesus. We are 100% convinced that the Logos is Elohim, the Second Person (the Son), who has been with the Father from eternity, but became incarnate and became human. The flesh or body that Mary gave Him was clearly created. Anyone with common sense understands that the body (flesh) is a creation. Therefore, Jesus is both the Creator (Elohim) and at the same time creation.
Next, let us look at 1 Corinthians 15:45,47 (ILT), which says, “…The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit… The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second Man is from heaven, namely the Lord.” Jesus died on the cross as the ‘last Adam’, meaning that all the consequences of the first Adam’s sin, as well as all his descendants, were completely resolved on the cross. But when Jesus rose and sat at the right hand of the Father, He was the ‘second Man’. And this Second Man is the new beginning of the human race, and at the same time the first of Elohim’s creation. The term often used by Paul for the Second Man as the new human race is ‘Christ’. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ and has a relationship with Him is a new creation. This is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” Galatians 6:15 also affirms, “For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but what matters is a new creation.”
From the explanation above, we can clearly see that Christ, consisting of Head and Body, the corporate Second Man, IS THE NEW CREATION. Indeed, Christ is the mystery of Elohim, but He is no longer a mystery to His chosen people.
If Christians truly see that Christ is the new creation, then surely they will proclaim Christ, just as Paul did (Colossians 1:8-9). For what matters is being a new creation, not teaching about ‘circumcision or uncircumcision’. Circumcision or uncircumcision belongs to religious rules (Judaism). If a preacher teaches religious rules, such as requiring Sunday services here or there, paying tithes, firstfruits or faith pledges, following liturgies, creeds, or cell groups in order to grow… in reality, he is not proclaiming Christ who is the new creation. All such religious rules have no meaning; today, God’s chosen people live in Christ and grow in Christ by His grace.
We continue our discussion regarding the points of who Christ is. Fifth, Romans 8:9 affirms, “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (ILT). In this verse we see SPIRIT, SPIRIT OF ELOHIM, and SPIRIT OF CHRIST used interchangeably by Paul with the same meaning. This proves that what Paul means by the terms SPIRIT, SPIRIT OF ELOHIM, or SPIRIT OF CHRIST IS THE SAME. The indwelling of this Spirit within a person will prove whether that person belongs to Him or not. And one who belongs to the Lord is the one who does not live in the flesh but in this Spirit.
Thus, the fifth point, concerning Christ dwelling within the believers, is that CHRIST IS THE SPIRIT. The above verse clearly states that the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God. But is it the Spirit of God the Father, or the Spirit of God the Son, or the Spirit of God in the sense of the third Person, namely the Holy Spirit?
Let us pay attention to these verses. Elohim the Father is Spirit (John 4:24). John 4:24 states, “God is Spirit…” (ILT). The context of this verse is speaking about worship to the FATHER (verse 23). Therefore, what this verse means is that ‘ELOHIM THE FATHER IS SPIRIT’. Next, we look at 1 Corinthians 15:45, which states that the last Adam (Jesus) is a life-giving Spirit. Then, 2 Corinthians 3:17 states, “For the Lord is the Spirit…” Certainly, what this verse refers to as Lord is Jesus; therefore, THE LORD JESUS IS SPIRIT. Furthermore, there is the Holy Spirit as the third Person of Elohim revealed in the New Testament.
We acknowledge that there are three Persons in Elohim, yet in essence, Elohim is one. The Person of the Father is the Spirit of God. The Person of the Son is the Spirit of God. The Person of the Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of God, and THESE THREE PERSONS DWELL WITHIN THE BELIEVERS AS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHO IS ONE. The concept of ‘Elohim as Trinity’ is not meant to be debated, but to be enjoyed daily by the believers within their inner being. The Spirit of Christ in our inner being is what must be experienced day by day.
The next point, sixth, Christ is the flow of living water and the fountain within us. John 7:38-39 affirms, “…Out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” By this He meant the Spirit. And John 4:14 states, “…But the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life.” From these verses it is clear that Christ in our inner being is the source of living water.
Indeed, every believer has the source of living water in his inner being. This source of living water will quench his thirst, fulfill all his needs, and even lead him into eternal life. But why are the majority of the Lord’s disciples not focused on the source of living water within them, but instead focused on the flow of their denomination, on their religious regulations that insist you must pay this or that in order to be blessed… you must join this or that program in order to grow, and even some who are very fanatical about their pastor… and so on and so forth, WHEREAS THE SOURCE OF BLESSING AND THE SOURCE OF LIFE IS WITHIN THEM’.
This happens because religious leaders have been attacked by savage wolves, and have drawn the Lord’s disciples to themselves, just as it is written in Acts 20:29-30, “…savage wolves… with false teaching will try to draw the disciples away from the true path and to follow them.” The true path is that the disciples should follow the leading of Christ within their inner being. But because of the attack of savage wolves, the disciples are diverted so that they follow their respective leaders. Yet His chosen people will “…follow the Lamb wherever He goes…” (Revelation 14:4).
We have seen that God’s purpose is to unite all things in Christ. We have also discussed that Christ is the mystery of God; our Life and glory; Head and Body (in the form of a Kingdom); the New Creation; the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and Christ, who is the spring within us.
We also see that God’s purpose to unite all things will be fulfilled in the dispensation of the fullness of time. Now we will discuss how God’s purpose can be accomplished. One thing we must remember is that God’s way is the way of growth. Nothing happens instantly; everything requires a process, and that process is a process of growth.
Let us return to Colossians 1:28: “He is the one we proclaim…teaching every person to lead them to perfection in Christ.” Paul preached Christ with the goal that each person would be led to perfection in Christ. Every individual disciple of the Lord must grow in Christ. No one can ‘grow instantly.’ It is no coincidence that God created trees, the human body, and also animal bodies, all of which must grow in order to reach maturity. This demonstrates to us that God’s way is the way of growth. Likewise, every disciple of the Lord must undergo a process of growth to achieve perfection in Christ.
Furthermore, because Christ is corporate (an organism), the growth of Christ is also ‘corporate growth.’ Indeed, each individual disciple must grow to enjoy the fullness of Christ, but the ‘fullness/perfection of Christ’ occurs corporately. Let us look at Colossians 2:19: “And He holds the whole body together, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, growing with the growth that is from God.”
The phrase ‘growing with the growth that is from God,’ in the original text is ‘auxano ho auxesis ho theos’, which is accurately rendered in Young’s Literal as ‘may increase with the increase of God’ or ‘causing to grow (increase) in God’s growth.’ This means that if the ‘joints and ligaments’, that is, the leaders of the organism, support and bind the body together, then ‘the growth of Christ’ or ‘God’s growth’ will occur within the Body. And in the Messiah’s kingdom, this growth/increase of God is never-ending, as affirmed
in Isaiah 9:7: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” (YLT). Because the growth of Christ’s kingdom is never-ending, all separation caused by sin and everything still ‘outside Christ’ will be united in Christ. Thus, through God’s way of growth, His purpose is fulfilled. All things will be united in Christ.
However, as we know, in the Christian world, generally, religious leaders DRAW disciples to themselves (Acts 20:30), so God’s increase toward the perfection of Christ is not achieved. The church splits into tens of thousands of denominations. These denominations are not the body of Christ but fragments of the body of Christ. Yet, God’s purpose to unite all things in Christ continues. God grants grace to His overcomers so that they only EQUIP the Lord’s disciples and do not draw them to themselves, let alone take their money to build their own ministries with various false teachings. His overcomers are humble people who learn to be servants of Christ in the true sense, not managers in the Christian world who recruit the Lord’s disciples, and then plan, organize, lead, and control them like managers.
We are still discussing how God’s purpose to unify all things in Christ can be fulfilled. We have already understood that God’s way is the way of growth, and that growth is God’s growth (Colossians 2:19). But what does ‘God’s growth’ mean?
To understand God’s growth, let us examine 1 Timothy 1:3-4, which says: “…so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote controversies rather than God’s management that is by faith” (ILT). The term ‘management’ is translated from the Greek word ‘oikonomia’, which comes from the roots ‘oikos’ (household) and ‘nomos’ (law, rules, etc.). In various English translations, ‘oikonomia’ is rendered as management, administration, economy, or dispensation. Therefore, the understanding of ‘God’s management’ is actually a way in which God administers His household by distributing or dispensing rules, laws, resources, food, matters, and so on.
However, what God’s people often fail to realize is that God not only distributes rules, laws, wealth, and food to His household, but He also distributes Himself. Humans, created in His image and likeness, are meant to “contain” God within their innermost being. Just like a glove designed to fit a hand perfectly, it is intended to receive the hand into it. Likewise, God’s primary management of His household is to dispense Himself into His people.
And because God’s way is the way of growth, He dispenses Himself starting from the ‘seed’ (the seed of Christ) into our innermost being, and continues to grow toward perfection (the fullness of Christ). This is the meaning of God’s growth within us. Christ within us continually grows toward His fullness.
The matter of God dispensing Himself to us is crucial. Paul instructed Timothy to command certain people in Ephesus not to teach other things, myths, or genealogies that cause disputes. Our teaching focus must be on the “growth of Christ within the innermost being.” Paul himself also proclaimed Christ and labored with all his strength according to His power to lead every person to grow toward perfection in Christ (Colossians 1:28-29).
The ‘growth of Christ within the innermost being’ can be illustrated by the river flowing from the Temple in Ezekiel 47. At the first measurement of 1,000 cubits, the water reached only the ankles of Ezekiel. At the next 1,000 cubits, it reached the knees. Another 1,000 cubits, and it reached the waist. After another 1,000 cubits, it became a river in which Ezekiel “could not walk” (verse 5).
Christ within us is the river of living water. In the beginning, we are still free to walk according to our own will, for the river of living water reaches only our ankles. Then, Christ as the river of living water continues to grow, and we are increasingly unable to walk freely as it reaches the knees. The next stage of growth makes us even less free because it reaches the waist, and eventually it becomes a river in which we can no longer walk according to our own desires. We become “captives of the Spirit” like Paul, or like Peter, who in his youth “tied his own belt and walked according to his desire,” but when he became old, allowed others to “tie his belt and lead him to a place he did not wish” (John 21:18).
Thus is the growth of Christ within our innermost being, so that Christ alone rules every aspect of our lives.
We have seen that God’s ‘oikonomia’ (stewardship) in Christ is to impart Himself into the inner being of His people. And Christ, who is within the inner being of God’s people, will continue to grow until He reaches perfection. This is God’s purpose; this is also God’s stewardship in Christ. Paul strongly reminded Timothy to instruct certain people in Ephesus not to teach other doctrines or be occupied with myths, which only lead to disputes (1 Timothy 1:3-4).
Now, we will examine what God’s purpose truly is in managing His household. More precisely, what is the inheritance (possession) of God’s people (the church)? Let us begin with Galatians 3:14: "So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith." For the nation of Israel, bound by the Old Testament (OT), the blessing of Abraham (their inheritance) included the Promised Land, along with various other blessings (especially Deuteronomy 28:1-14). The blessing or inheritance for Israel was more physical in nature because the OT was only a symbol, a type, and a prophecy. Meanwhile, for the Gentiles—and also for Israel who believe in Jesus Christ and are bound by the New Testament (NT)—their blessing is the Spirit. That is why Ephesians 1:3 declares: "…who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." It is not that God does not care about our physical needs, but we must remember: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17, ESV).
Thus, the inheritance or possession of God’s people (the church) under the NT is the Spirit. However, the Spirit that the church received during the outpouring on the day of Pentecost was only a deposit, down payment, or guarantee. Notice Ephesians 1:14: "…who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. The term ‘guarantee’ comes from the Greek word ‘arrabon’, meaning ‘an earnest’ or ‘given in advance as a security that the whole will be paid afterward’. This means that the church’s inheritance—the Spirit—was initially given as a deposit. Later, God will provide the full inheritance of the church, which is the fullness of the Spirit, or the fullness of Christ, or Christ’s perfection within our inner being. This is why it is emphasized: ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1:27). Our glory has not yet been fully realized; it is still in hope. But at the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, the church will receive its inheritance: ‘THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST’.
Therefore, the church’s inheritance is not heaven. THE CHURCH’S INHERITANCE IS THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST, WHICH MUST BE REALIZED ON EARTH.
In the Christian world, there are many myths about heaven often preached by religious leaders. According to these stories, heaven is a faraway place paved with gold, where we will worship God and sing forever. Then, after death, we will be evacuated there. There is even the teaching of the rapture, where believers are taken to heaven before a time of great tribulation. Those who do not believe in Jesus are said to be cast into hell, supposedly forever.
These stories about heaven and hell, frequently preached from Sunday pulpits, are tools for religious leaders to attract hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of God’s disciples to regularly attend their services and programs, and, of course, pay tithes, first fruits, faith promises, and so on. Some Christian leaders can raise billions—even trillions—of rupiah from God’s disciples to build buildings, monuments, and fund their lives and “ministries.” This was never done by the apostles of Christ or the early church.
It is not that we do not believe in heaven or hell, but the heaven described in the Bible is a ‘heavenly dimension already present within the inner being of God’s people’. Christ within us is heaven. Now, we are already citizens of the heavenly kingdom, and the heavenly kingdom within us must be expressed in daily life. The kingdom of heaven must be established on earth so that the earth moves toward the new earth. Our inheritance is the fullness of Christ, not the mythical heaven generally preached by religious leaders. If all God’s disciples understood this truth, none would want to be enslaved by religious rules. God’s disciples would learn to manifest the kingdom of heaven in their daily lives.
We already know that God’s ‘oikonomia’ (stewardship) in Christ is to impart Himself into the inner being of His people, and that Christ within us must grow. Now we will discuss the relationship between the growth of Christ within and faith, because this stewardship exists within faith (1 Timothy 1:4).
We must be very careful in understanding this faith, because in the Christian world, there are many teachings that emphasize ‘faith without works is dead’, and then recklessly push God’s disciples to do this and that, citing certain verses. One must attend regular services at a particular denominational building, must give tithes, must do this and that… all under the pretext of growing in faith.
Let us consider the meaning of ‘growing faith’ from Romans 1:17, which says, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…” (KJV). The expression ‘from faith to faith’ comes from the Greek phrase EK PISTEOS EIS PISTIN. This Greek phrase cannot be translated simply as ‘faith’, because there is an important understanding within it that we must pay attention to. Let us quote Marvin Vincent’s commentary in his Word Studies: ‘the idea is that of progress in faith itself… faith is a progressive principle’ (p. 14, Vol. 3). Thus, the important understanding in this Greek expression is the idea of progress. Faith is something that grows. Faith is not ‘static’ but continually moves toward its perfection. Faith that does not grow or progress is dead, and this is not the saving faith that Paul refers to.
So, what makes faith progressive? What makes faith grow? James emphasizes, “…faith works together with works, and by works faith is made perfect” (James 2:22). It is clarified here that faith is perfected through works. These works are works that spring from faith, because James says, “…I will show you my faith by my works” (2:18). So, it is not works outside of faith, but works that originate from faith that perfect faith, allowing it to grow toward its fullness. This is how Paul’s and James’s explanations of faith complement each other.
If we connect the understanding of ‘growing faith’ with God’s ‘oikonomia’, then faith is essentially the energy of Christ within the inner being of God’s people that moves them to act. This energy of Christ (faith) is not our faith or our ability to believe in God. This energy of Christ is Christ’s own faith. This energy of Christ or faith is a gift from God to us solely by His grace. Furthermore, it is this energy of Christ within
us that drives us to act, and in turn, those actions/works ‘nurture Christ’ within us. This is how we grow in Christ. Not all ‘religious actions’ necessarily grow faith or Christ within. Religious leaders in the Christian world generally like to encourage God’s disciples to attend services regularly in their buildings, or join small groups routinely, or push disciples to offer tithes, firstfruits, or other offerings, all under the pretext of growing in faith.
Let us take one example where religious leaders encourage disciples to regularly attend services in a certain building. The verse usually cited is Hebrews 10:25, which says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” The Greek term translated as ‘assembling’ is EPISUNAGOGE, derived from two root words: EPI = upon, SUNAGOGE = gathering. So EPISUNAGOGE refers to a gathering in a higher realm, that is, the heavenly dimension. God’s disciples meet one another in the heavenly dimension if all are living led by Christ within.
If disciples do not live led by Christ in their daily lives, but are ‘forced’ (not led by Christ) to attend services in a particular building, then such ‘religious actions’ do not at all grow their faith. Someone may attend regularly in the same building, sitting in the same seat for 30 years… yet their faith does not grow at all. The issue is that faith (Christ’s energy) in a disciple only grows through actions MOVED BY CHRIST’S ENERGY WITHIN. Not through certain “religious actions” as prescribed by religious leaders: must do this… must do that… and so on.
God’s goal is the growth of Christ within. Teach God’s disciples to act based on Christ’s energy, not to simply perform ‘religious actions’ routinely, citing certain verses.
We will conclude this brief writing on “God’s purpose” by discussing when this purpose will be accomplished or fulfilled. So far, we have seen that God’s purpose is to unite all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:9-10). And God works starting from the inner being of His chosen people by “planting the seed of Christ,” but we know that the growth of this “seed of Christ” is not endless, as emphasized in Isaiah 9:7: “Of the increase of His government… there will be no end…” (ILT version). This seed of Christ continues to grow and will ultimately conquer and unite all things in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, as we briefly mentioned at the beginning of this writing.
When will the dispensation of the fullness of the times occur? Let us begin with Hebrews 1:2, which says, “… He has made the ages” (ILT). The LAI version translates ‘ages’ as ‘universe’. Most English versions render it as ‘universe, world, eternal, forever and ever’, and so on. The Greek term, AION, which is accurately translated in the ILT as ‘ages,’ actually means A PERIOD OF TIME.
It is very important for anyone to study the Greek term AION carefully because a mistranslation can give rise to a terrible teaching—the doctrine of eternal hell. Today, in the Christian world, the teaching of ‘eternal hell’ is believed by the majority of God’s people. For Bible teachers who accept and teach the doctrine of ‘eternal hell,’ it is crucial to start seriously studying the term AION. We recommend starting with Louis Abbot’s book, ‘An Analytical Study of Words’, which is available online. We have also created four videos about AION on the YouTube channel ‘Sekolah Alkitab Suara Dari Patmos’.
Studying the Greek term AION is essential because the doctrine of ‘eternal hell’ prevents a proper understanding of God’s purpose. Returning to Hebrews 1:2, it affirms that the Lord is the One who made the ages (a period of time). Time was created by God, and He also created the sun and the moon to govern time (Genesis 1:14-18). Time always has a beginning and an end. In Revelation 22:5, it is written: “And there will be no night there, and they have no need for lamp or sunlight….” In this age (the New Heaven and New Earth), there will be no more time because there will be no need for timekeepers, such as the sun, moon, or stars. God Himself will be their light.
Many people understand eternity as a very long, endless time. This is a fatal misunderstanding. Both eternity and time are dimensions. Scientists refer to the universe created by God as the dimension of space and time. Eternity is also a dimension—the dimension of God, where He dwells. No one can enter God’s dimension. That is why the Bible says He dwells in ‘unapproachable light’, or in other words, ‘no one has ever seen God’. Therefore, the eternal dimension is God’s dimension. He dwells in eternity, yet He created the heavenly dimension (where He set His throne), the earthly dimension (space and time), and also the underworld dimension (the realm for those who have departed from this earth).
If we understand the above, we can easily comprehend the expression ‘dispensation of the fullness of the times’. This expression means that time has been fulfilled. Time has completed its purpose. Time has ended. In the age of the New Heaven and New Earth, time will cease. All things will be united in Christ, and nothing will exist outside of Christ. Death as the wages of sin will also be no more (Revelation 21:4). In 1 Corinthians 15:26, when the last enemy is destroyed, the Father becomes ALL IN ALL. Not some people in hell forever and some in heaven forever. But ALL PEOPLE ARE UNITED IN CHRIST. Amen.