God’s Purpose is Accomplished by His Life in Us
A prior series of posts is on God creating man in His image so that God can be expressed in man. This purpose comes forth in Genesis 1:26, “God said, Let Us make man in Our image.” This purpose is consummated with God mingled with His people to form New Jerusalem, the city 
“having the glory of God” (Rev. 21:11).
God’s purpose, touched in Genesis 1 and developed much more in Genesis 2, is based on man receiving and growing in God’s life. It has nothing to do with sin. At the time of Genesis 1–2 there was no sin and the created man was clean, with no need of redemption, justification, or reconciliation.
After the fall of man, there was the necessity to overcome sin and death. The coats of skins God made for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21) were the first portrait of this. The reality came with Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). For a memorial of this, even in New Jerusalem the Lamb is on the throne (Rev. 22:1, 3).
The Lord’s redemption qualifies us to receive the divine life, the eternal life. Galatians 3:13-14 presents this: “Christ has redeemed us out of the curse of the law…that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” The Spirit brings this life into us.
Galatians 4:4-5 speaks likewise: “God sent forth His Son…that He might redeem those under law that we might receive the sonship.” This sonship is a matter of life and this life grows in us to reach New Jerusalem.
Posted by Don on February 28, 2022
