God’s Plan Is Complete

God‘s plan has been complete since before he created the world.  He has known every stage the world would go through.  Acts 15:18 tells us, “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”  At various stages in history, people only had a partial understanding of that plan, but it the details have now been revealed, according to II Timothy 1:9-10.  God “…hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

There have been several major periods in mankind’s history.  Each time God gave man the opportunity to follow his plan, and each time mankind as a whole has rejected it, although a few individuals sought to please him.  The first was the period from creation to the flood.  The second was the period from the flood to Babel when they began to disobey him to focus on mankind.  He then divided the world into numerous individual groups who still rejected God’s leadership.  Next, he selected a single nation, Israel, giving them a detailed set of commandments which they largely ignored.   Finally he sent Christ, to reach out to people on an individual basis.   Throughout history, God would save the individual although the offer was made to all humanity.   In Acts 10:35, Peter said, “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”  God started by reaching out to all humankind, but when they rejected it narrowed down to homo sapiens.  With Christ’s coming he has reached out to smallest unit of humankind possible, the individual.  There will be no further reaching out to smaller units.   

John 2:18 tells us, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”    Satan has been trying to usurp God’s authority and destroy his plan almost from the very beginning.  As John says, he has many people who are trying to prevent Christ reaching the individuals who will follow God. 

Because of the way God has worked with mankind, the knowledge of his plan is available to everyone.  Romans 1:18-21 makes this very clear.  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  They cannot use the excuse that no one ever told them, because as Acts 17:26-26 tells us, God “…hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:.”

 People who turn against Christ can never claim they didn’t know, whether they have been involved in church or not according to I John 2:19.  “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”   As John said, the fact that they have turned away clearly indicates that they were not truly of god to begin with.  A key point is that they did not lose their salvation, but were never part to begin with.    In Galatians 2:4, Paul speaks of them as “…false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.”  

Like Peter, John was concerned that the Christians might begin to go along with false teachers, not realizing that they are not serving God at all.  The fact that they have turned to some other doctrine than what the scripture teaches clearly indicates they did not start with God in their heart to begin with.   God is not going to change his plan or give some major new revelation, despite what they may believe.  His plans are complete, and as II Peter 1:3 states, “…his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”   We just need to accept and utilize what he has already given us.  While not everything has happened yet, his plans are complete.