Mankind’s Great Purpose

Next Part TRUTH or “LOVE”—Which Comes First?

We just read, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” Why did God do this? It is not within the scope of this booklet to disprove the pure science fiction of evolution and to prove the truth of a literal creation. (You may wish to read our extensive brochure EVOLUTION –FACTS, FALLACIES AND IMPLICATIONS.) The fact is that God did create man. But we must ask, why? For what purpose did He do this?

The popular belief of nearly all professing Christians is that they will “die and go to heaven.” Yet, Christ stated, “…no man has ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven” (John 3:13). It was not until I came into contact with God’s true Church that I learned the belief that “heaven is the reward of the saved” is a fable!

Here is what Christ taught: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth”—spoken in His very first recorded sermon (Matt. 5:5). He understood that Christians do not inherit heaven—they inherit THE EARTH! Actually, Christ was quoting the Old Testament—Psalm 37:11 states exactly the same thing. It has always been God’s Plan to give RULERSHIP of earth to Christ and the resurrected saints, who will REIGN with Him. It has never been His Plan to have people “roll around heaven all day,” “ride clouds,” “play harps” or merely “walk the streets of gold, in front of the pearly gates.”

God’s purpose for mankind is infinitely greater than the inventions of deceived men! The book of Revelation, which is Christ’s revealing of events prior to, including and following His Return to earth, says of the saints, “And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10).

Many people refer to Christ as King of kings, but never question who the other “kings” are. These are the resurrected saints! Also see Daniel 7:18, 22, 27, which all reveal that Christ and the saints inherit all the kingdoms of this world at His Coming.

God says that Christ is “His Son, that He might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). Do you recognize the implications of this statement? Many more sons and daughters will be added later to God’s Family. They will enjoy the same things that God Himself enjoys. God is a Family—a Household! (See Ephesians 3:15 and I Timothy 3:15.)

True Christians have the Spirit of God. This Spirit makes them sons of God: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). Now consider the following verse: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2).

Christ is called the firstborn among many brethren (the true Christians who follow later), because those who are added to God’s Family—in the resurrection to occur at Christ’s Return—are going to be “like Him.” We are not going to be “like” something else. Christ is God. Being “like Him” means that we will be part of the God Family with Him.

God is a Father who now has one Son. But He will later have many more sons. God is reproducing Himself by developing His character in yielded, conquered, Spirit-begotten human beings (God begets His children just like any human father).

Remember, Paul said that the ministry teaches and edifies the Church so that it can grow into the “stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13). A Christian copies and builds the character of Jesus Christ, so that he can later enjoy membership in the God Family with Christ and the Father. What a sobering yet exciting opportunity and future responsibility!

The truly marvellous human potential that is offered to everyone who repents and believes, and goes on to practice God’s many wonderful truths is that they will be born into the very Family of God. May God help you understand what He has offered to all who seek Him first—above all else—in their lives (Matt. 6:33). How glorious is the future of Christians!

The true Church of God teaches that this INCREDIBLE HUMAN POTENTIAL lies ahead for every one of God’s people—that it is the vital key to the knowledge of God’s supreme purpose for all mankind—to be BORN into the God Family! (Take the time to read our very important book The Awesome Potential of Man.)

The True Gospel

Notice that Revelation 12:9 states, “Satan…deceives the whole world.” This is a staggering statement! Surely the truth about a subject as vital as the gospel brought by Christ would not be excluded from this deception.

The first words spoken by Christ in the Bible are, “Repent you, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). But what is the real gospel? Is there more than one? True Christians are told that they must believe the gospel. The previous verse (Mk 1:14) states, “Jesus came…preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” There is no other gospel but the kingdom of God. Of course, the world focuses on the Person of Jesus Christ, rather than on the message He brought. It is almost entirely ignorant of the KINGDOM OF GOD—the governing Family of God that is coming to earth at the Return of Christ, with His saints. Professing Christendom has assumed the belief of numerous man-made gospels.

In fact, this becomes one of the greatest distinctions between the many denominations and sects of the world and the true Church. Rather than focusing on Himself, or teaching a gospel about Himself, Jesus came to reveal the Father to His followers. Yet, the Father and His role as Supreme Head of the divine Family of God, is overlooked and almost entirely excluded. As Saviour and High Priest, Jesus brought access—reconciliation—to the Father, saving us by His resurrection (Rom. 5:10). The true Church understands Christ’s vital role as mediator to the Father, but has Him in proper perspective and does not overly focus on Him by constantly talking about “adoring Jesus,” “the Lord,” “our Master,” “His precious blood,” and seeing Him either dead on the stake or a baby in the manger, among other terms, as do those who do not understand that Christ brought a message about coming WORLD GOVERNMENT—the kingdom of God!

Paul warned those who would believe or teach another gospel, “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-9).

Satan does not talk directly to human beings. He works through his servants—his ministers. The Bible teaches that Satan does have his ministers, and they invariably teach a false gospel. Paul warned the Corinthians that they had been “beguiled” into accepting “another gospel”—accompanied by “another Jesus” (II Cor. 11:4). He went on to describe the cunning ways through which Satan’s ministers successfully deceive.

Notice: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Cor 11:13-15).

The true Church has always had to be careful—vigilant—about the dangers of false ministers entering it and perverting the doctrines of God. This will be addressed at the end of this booklet.

There is only one true gospel. All others are counterfeits designed by Satan to replace the enormous truth of God’s soon-coming kingdom. (To understand more about this coming government, read our booklet Which Is the True Gospel?)

As the one who deceives the whole world, Satan is called the “god of this world.” Notice: “In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Cor. 4:4). The world does not know of this gospel. God, for His own supreme purpose at this time, has opened the truth of its meaning to only a very FEW—and has put them into His Church. The rest of the world remains blinded for now. The devil does not want human beings to enjoy what is forever denied to him—membership in the God Family.

Matthew 24:14 states, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached [Mark 13:10 says, “published”] in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” The Church that Christ built has the knowledge of His true gospel—the kingdom of God. That Church will always be found preaching it (Matt. 24:46), until the end of this age comes. You have been allowed to come into contact with the knowledge of this gospel—and the understanding that you can be a part of God’s true Church now—and His soon-coming kingdom—His governing Family—later.

But first comes a time of testing for true Christians.