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SURVEY

THE

BLUEPRINT

Jesus said I came not
To do my own will;
So he followed the pathway
Up Calvary’s hill.
With thorns on his head,
Nails in his hands,
He cried it is finished,
Fulfilling God’s Plan
(God Has a Plan as sung and written by Joel Hemphill..used by permission)

We conceive, we plan, we design, we draft, we sketch and diagram. God has given us a blueprint of his design for his son in the Bible. There are so many details about his son that are apparent as we read. Let’s look at just a few of those details sketched and diagramed in the Bible before Jesus was born. As a builder has a blueprint: a traveler marks his map and a doctor contemplates an operation, even so God has a plan.

His son would be a prophet like Moses:
  • "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen , you shall listen to him." Deut 18:15 (NASB)
His son whose name would be called Immanuel would be born of a virgin:
  • "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)
His son would be born in Bethlehem:
He would come from the tribe of Judah,
He would rule Israel,
His going forth from Bethlehem was ordained “long ago”.
  • "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago." Micah 5:2 (NASB)
His son would at some point come out of Egypt:
  • So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." Matt 2:14-15 (NASB)
His son would be a son of David:
  • "When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you , and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Sam 7:12-13 (NASB)
His son would reign over the house of Jacob:
  • He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Luke 1:33 (NASB)
His son would be the seed of Abraham:
  • Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. Gal. 3:16 (NASB)
His son would be called Jesus and save his people from their sins:
  • "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matt 1:21 (NASB)
His son would suffer and be killed:
  • But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well -being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NASB)
  • He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:8-9 (KJV)
His son would be raised from the dead:
  • "For David says of Him, 'I saw the Lord always in my presence; For he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 ‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;27 Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. Acts 2:25-27 (NASB)
Can you begin to see the Mosaic presented in the Bible, of God’s son? These are only a few of the many passages which were given to let us know more about the son which was to be born. We must not take for granted what God instructed his prophets to prophecy about his beloved son who was to be born. Remember what Peter said about the things foretold. Many things were predetermined but some things God just knew.
  • This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. Acts 2:23 (NASB)

NEW CREAITON

One of the things we need to learn as we study the Bible is that God has a plan. Then, to grasp the notion that Jesus is the very center of that plan. It can be said that "Jesus was the very first part of his plan." (i.e. I’m going to have a son.)
  • He is also the beginning of the new creation. He is the second Adam. "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam (Jesus) became a life-giving spirit. 1 Cor 15:45 (NASB)
The first Adam failed because of sin. “For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Cor 15:21-22 (NASB) The second Adam was victorious. In that sense he is the beginning of the new creation of God.

You have heard about the new creation haven’t you? Let me tell you. And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Rev 21:5 (NASB) He did not say "I make all new things". Carefully reflect on the suggestion that God said, “I am making all things new.” That is why we need to become “new creatures” today. All things need to become new in our lives. We need to “be converted and become as little children”. Matt. 18:3
  • “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." 2 Cor 5:17-18 (NASB).
Do you remember Jesus’ words, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”? John 3:3  Reflect if you will on the following points of interest covered under this program:
  • The ministry of reconciliation:
  • Becoming a new creature in Christ;
  • Becoming a part of the new creation;
  • Being born again. See John chapter 3.
  • Jesus becomes the firstborn of the new creation. The last Adam.
  • Jesus was the first that should rise from the dead to immortality. I Corin. 15:23, Acts 26:23.
  • Jesus is called the firstborn of every creature. Col. 1:15. 
  • Jesus is referred to as the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29.
All these issues become part of the Mosaic of God’s plan. Jesus becomes the focal point of all creation. Our lives take on new purpose. The future shines brighter. The disappointments of life become mere irritations. Paul called them “momentary light afflictions”. 2 Corin. 4:17. He looked at these things as only an inconvenience. We become part of a larger picture; a plan of colossal magnitude.
 
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BEFORE ALL THINGS

  • Colossians 1: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the  beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him. 20  (NASB)
I believe that God’s plan revolves around his Son. That’s why he is called the son of God’s love or “my beloved son”. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Matt 3:17 (NASB) Peter succinctly put it this way:
  • For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"—18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 2 Peter 1:17-18 (NASB).
God was well pleased with his son. Jesus made it plain that he was aware that God dearly loved him. i.e. John 3:35, 5:20, John 17:24. He loved him so much that the anticipation of their time together caused him great glory. Jesus was anxious to participate in the glory his father had ordained and anticipated before the foundation of the world. I hope with all my heart that you can see that.

Jesus was not there in the presence of his father before the world was but he was in the plan of God from the very beginning. God loved him before the foundation of the world. Jesus was in his plan, in his thoughts before the world began.  He had not yet been born. I believe that Jesus was the first part of God’s plan. Everything else came later. Jesus was first. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”  Col. 1:17.
  • "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." John 17:5 (NASB)
Concerning this Paul said that Jesus was born according to his Father’s time table. Gal. 4:4. “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman”. His father had planned it. It was time for his son to be born. To be made of a woman. Don’t go past that too quickly. Why do you think God gives us Jesus’ birth certificate: one through his father Joseph (Matthew 1:1-16)) and one through his mother Mary (Luke 3:23-38)? Here it is, and don’t forget it.

JESUS' GENESIS

  • The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matt 1:1 (NASB)
Matthew says it in his opening statement in the book of Matthew. The word “genealogy” comes from is the word “genesis”. Did you get that? The birth certificate Matthew gave was of the “beginning” of Jesus Christ. Think about that and don’t ever forget it.

The fourteen generations from Abraham to David; the fourteen generations from David til the carrying away captive into Babylon; and the fourteen generations from the carrying away captive into Babylon to Christ, tell us about Jesus' beginning.

It was because of God’s plan fulfilled in the womb of Mary Jesus' mother, that Jesus had a beginning. All of this was conceived in the plan and in the mind of God before the beginning of the world. Can you now see why Mary was called the favored one by the angel Gabriel. The plan of God focused on her. What a special opportunity for an humble Jewish girl, probably in her teens or early twenties.
  • “And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:28 (NASB)
That which was conceived in the mind of God was conceived in the womb of Mary.  “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.” Luke 1:31 (NASB) But "how can this be Mary asked, since I am a virgin?” Gabriel explained the process to Mary to relieve the questions in her mind. Because of the energizing power of the Holy Spirit, Mary would in her body provide the place for the genesis (beginning) of the holy child, the Son of God. Truly Mary was as the KJV puts it “blessed among women”.
  • "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35 (NASB)

ARCHITECT

All this is why Peter said that Jesus was foreknown before the foundation of the world. I Peter 1:20 He was right there on the blueprint. It all just did not happen by accident. Think about this verse in Hebrews 11:10:  For he (Abraham) was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (NASB) Notice especially those descriptive words about God: architect and builder. Before the world began the master architect drew up the plan of salvation. It all revolved around his son. I believe we too were involved in that plan in a collective sense rather than an individual sense.
  • Who 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. 2 Tim 1:9 (KJV)
We can be a part of that plan but it is only in Christ. He is the central figure. He is God’s Son. God has ordained that his Son will reign for ever and those who believe on him will have opportunity to reign with him. As the “seed of Abraham”, Jesus was heir to the land promise God gave to him. The Law which was 430 years later could not annul the promise that God made to a man; to Abraham and to his seed which was Christ. Gal. 3:16 God ratified the contract; it could not be set aside. Gal. 3:17. David said in psalms:
  • Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Psalms 2:8 (KJV)

MYSTERY

Let me close this study with Paul’s words to the Ephesian. Please pay close attention to his use of words like: chose, predestined, intention, will, purpose, fullness, summing up all things, and counsel. All these concepts and more speak to us of God’s plan for all the ages. This plan centers on His Son.
  • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Eph 1:3-5 (NASB)
  • He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. Eph 1:9-11 (NASB)

TRUTH TO EMPHASIZE

  • Jesus is the central figure in his father's plan.
  • God has a purpose, a reason, to his plan.
  • He chose us (believers) in Christ before the foundation of the world.<As a body of believers.>
  • He predestined us (as a body of believers) to be adopted as his children, into his family.
  • God's plan has an intention, a will, a purpose, a counsel.
  • Everything comes to summation in Christ, the Messiah.
  • All things are working out according to the wise counsel of God’s will.
  • God’s plan for Jesus is found in the Bible
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