God's Set Purpose

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death" (Acts 2:22-23 NKJV).

In the first gospel sermon ever preached, the Apostle Peter gives us a glimpse into the mind of God. At first, you may read over it, but look carefully. "The determined purpose and foreknowledge of God," the New International Version calls it "God's set purpose and foreknowledge," regardless how you word it, the word of God remains the same, the cross was not an accident!

God's Love for You

God chose to create mankind. While he chose to create us, he did not require us to love him or to follow him. In the beginning, God created everything perfect (Genesis 1, 2). There was no disease, no death, and no sin. All of this changed in the moment that Adam and Eve made their fateful decisions to disobey God. The moment Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, disease, death and sin gained a foothold on the earth and we have ever since suffered the consequences (Romans 5:12-21).

A casual reader of the bible might say God suffered a set back in his plans that day in the garden but the bible tells a different story. God had a set purpose.

That day in the garden, God didn't call an emergency board meeting to decide what to do with this most pressing situation. There were no heated discussions between God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit on how best to deal with this state of affairs. He knew it would happen. It had already been decided.

His love for you had already caused him to make that most difficult but necessary decision to send his Son to the cross!