What is the eternal purpose of God that hope waits for?

The message of certain hope is that the eternal purpose of God will be accomplished.

But what is this eternal purpose?

Ephesians 3:11 speaks of the singular eternal purpose of God as something that has been already accomplished in Jesus Christ our Lord. This eternal purpose was announced long ago in the opening chapters of the Bible, and was decreed by God before the foundation of the world:

"...to unite all things in him (Christ), things in heaven and things on earth." (Ephesians 1:10)

The reuniting of heaven and earth as a perfect eternal community of grace and holiness in the fullness of the presence and blessing of God has always been the great and certain plan of God. This is for the glory of God, and it shall be accomplished. Everything else that has taken place or will take place serves this one great purpose, a purpose that will be seen and experienced in the perfection of the resurrection world, the renewed and reuited heavens and earth.

Those who die now in the Lord, are already in the realm of heaven, the place where Christ went after making atonement for the sins of His people. One day that world will descend upon the earth, and God, who makes all things new, will be our all in all.

This is the eternal purpose of God, and the Christian hope.

But how is this hope spoken of as already accomplished in Jesus Christ?

Tomorrow...