The Eternal Purpose

In reading the story of the prodigal son most people are impressed with all the troubles the prodigal meets; they are occupied in thinking what a bad time he is having. But that is not the point of the parable.

"My son ... was lost, and is found" - there is the heart of the story.

It is not a question of what the son suffers but of what the Father loses. He is the sufferer; He is the loser. A sheep is lost: whose is the loss? The shepherd's. A coin is lost: whose is the loss? The woman's. A son is lost: whose is the loss? The Father's. That is the lesson of Luke chapter 15.
The Lord Jesus was the only begotten Son, and as the only begotten He had no brothers. But the Father sent the Son in order that the only begotten might also be the first begotten, and the beloved Son have many brethren. There you have the whole story of the Incarnation and the Cross; and there you have at the last the purpose of God fulfilled in His "bringing many sons unto glory" (Heb. 2:10).

In Romans 8:29 we read of "many brethren"; in Hebrews :10 of "many sons". From the point of view of the Lord Jesus it is "brethren"; from the point of view of God the Father it is "sons". Both words in this context convey the idea of maturity. God is seeking full-grown sons; but He does not stop even there. For He does not want His sons to live in a barn or a garage or a field; He wants them in His home; He wants them to share His glory. That is the explanation of Romans 8:30: "Whom he justified, them he also glorified." Sonship-the full expression of His Son-is God's goal in the many sons. How could He bring that about? By justifying them and then by glorifying them. In His dealings with them God will never stop short of that goal. He set Himself to have sons, and to have those sons, mature and responsible, with Him in glory. He made provision for the whole of Heaven to be peopled with glorified sons. That was His purpose in redemption.    (Watchman Nee  - 1903-1972)

Opened up recovery work of the Lord in 20th century; born in Foochow, China; studied truths recovered throughout the centuries; fully unveiled the central revelation of the Bible: salvation, the church, Christ as life, and the Body of Christ; led saints into the experiences of these divine revelations; raised up more than 400 churches in China; imprisoned for the Lord's sake; martyred; exerted a profound influence in countries throughout the world through the spread of his written ministry; writings: various periodicals, The Spiritual Man, The Normal Christian Life, The Normal Christian Church Life, The Glorious Church, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, The Ministry of God's Word, and many others; autobiography: Watchman Nee's Testimony, Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1991
 

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