Purpose of Christ's Predestined Ministry in Scripture
The Purpose of Christ's Predestined Ministry
The concept of Christ's predestined ministry is rooted in the biblical understanding of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Anointed One, who was consecrated to his redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people [2]. This understanding is grounded in the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament accounts of Jesus' life and ministry.
The purpose of Christ's ministry is closely tied to the doctrine of predestination, which refers to God's sovereign plan or purpose of salvation [1]. According to this doctrine, God has predestined certain individuals to be conformed to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to be called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:29-30) [6].
In the New Testament, Jesus' ministry is described as being predestined by God. For example, Jesus is said to have been sent by God to be a minister of the circumcision, to confirm the truth of God's promises made to the patriarchs [9]. The apostle Paul writes that he was called to be an apostle, "set apart for the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1), and that his ministry was according to the purpose of God (Galatians 1:15-16) [4].
The purpose of Christ's predestined ministry is multifaceted. Firstly, it is to bring salvation to the Gentiles, as prophesied in Isaiah 42:1-4 and fulfilled in Jesus' ministry [8]. Secondly, it is to confirm the truth of God's promises to the Jews, as seen in Jesus' ministry to the lost sheep of the house of Israel [10]. Thirdly, it is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up and matured (Ephesians 4:12-13) [7].
The New Testament writers also emphasize that Christ's ministry is not limited to his earthly life, but continues through his servants, the ministers of the Gospel. The apostle Paul writes that he is a minister of Christ Jesus, "a minister of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:16) [3]. The ministry of the word is seen as a continuation of Christ's ministry, with ministers being sent by Christ to labor in the Gospel [4].
The predestined nature of Christ's ministry is also reflected in the calling and commissioning of his disciples. Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the Gospel, giving them authority to do so (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:14) [5]. The apostle Paul writes that he was given the ministry of being a steward of the mysteries of God, and that he was entrusted with the Gospel (1 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:4) [5].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Christ — Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ (Acts 17:3; 18:5; Matt. 22:42), the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (61:1), and by Daniel (9:24-26), who styles him "Messiah the Prince." The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" (Gen. 3:15), "the seed of Abraham" (Ge”
- Romans “Romans 15:16 (BSB) — to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Missionary Work By Ministers — Commanded -- Mt 28:19; Mr 16:15. Warranted by predictions concerning the heathen, &c -- Isa 42:10-12; 66:19. Is according to the purpose of God -- Lu 24:46,47; Ga 1:15,16; Col 1:25-27. Directed by the Holy Spirit -- Ac 13:2. Required -- Lu 10:2; Ro 10:14,15. The Holy Spirit calls to -- Ac 13:2. Christ engaged in -- Mt 4:17,23; 11:1; Mr 1:38,39; Lu 8:1. Christ sent his disciples to labour in -- Mr 3:14; 6:7; Lu 10:1-11. Obligations to engage in -- Ac 4:19,20; Ro 1:13-15; 1Co 9:16. Excellency of -- Isa 52:7; Ro 10:15. Worldly concerns sho”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ministers — Called by God -- Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4. Qualified by God -- Isa 6:5-7; 2Co 3:5,6. Commissioned by Christ -- Mt 28:19. Sent by the Holy Spirit -- Ac 13:2,4. Have authority from God -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Authority of, is for edification -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Separated to the gospel -- Ro 1:1. Entrusted with the gospel -- 1Th 2:4. Described as Ambassadors for Christ. -- 2Co 5:20. Ministers of Christ. -- 1Co 4:1. Stewards of the mysteries of God. -- 1Co 4:1. Defenders of the faith. -- Php 1:7. The servants of Christ's people. -- 2Co 4:5. Specially protected by God -- ”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 8:29: The apostle, having reckoned up so many ingredients of the happiness of true believers, comes here to represent the ground of them all, which he lays in predestination. These precious privileges are conveyed to us by the charter of the covenant, but they are founded in the counsel of God, which infallibly secures the event. That Jesus Christ, the purchaser, might not labour in vain, nor spend his strength and life for nought and in vain, there is a remnant given him, a seed that he shall see, so that the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. For th”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 12:15: 12:15-21 This summary of Jesus’ ministry clarifies Jesus’ nature as the Messiah, the Servant of God who will bring salvation to the nations (see Isa 42:1-4).”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 15:8: Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision - To show the Gentiles the propriety of bearing with the scrupulous Jews, he shows them here that they were under the greatest obligations to this people; to whom, in the days of his flesh, Jesus Christ confined his ministry; giving the world to see that he allowed the claim of the Jews as having the first right to the blessings of the Gospel. And he confined his ministry thus to the Jews, to confirm the truth of God, contained in the promises made unto the patriarchs; for God had declared that thus it should be; and J”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 14:16: And sent his servant at supper time,.... Either John the Baptist, the harbinger and forerunner of Christ, who declared that the kingdom of heaven, or the Gospel dispensation, was at hand; and exhorted the people to believe in Christ that should come after him; or Christ himself, who is God's servant as man, of his choosing and appointing, and whom he sent in the fulness of time in the form of a servant, as the minister of the circumcision, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and to call sinners to repentance; or servant may be put for servants, since in Mat 22:3 ”