Last Sunday, Erik kicked off our ROOTED series with the first half of statement one of our statement of faith, the person of God.

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We might ask, “If God has eternally existed in a loving unity of three equally divine persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, holy and infinitely perfect, why did He create anything or anyone in the first place?” Throughout eternity past that sentence, minus “Creator of all things,” was true and complete. He lacked nothing. He was under no compulsion to create.

The second half of statement #1 about God moves from the person of God to the purpose of God.

Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

God’s purpose was to display His glorious grace through the redemption of rebellious image bearers. The apostle Paul described God’s eternal purpose like this.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)

So, if God was eternally complete in His perfect blessedness as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, why create anyone else to share in it? In a word, love. The loving unity of the Triune God overflowed to redeem a people for himself who can be eternally enfolded and included in that perfect love and blessedness. What a story!

This Sunday, Randy Gruendyke will preach and Kenny Clark will lead our sung worship. Would you pray for us as we prepare to feed the flock this week?

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!