GOD'S MASTER PLAN

Table of Contents

1. God's Original Desire for His People
2. The Failure of Man and the Sacrificial System
3. Jesus: God's Perfect Sacrifice
4. Justified and Declared Righteous
5. God's Love Poured Out Through Christ
6. The Power Sources for the Believer
7. Accessing Grace Through Righteousness
8. Coming Boldly to the Throne of Grace
9. Conclusion: God's Master Plan Fulfilled in Jesus

God's Original Desire for His People

Pastor Leonard begins by explaining that God's master plan existed because mankind was incapable of saving itself. Humanity could not redeem itself, rescue itself, or create its own righteousness and holiness. Man's nature was bent toward evil, making self-salvation impossible.

He explains that at Mount Sinai, God's desire was for Israel to remain under the unconditional covenant of grace, the Abrahamic Covenant. God wanted Israel to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests, living under His blessing and fellowship.

Abraham himself experienced this grace covenant. Even when Abraham lied, disobeyed, and attempted to help God fulfill His promises, God's blessing remained because the covenant depended upon God's goodness rather than Abraham's performance. However, Israel rejected this arrangement. They preferred that Moses speak to God on their behalf and promised, "Whatever He tells us to do, we will do." They chose a covenant based upon performance and obedience, even though they would repeatedly fail.

Despite their failures, God's intention never changed. His nature is love, compassion, mercy, goodness, and blessing.

The Failure of Man and the Sacrificial System

Because Israel requested a covenant based on performance, God established the sacrificial system. Pastor Leonard explains that many people glorify the Law and its sacrifices, but according to Hebrews chapters 8 and 10, God never desired this system and took no pleasure in it.

Throughout Israel's history, the people continually pursued idols and false gods, leaving the Lord time and again. Yet God repeatedly rescued them. Countless bulls, goats, and sheep were sacrificed over approximately fourteen hundred years.

However, those sacrifices never removed sin. Hebrews teaches that the blood of animals could never take away sin. The worshipers would bring their offerings and leave with the awareness that they were still sinners because their consciences had never been cleansed. By contrast, Jesus' one sacrifice permanently purged mankind's consciousness of sin.

After making His sacrifice, Jesus sat down because no further sacrifice was necessary. His one offering perfected forever those whom He sanctified. Jesus became God's answer to humanity's inability to save itself.

Jesus: God's Perfect Sacrifice

Pastor Leonard declares that Jesus was God's master plan. He would do what man could never do.

Romans 4:25- "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Jesus was put to death as God's perfect sacrifice and offering. God took salvation into His own hands by establishing a flawless and faultless covenant through His Son. Jesus died for our sins and our transgressions. He who knew no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. The resurrection was not merely proof that Jesus was alive. God declared that humanity had been justified and made righteous. Many people celebrate the empty tomb while missing this tremendous truth—that the resurrection was God's declaration of our righteousness.

Justified and Declared Righteous

Because Jesus was raised, believers have been declared righteous.

Romans 5:1-2- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Pastor Leonard emphasizes the word "therefore." Because Christ was raised for our justification, believers are already justified. This righteousness is not something people work toward, strive for, or earn. It is a present reality. As a result, believers now have peace with God. God is completely at peace with His children. Nothing remains to be earned. There is nothing left to accomplish in order to gain God's love or acceptance.

Jesus made peace through His sacrifice and offering. Not only have believers been declared righteous, but they also have access to God's grace.

God's Love Poured Out Through Christ

The second major point of God's master plan is love. Everything God accomplished was motivated by love.

Romans 5:5- "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

God's love has already been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This is not something believers are seeking. It has already been given. The Holy Spirit continually reveals and reminds us that God loves us.

Romans 5:8- "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

God loved us while we were still sinners. His love was not based upon our worthiness, performance, or efforts. Pastor Leonard shares a personal story. One morning he briefly questioned whether God loved him as much as He loved other believers who appeared more successful or blessed. If such thoughts could come to someone who understands grace, he says, then many believers must struggle with these same feelings. He strongly encourages believers to reject this thinking. God does not love one of His children more than another. God loves His children as much as He loves Jesus. Believers must eradicate every thought that suggests they are less loved by God.

The Power Sources for the Believer

God's master plan also provides every power source believers need in life.

Romans 5:15- "But not as the offence, so also is the gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many."

Romans 5:17- "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:19- "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Romans 5:21- "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

The two greatest forces in the life of a believer are love and righteousness. God has provided both. Through His love and through the gift of righteousness, believers can reign in life. Grace reigns through righteousness. Therefore, understanding righteousness is essential.

Accessing Grace Through Righteousness

Pastor Leonard returns to Romans 5:2.
Romans 5:1-2- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." He explains that having access to grace does not automatically mean we are using that grace.

To illustrate, he uses an example involving his wife and shopping at stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. Imagine the entire store represents God's grace. Everything in the store is available. A person has access to everything there. However, simply walking through the store does not mean the items become theirs.

To obtain the items, a person must use a credit card. The credit card represents righteousness. Righteousness is what accesses grace. Believers who do not understand that they are righteous have access to grace but often leave without receiving what grace provides. When believers know they are righteous, they can confidently receive all that God's grace has made available.

Coming Boldly to the Throne of Grace

When believers understand God's gifts of love and righteousness, they can confidently approach Him.
Hebrews 4:16- "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Because of God's love and because believers have been made righteous, they can approach God's throne with confidence, boldness, and full assurance. There they will obtain mercy and find grace for every need. This is the practical result of God's master plan.

-Believers are loved.
-Believers are righteous.
-Believers have full access to God's grace.
And believers can come boldly into God's presence.

Conclusion: God's Master Plan Fulfilled in Jesus

God's master plan is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus' sacrifice, death, burial, and resurrection, God accomplished what mankind never could.

He provided a flawless and faultless covenant.
-He declared believers righteous.
-He poured His love into their hearts.
-He gave them full access to His grace.

The invitation of this message is simple:

-Believe in His love.
-Believe in His gift.
-Believe in your righteousness.
-Believe in Jesus.

Thank you for reading this teaching on GOD'S MASTER PLAN. We pray this message encourages you to rest in God's love, embrace your righteousness in Christ, and confidently receive all that His grace provides. If this teaching blessed you, please share it with others so they too can discover God's incredible master plan revealed through Jesus Christ.