The Whole Purpose Of God Pt 3 – The Puzzle Completed In Jesus

We continue our series on the whole purpose of God, Part 3. In Part 2, we established that the Bible is not a storybook. It is not a mere historical record, an encyclopedia of spiritual facts, motivational quotes or a book of moral values. While it contains elements of history, wisdom, poetry, prophecy, and instruction, we must not confuse its many layers for its main idea.

In Acts 20:27, the apostle Paul makes a bold statement to the elders at Ephesus: “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” He was not interested in sharing partial truths or isolated doctrines. He revealed the full narrative of God’s plan, from creation to redemption, from the fall of man to the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth through Jesus Christ. This “whole counsel” is the main thread that runs through every book, every covenant, and every prophecy in the Bible.

The Law, the Veil, and a Diminishing Glory

To understand this grand narrative of the Bible, we must trace its earlier chapters. The Israelites, having come out of Egypt, encountered God at Mount Sinai. In Exodus 20, we read that God appeared in fire and smoke, and the people, terrified, begged that He speak through Moses instead. Thus, Moses became the mediator of the first covenant, which we now refer to as the Old Testament. This covenant was based on law, written on tablets, and sealed by the blood of animals (Hebrews 9:18-22).

When Moses received the law, his face shone with a supernatural brightness that the people were afraid and asked him to veil his face. But as 2 Corinthians 3:13-14 explains, this brightness was fading, a symbol that the glory of the old covenant (testament) was temporary. Still, Moses veiled his face so that the people wouldn’t see the fading light. In doing so, a spiritual veil was placed over their understanding, preventing them from perceiving that the law was only a shadow of something greater.

Hebrews 8:5 describes the tabernacle and law as “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven,” and Exodus 25:40 reminds us that Moses was told to build “according to the pattern” shown to him on the mountain. What then is the original pattern? The reality is Christ.

In the next part, we will look deeper into the implications of the Mount of Transfiguration and how all the Bible is the unfolding revelation of God’s eternal purpose centred in Christ and His Kingdom.

Blessings.

Interactive Discussion Prompts:

💡 Reflection Prompt:
If the law and the tabernacle were only shadows, and Christ is the reality, what does that mean for how we read the Bible today? Are we simply gathering knowledge or are we seeing Jesus at the center of it all?

📢 Call to Action:
Take a moment this week to reread one Old Testament story and ask: “How does this point me to Christ?” Share your insights below your perspective might help someone else see Jesus more clearly in Scripture. ✨📖