What is at the center of God’s purpose for the universe?

From “Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 4: Church and Last Things.”

“The gathered church is God’s house, where He manifests His special presence on earth. God Himself appears in our midst, and His voice is heard in the preaching of the Word. The church is like a portal between heaven and earth, a Beth-el, or ‘house of God,’ because it is joined by faith to Christ (Gen. 28:10–19; John 1:51).

When we draw near to God in the church’s worship while exercising faith in Christ, we enter the holy places (Heb. 10:19–22). In the offering of worship, the exaltation of Christ, the pursuit of holiness, and the fellowship of saints, the church is an earthly expression of heaven.

What an immense privilege it is to approach heaven while on earth! We should treasure every opportunity to participate in the church’s worship services and prayer meetings. God created all things for the sake of His Son (Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2). He sent the Lord Jesus to redeem His people (Gal. 1:4–5; Titus 2:14). He exalted Christ to the highest place and ‘gave Him to be the head over all things to the church’ (Eph. 1:22).

Therefore, the church stands at the center of God’s purpose for the universe. God’s mysterious plan, ‘which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by J&&&&&&&&&&t,’ is to make known ‘by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Eph. 3:9–11).

It is God’s intent to display His ‘glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages’ (Eph. 3:21). Therefore, God’s purpose for creating the world can be summarized as follows: to display His glory in Christ through the church. This thought should fill our minds with wonder: the purpose of the Creator in making all the universe revolves around the church of J&&&&&&&&&&t.

Since God is sovereign, all things are working together to make Christ the preeminent Son among many redeemed brothers and sisters who bear His image in God’s family (Rom. 8:28–29). If you desire to have a part in God’s great purpose for the universe, be part of His church.” (4: 51–52)