[OBW]

I know this is far from really addressing the questions that you raised. But for me, the first problem I have in dealing with Lee's idea of "God's eternal purpose" is that it is predicated on the idea that he has properly decided which are the primary/core things of why God created things and made them, or allowed them, to turn out the way they have, and what he intends to do about it.

And the problem that I keep coming back to in Lee's version of the "eternal purpose" is that while there may be a statement here or there that could be construed as arriving at some part of Lee's version, the whole record, including the very history of the creation, fall, the selection of Abraham and his offspring, the working with that offspring over the years, etc., does not seem to support the conclusion that it is all about "taking in God" or calling on the Lord, or other similar "spiritual" activities.

In the beginning, God created man and gave him the image of God, and gave him dominion over the earth. Then He sat back and watched it, coming to talk with Adam periodically. Not constantly. Not at every potential problem. Note that the serpent had time to tempt Eve, get her (and Adam) to eat of the tree (whatever that actually consisted of), realize their problem, and take time to devise coverings for themselves so they wouldn't be naked the next time God came around.

We don't learn in the account that God told Adam to call on Him all day long, or "turn to his spirit" or any other such thing. Rather, man lived life and interacted with God at times of uncertain interval and duration.

Same goes for Abraham. He had some significant interactions. But if they managed to go many years without the promised son being born, you would have expected God's presence on a more constant basis giving Abe the strength to wait. But instead he resorted to his own devices.

Etc. Etc.

Then came the Exodus, and the law. Come to the Temple on set occasions. Not even every month, and clearly not every week. Sacrifice on occasion. In the meantime, live a righteous life. Be square with each other, and even with strangers among you. Love God and love each other. Treat everyone the way you would want to be treated yourself.

And so on. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

And then in the NT, it is suddenly is turned on its head. It is now all about doing religious things and not about righteousness. It is about sacrifice and not about obedience. I'm not talking about sacrifice relative to salvation, but the kind of "sacrifice of praise" that we bring. Not bad stuff. But it is never a replacement for hungering and thirsting for righteousness. It does not respond to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. If you love God, you will obey. And no amount of religious action and words (no matter how flowery) can make up for disobedience.

This is not about salvation, but about what the saved do with their salvation. Or after it. If I despise "works" of righteousness, kindness, love, etc., then I am despising the very thing that is the second part of the "great commandment." The commandment that makes all the others irrelevant because fulfilling it will naturally fulfill all other commandments.

And it is not just Lee that misses this at times. Some of the rest of us think that it is all about evangelizing. Learn how to spread the gospel. That is your primary command. But if we are unrighteous, what kind of gospel are we spreading? A gospel of shame? a gospel of hypocrisy?