This episode links the discussion of the Biblical fool to the grand narrative of mankind's purpose, restored in salvation. The ultimate purpose of salvation is the restoration of mankind to his original purpose, where he gives God glory in response to beholding God (faith) and regarding the works of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Mankind's fundamental problem since the Fall is idolatry, where man and his works replace God and His works as the consuming focus of life. God initiates restoration: the accumulated sin debt of man is paid for and satisfied in Christ on the cross, and the wages of man's works, all tainted by sin, are paid in full. (Romans 6:23) Repudiation of the old man and his works, coupled with faith in God, is essential for salvation. Consequently, "repentance from dead works" and "faith toward God," ("repent and believe the gospel") are the first two foundational principles of Christianity. (Hebrews 6:1) Christ and His works progressively become the focus of life in Christian sanctification, replacing the idolatrous focus on man and his works. The Biblical fool, fixated on himself and his dead works, suppresses and exchanges the truth of God for a lie. (Romans 1:18-23) He rejects his God-given purpose of reflecting the glory of God while delighting in God and His works. The fool instead finds purpose in pursuing his own glory and ends, shaped entirely by his idolatrous fixation on himself. Perpetual rejection of the knowledge of God and His gracious offer of redemption in Christ leads to "eternal destruction." Christ, on his return, will deal out "retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) The Biblical fool then is ultimately held accountable for his WILLFUL ignorance and rejection of the gospel.
The Fool and the Works of God
This episode spells out the Biblical purpose of man, highlighting the folly of a fool in the process. The image of God in man makes mankind unique among all creation. Men and women are endowed with the capacity to appreciate God and His works, and reflect His glory. The Fall seriously impaired this capacity, but never extinguished the hunger for eternity placed in all men. Solomon, for instance, noted that "God has set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Eternity invites man to regard the never-ending works of God, which is the unique privilege of those created in the image of God. Regarding the works of the Lord, honoring God as God and giving Him thanks--these make up the fundamental purpose of mankind. Interestingly, the failure to regard the works of the Lord is the sin of the wicked, according to Psalm 28:5. And the fool in Romans 1:18-23 is essentially one who has no regard for the works of the Lord, even denying "God's invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature" made evident in creation. The fool then is one who rebels against his purpose, exchanging the truth of God for a lie, living for his own glory instead of the glory of his Creator.
“Let the King of Glory Come in!”
This episode fundamentally describes all of redeemed mankind's purpose, in light of the end of creation and the heavenly hosts. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that God has placed eternity in the heart of man so that God's works cannot be known from beginning to end. Man is called to uncover God's works and give Him glory, and this is precisely what we will be doing for all eternity. The angels are presently declaring that the whole earth is full of God's glory. The created order is full of God's glory, and that order of beings with the capacity to perceive and honor that glory are doing just that. This larger narrative, of course, highlights the one creature that seems oblivious to the glory of God, fallen man, who has exchanged God's glory for an idolatrous image (Rom. 3:23). The purpose of salvation should be seen through this narrative, that God would remake mankind for the purposes of glorifying God as he uncovers God and His works for all eternity, giving Him glory. The redemption of the created order should also be see through this glory narrative, which is presently groaning "for the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Rom. 8:21) Both creation and mankind's hope rests completely on the work of "the king of glory," the Lord Jesus Christ. "Lift up your heads, O gates..that the King of glory may come in!" (Psalm 24:9)