Chapter 121—Before Creation
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
2 Timothy 1:9
.
The purpose and plan of grace existed from all eternity. Before the
foundation of the world it was according to the determinate counsel of God
that man should be created, endowed with power to do the divine will. But
the defection of man, with all its consequences, was not hidden from the
Omnipotent, and yet it did not deter Him from carrying out His eternal
purpose; for the Lord would establish His throne in righteousness. God
knows the end from the beginning.... Therefore redemption was not an
afterthought ... but an eternal purpose to be wrought out for the blessing not
only of this atom of a world but for the good of all the worlds which God
has created.
The creation of the worlds, the mystery of the gospel, are for one purpose,
to make manifest to all created intelligences, through nature and through
Christ, the glories of the divine character. By the marvelous display of
His love in giving “his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life,” the glory of God is revealed to
lost humanity and to the intelligences of other worlds.
Jesus encircles the race with His human arm, while with His divine arm
He lays hold upon infinity. He is the “daysman” between a holy God and our
sinful humanity—one who can “lay his hand on us both” (
Job 9:33
).
The terms of this oneness between God and man in the great covenant
of redemption were arranged with Christ from all eternity. The covenant of
grace was revealed to the patriarchs. The covenant made with Abraham ...
was a covenant confirmed by God in Christ, the very same gospel which is
preached to us.... Paul speaks of the gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ,
as “the revelation of the mystery, which hath been kept in silence through
times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all
the nations unto obedience of faith” (
Romans 16:25, 26
, R.V.).
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