Dear all,
 
“In the beginning before time began, 
God was right there and he had a great plan.
He flung stars into space, he painted the sky,
He lit up the moon, he taught birds how to fly. 
But the crown of creation he saved to the end,
He made Adam and Eve and became their best friend”
 
It’s one of my favourite Lloyd Jones quotes! That is, Sally Lloyd Jones from the Tiny Bear Story Bible. 
 
It is wonderful theology because it puts creation, humanity, the fall, redemption – everything – in its right place. It takes us to the point of wonder and amazement.
 
“In the Beginning before time began, God was right there, and He had a great plan”
 
The first 4 words of the Bible are, “In the beginning God”. God is, and God existed in eternity. There was a time before us and there will be a time after us, but there was never a time when God was not. 
 
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.
 
In eternity, He was one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In preparation last week, I looked up the phrase, “Before the foundation of the world” in scripture. It was wonderfully revealing as to what we can understand by revelation of what God was doing before creation.
 
The Bible tells us that Jesus was loved before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). The Father loves the Son, and He always loved His Son. 
 
Jesus speaks words that have been secret from before the foundation of the world (Matthew 13:35). He is the Word made flesh, he reveals what God is like and who he is.
 
Jesus was known before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20). Jesus’ role as Mediator was planned by God from eternity past and wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to human sin.
 
Jesus had a kingdom prepared for him before the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and so when he arrives out of obscurity there is this climactic announcement – the kingdom of God is come!
 
He is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was not an afterthought but part of God’s eternal purpose. His plans are so sure that it is as if they have already happened. We see exactly the same thing when the Apostle Paul describes believers as having been glorified.
 
And then, the Church of God – the elect – come on to the stage. The people of God were chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). The Church of God began in eternity. Your faith and trust in Christ find their roots before time began.
 
The names of God’s people are written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world (Revelation 17:8). It is beautiful and powerful imagery, picture language, that there is a book in heaven with your name in it.  You didn’t write it there. You didn’t earn a place in God’s good book, but merely out of his grace and good pleasure, He has written your name there.
 
We love Him today because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Geerhardus Vos makes the mind-blowing observation that one of the reasons we know God will never stop loving us is that He never began. He has loved us with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3). At this point we are out of our depth; we cannot fully comprehend but we can, and we must worship. 
 
What I am endeavouring to show you is that the eternal decree of God, that he has chosen a people for himself – the elect – is a source of enormous comfort and joy to us.
 
History is the story of God calling out a people for himself. The Scriptures are the gradual unfolding of His eternal plan and redemption is the outworking of his plan. Our Salvation is rooted in Him and His purposes.
 
“Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counsellor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:34-36)
 
Your Minister and Friend,

Paul

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