Before the Foundation…
(Words in bold and/or underlined are for emphasis)
The phrase, “before the foundation of the world” is mentioned three times in scripture. It means “from eternity past;” it was before the creation, before human history.
Here are the three occurrences –
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)
“Who verily was foreordained (chosen) before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1:20-21)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:3-4)
In John 17 – the record of the Lord Jesus praying to the Father – we read that He was loved before the foundation of the world; in 1 Peter 1, he was foreordained (chosen) to be our Redeemer before the foundation of the world.
Finally, in Ephesians, we read that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. What a blessed thought that is! Beloved, we are on our way to be with Christ – where He is – for all eternity!
Paul, the apostle, speaks about the Thessalonian saints, how they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)
Christ was raised from the dead by God, the Father, as a testimony of his acceptance of the Son’s sacrifice of Himself at Calvary; consequently, He has “delivered us from the wrath to come.”
Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! “…for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” (Revelation 5:9)
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our Blessed Redeemer!
| Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Sing, ye saints! His wonderful love proclaim! Hail Him! hail Him! mightiest angels in glory; Strength and honor give to His holy name! Like a shepherd, Jesus will feed His people, In His arms He carries them all day long; O ye saints that live in the light of His presence, Praise Him! praise Him! ever in joyful song! Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, For our sins He suffered and bled and died; He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation, Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus, the Crucified; Loving Savior, meekly enduring sorrow, Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow; Once for us rejected, despised, and forsaken, Prince of Glory, ever triumphant now. Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, Heavenly portals, loud with hosannahs ring! Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever; Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King! Death is vanquished! Tell it with joy, ye faithful, Where is now thy victory, boasting grave? Jesus lives! No longer thy portals are cheerless; Jesus lives, the mighty and strong to save. (Fanny J. Crosby) |