Before the Foundations Were Laid.

intro

brief overview

in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Over the course of six days, God will not only create the Earth, sun, moon, and stars. but will populate the earth with living plants and animals of all kinds. he will separated the skies, lands and seas. and finally, he will create man.

he made man to be in his own image, Genesis 3:7 says that he, “breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life.”

(and) God then saw that everything he made was very good.

until it wasn’t.

you see, God gave man all that was in the garden except for one tree. in regard to that one tree he commanded man and woman not to eat its fruits, in fact God was so adamant about this, that he told then not to touch the fruit or they would die.

and for a while man and woman lived in the garden of eden, tending to it and talked with God, until one day man sinned. tempted by the serpent the woman ate of the forbidden fruit and man ate after her.

they had sinned and the punishment was death. God had clearly told them the in the day they ate of the fruit they would surely die. when we first read this passage in Genesis 3:17 it gives the impression the they would die that exact day. however, God had a plan that would save them.in fact he had a plan to save all of us.

purpose statement

so over the next few minutes I want to show you not only that God planned to save us from the beginning . but I also want to show you how God has worked to fulfill the plan.

point one: He planned it

with that in mind lets read 1 Peter 1:13-21 - Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

Now listen to this - 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

did you hear that? God’s plan was made BEFORE the world was made. he knew we would need a way to salvation. he knew we would fall from the narrow way, just like Adam and Eve, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). in talking to the gentile christians at Ephesus Paul states, “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”

God sent his son to save us. he knew before the foundations were made how he would save us.

John 3:16-17 - ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him”

God wants to save us, and he want you to know it.

point two: he fulfills it

so how does he do that?

he works through certain righteous men.

Noah- Genesis 6:5-8

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord

plan to save Noah

we have life today because God saves the righteous.

Abraham

we later read of a man named Abraham. we read of how he left his home and family because God told him to a land he promised.

through his faith that the nation that will bring the ultimate messiah and savior in to this world, was born

Israel enslaved end of Genesis

Moses

sent to rescue Israel

the passover feast Exodus 12

David

man after God’s own heart

his direct line would bring about the birth of the messiah.

and his propheses show led the way to the cross. Psalms 22

the prophets

after david many others propheized the coming of the massiah

one was Isaiah who profisied the manner of the messiah’s death, Isaiah 53

Jesus

and it jesus fulfills the propheses and it is he who God planned from before the foundations were laid, was to bring us God’s salvation.

conclusion:

today, it is not my intention to go into all of the details of the life of Jesus, however i want you to know that it is through him God brought about are salvation. and he planned it from before the foundations were laid.

it is my challenge to you, to go back and read the passages mention today and trace for yourselves how God planned and fulfilled the gift that gave us salvation. thank you.