God's Eternal Plan of Redemption
Christ through the Covenants • Sermon • Submitted
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 1:3-14
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Introduction
Introduction
We are continuing our study entitled “Christ through the Covenants.” We are considering together the various covenants that are found in Scripture, and then how those covenants are helpful to us as a framework to consider the workings of God through the course of history, and also looking forward to the return of Christ. As we look at the various covenants of Scripture, we are able to see how it is that God has entered into relationship with man, and directed the course of history through these various covenants.
Thus far, apart from the general introduction to covenants, we’ve looked at man that was created in the image of God in the Garden. Many would refer to a covenant in the Garden - where God gives man a command, gives him promises etc. The point that I wanted to emphasize through that sermon was the particular function that man was given as one that was made “in the image of God,” and created in order to a ruler over the created order. To fill the earth and subdue it to the glory of God.
We then considered the fall of man in the Garden, as Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God. The result of that was that man was no longer in relationship with God as He once had been. Man chose to walk in disobedience to God. Instead of humbly submitting to the command of God, which would have been for his own benefit and good, man chose to listen to Satan, and instead to seek to become like God. Remember, that was what Satan said would happen if he ate of this fruit… he would become like God, knowing good and evil.
And so man became separated from God.
The question that arises from this is whether or not God anticipated this fall and disobedience. Did God know that man would rebel? Or was God suddenly placed in a position where he would need to come up with a rescue plan, because things didn’t quite turn out as He had hoped. Was the fall of man in the Garden known by God from all eternity, or did he suddenly need to come up with “Plan B”?
If you’re used to the more conservative, reformed teaching, then you may think that the answer is quite simple. You may even think that the question itself is irrelevant, since these theological matters have been settled for a long time. I would suggest to you that they certainly haven’t, and we really do need to be fully convinced from Scripture as to the truth in this matter.
There is in our day a particular line of theological thinking called Open Theism. One Glossary of Theology defines Open Theism like this…
The Lexham Glossary of Theology Open Theism
open theism — A view on the nature of God that rejects classical attributes like omniscience or immutability in favor of positing a God who learns, adapts, takes risks, and modifies his plans in response to human actions. In this view, God's foreknowledge is limited by the uncertainties inherent in creating humanity with truly free will where even he does not know what free human agents will choose to do.
So, the idea is that God does not know what free human beings will choose, and so as time progresses and goes on, he needs to adapt his plans and his thinking and his strategies in order to bring about his purposes. This is decidedly unbiblical. I would argue that it creates for a great deal of uncertainty for the Christian. And yet there are some prominent theologians that hold to this view.
What I wish to explore just briefly from the Scriptures this evening is the Biblical position that God had determined before the creation of the world, that man would rebel against him, and that he would then institute his predetermined plan to bring about the salvation of His own chosen people, and that this would be done through His Son Jesus Christ, and further to this, that this plan from eternal ages past would stretch into eternity to come.
The emphasis is on the predetermined plan of God to bring this about, and the manner in which He brought this about. Thus, my sermon is titled “God’s Eternal Plan of Redemption.”
This truth is sometimes referred to by Theologians as a Covenant of Redemption. When referred to in this way, the argument is that the Father and the Son entered into covenant agreement before the beginning of time for the plan of salvation to be worked out.
Whether or not it is right and fitting to call it a covenant is not really going to be my focus this evening. My emphasis is going to be on the facts relating to the predetermined purposes of God. God planned from all eternity to redeem a people for himself, and this would be done through Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, and would be brought about through the working of the Holy Spirit.
1. Salvation is From Eternity
1. Salvation is From Eternity
The first thing that I’d like us to consider this evening is the fact that this Salvation is from Eternity. In other words, the salvation that you and I are now the beneficiaries of was planned by God from eternity. This truth comes out plainly in the text that is before us. In verse 4 we read…
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Notice the wording of Paul in this verse, which comes across very clearly. Paul does not in any way intimate or suggest that salvation was an afterthought or plan that God arrived at when he became surprised at man’s turning away from Him, and sinning in Eden.
Rather, Paul says that God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world.
The elect of God, those who are chosen, have been chosen before time in this created order even began.
He goes on to say in verse 5… In love...
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
Again in verse 11, we read…
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
Notice the force of these words, particularly as they relate to the planning of God. There is clear teaching in Scripture that God planned all that would happen and unfold in this world.
We see the word “predestined”, which comes from a word in the Greek which means to “determine beforehand” or to “ordain,” or to “decide ahead of time.”
Verse 11 adds the idea of God working things out according to a plan. God is a God that plans things and determines things according to His own will. Nothing in the world is working itself out without God having carefully determined and planned every moment and every eventuality.
Now, we can take this a step further in terms of our thinking, by considering what Paul says to Timothy…
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
We must ask ourselves how it is possible for grace to be given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. It’s almost as if we possessed and had this grace, this salvation, before our creation even took place. That’s the extent and the certainty of the grace of God to His people.
Friends, the Scripture is very clear in this regard, that the salvation plan that God brought about was not something that came about in response to any eventuality. It was not a plan in response to man’s sin, but rather fitted into the overall plan of God to redeem a people for Himself by His own grace.
2. Salvation is Unto Eternity
2. Salvation is Unto Eternity
Taking this further, we find that not only was this salvation planned before time began, but we find that God ultimately planned our salvation to extend into eternity future.
As we consider the Covenants in Scripture, we will very often find that God speaks about an Everlasting Covenant. Most of the time that we read this phrase, we think about that covenant going forward… in other words, it’s forward looking into eternity.
Let us consider some examples of this...
3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
40 “I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
26 “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.
Notice that in all of these examples, the Scriptures are speaking about the salvation of God’s people from sin. The references that we’ve just considered all speak about the New Covenenat in Jesus Christ. And so we see that salvation in Jesus Christ has been planned to extend into all eternity future.
This same teaching comes out in the New Testament Scriptures…
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
In the Titus 1:2, the emphasis is ont he fact that the salvation that has been brought to God’s people is an eternal salvation. It will bring eternal life. But Paul also speaks to Titus about the fact that this salvation, this eternal life, was promised before the beginning of time.
We also find reference to this in Hebrews 13:20…
20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
Again, the above verse in Hebrews speaks about the blood of the eternal covenant… This most certainly does refer to the forward-looking eternal nature of the covenant that is in Christ Jesus. It refers to the fact that New Testament believers are in covenant relationship into all eternity future.
But we know that this Eternal Covenant is rooted in eternity past according to the plans and purposes of God.
This leads us to our third consideration in this regard, and that is that…
3. Eternal Salvation is Specifically Applied
3. Eternal Salvation is Specifically Applied
When I say this, I mean that in this eternal plan of redemption by God was planned to be applied to His specifically chosen people, otherwise known as His elect.
This would seem to follow, based on all that we’ve already seen. Our text in Ephesians speaks quite clearly to this, but there are other Scriptures that clearly convey this truth.
Paul speaks in Romans 8:29-30 about the fact that God predetermined our salvation, but he makes it very clear that this salvation was specifically applied… in other words, it was applied to specifically chosen people…
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
God predetermined that certain individuals would be conformed to the likeness of His Son, be called, justified, and glorified. Essentially, God predetermines that certain individuals will be saved.
The word “Foreknew” that Paul uses in Romans 8:29 doesn’t refer to those that God saw in the future would know him. When the Scriptures speak about God knowing people, it doesn’t refer a knowledge about them or a superficial knowledge of them. God knew all people before He created anything. God knew about all people before He created them. He knew what they would be. He knew what they would do.
But there were those that God knew before the beginning of time in an intimate kind of way. It’s similar to Genesis speaking about Adam knowing Eve - in other words there is an intimacy in relationship. God foreknew particular people. And all of those that he he foreknew - those that he knew in this particular way… those he would know in a covenant relationship - he predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.
Following that, every single one of those that he foreknew, and predestined, he justified. And those he justified (every one of them) he glorified. In other words every person chosen by God will ultimately be glorified, and none will be lost.
With this in mind, I would like to point out in Scripture how God speaks about His elect in a peculiar way, and how he treats in a way distinct from the rest of the humanity, given that they are his chosen people, those in covenant relationship with Him.
22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Over and over in Scripture, we find the Scriptures speaking about those that were uniquely chosen by God. They were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. They were chosen according to the predetermined plan of God. They were chosen for redemption.
The implication out of this is that there can be no boasting, because our election by God was not based on merit. It was not based on our own good. In fact, our election took place before we even began to do either anything good or bad.
This is a reason for the priase of God by His people. We must bow down in humble worship before Him because He graciously chose us before time even began to be brought to salvation.
This is also an encouragement because, as I’ve mentioned before, God chose you knowing just who you are, and the kinds of things that you have done. Nothing that you do will take God by surprise… His knowledge and understanding is perfect - past present future…
4. The Eternal Salvation Plan is Trinitarian
4. The Eternal Salvation Plan is Trinitarian
This is an important aspect in terms of God’s salvation plan, because we find that all the members of the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - are at working together in particular ways in order to bring about this salvation. And once again, this forms part of God’s plan from eternity, until eternity future.
Notice the links between father and son…
Ephesians 1:4–5 (NIV84)
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
Notice also verse 9…
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
Very clearly the above verses speaking of the working and the cooperative work between the Father and the Son.
That’s why we find in Scripture that the Son speaks about submission to His Father’s will…
38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The Scriptures convey this as a plan by the Father, to redeem a people through His Son. And while the Scriptures most certainly convey the oneness of the Father and Son, their unity - in fact that they are equal, there are nonetheless different functions between these members.
What about the Spirit? Look with me at Ephesians 1:13-14…
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
In this passage, the Spirit does the work of being a guarantee of that salvation. We are marked, as God’s elect, with a seal, and that seal is Christ’s Spirit within us.
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Now, there is more that can be said on these matters, but the point is made.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
Let us go through a summary of the Teaching. Before God created the heavens and the earth, as per Genesis 1, He knew perfectly what His plan and purpose was in that creation. Included in His eternal purposes, was the plan and full knowledge that man would sin against Him, and that He would thus continue to carry out his predetermined plan to bring about the salvation of His chosen people, those that are known as His elect.
I want us to take cognisance of the fact that God’s plans revolve around and are centered upon the redemption of a particular people. When the Scriptures speak about the eternal plans of God, they are plans relating to the redemption of a people to praise Him. And that is the theme that runs through the whole of Scripture. That is the grand story and over-arching theme in Scripture.
As a point of application in this regard, our worship of God as creator is the most important aspect of life. We have been redeemed in order to sing the praises of our God. We have been redeemed in order to live with a view to eternity. We have been redeemed so that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Friends, do you see this as central in your own life?
When we look at life, do we see the worship of Christ and the praise of God, our salvation, involvement in the life of the church… do we see those things as peripheral to our main context in life… working and doing family, playing sport, living life in general?
I’ve had to challenge my own thinking in this area… All the more, I need to see that my salvation by God’s grace is central to the working of God in this world. That is what it’s all about. The redeemed life is the central theme of God’s purposes in this world.
I’m not saying the other things are not important… they certainly are, by God’s design. But our redeemed life is critical to our thinking. Our relationship with God, and worship of Him simply is the most important.
Practical encouragement...
We can have certainty. We need not fear.
Given that we were chosen by God, elect, we ought to praise Him… It’s nothing of ourselves.
Eph 2:1-10
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
May God enable us to live in light of this great salvation, that came about according to the eternal redemptive plans of God through Jesus Christ.