THE SAVING GOD: FROM ETERNITY TO ETERNITY

God is the supreme artist and architect of the scheme of redemption. He is "over all, and through all, and in all" (Eph. 4:6). In this lesson, we see some of God's actions for man's salvation past, present and future.

Body

I. GOD'S PAST ACTIONS. It began before creation -- the scheme of redemption. God's infinite wisdom and grace even then had begun working out the salvation of fallen man even before man had been made.

   A. He chose us (1:4).

        1. In Christ. Not an individual choosing against the will, but a collective choosing in Christ.

        2. Chose us that we should be before Him.

            a. Holy.

            b. Blameless.

            c. In love. It is a response to God's grace.

   B. He predestinated us (1:5).

        1. Not to individual salvation or damnation. In the Bible the "elect" are the "whosoever will's" and the "nonelect" are the "whosoever won'ts."

        2. Predestinated (lit. "set the bounds in advance," "place the horizons beforehand") that the saved (praise God, that includes us!) should enjoy divine sonship.

            a. Christ is the only begotten (unique) Son; we are sons by adoption.

            b. Yet we are privileged to be sons of God by a new birth. We are sons not only legally but seminally; not only have we a new name but a new nature.

            c. By Christ Jesus.

            d. This is according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace.

II. GOD'S PRESENT ACTIONS.

   A. Made known His will to us (1:9, 10).

        1. Formerly a mystery, now revealed.

        2. Part of God's eternal purpose -- appropriate for this age in which He sums up all things in Christ.

        3. According to His good pleasure.

   B. We have obtained an inheritance.

        1. Predestinated for sonship (1:5).

        2. Sons inherit.

        3. We were therefore predestinated to receive an inheritance (1:11).

        4. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit as an "earnest" (guarantee, down payment) of the inheritance.

   C. We have been accepted, in Christ (1:6).

   D. We have redemption in Christ (1:7).

        1. Forgiveness of sins.

        2. According to the riches of His grace.

III. GOD'S FUTURE ACTIONS.

   A. God will sum up all things in Christ -- in heaven and on earth. This has already begun as men are brought together in the church. It will be completed at the End (1:10).

   B. God will give the saints an inheritance (1:14).

   C. God will receive eternal praise of glory (1:14; see 2:7).

Conclusion

We can say with Paul, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1:3).

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