God has a Secure Foundation
Man makes plans, He plans appointments, like doctors, vets, car, visits, etc. Also we plan - weddings, vacations, and save for retirement
Common denominator - plans fail or change due to problems like sickness, death, financial lose, outside influences, etc:
God has a plan too, but God’s Plans never change or fail, there are no oops, or nothing unexpected
Some common phrases you will see in this message are:
•from the foundation of the world
•before the foundation of the world
•before time began
•before the world began
The term "foundation of the world" is frequently mentioned in scripture as the extreme border-line of the past.
The phrase “from the foundation of the world” is used to mean that this was appointed in the beginning; that God has no new plan; and that rewards which he will now grant he always intended to grant.
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. This means God created matter, earth, universe and time. There was no time before time was created!
Isaiah 48:12,13 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together.
Note this is not the beginning of God, but the beginning of His creation. God always was.
Revelation 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
When considering eternity, it is easier to look ahead then past:
Isaiah 57:15a For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Not only does God live forever and is eternal; but we can have eternal life to:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Looking back: Much harder to wrap your head around
Nothing baffles the mind of man more than the conception of eternity; before the world began. Scripture is comparatively silent about the eternal past; man knows only what God has revealed.
Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world; even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
John 1:1~3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."
He did not have a beginning Himself, but existed from all eternity. As far as we can go back, the Lord Jesus was there. He never was created. He had no beginning.
It clearly means before creation, before the world was made, when as yet there was nothing. The meaning is: “the Word” had an existence before the world was created.
The Father was loving the Son before the foundation of the world as seen in:
John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
The plan of God is all-encompassing and absolutely certain:
Human plans fail, often because the planner has overlooked some detail. Something unforeseen arises, and suddenly plans collapse. This is because every detail was not taken into account.
God’s plan is all-inclusive. It is based on God’s omniscience (knowing all), so that everything past, present, and future is taken into account. Count on God’s plan that was fore-ordained a long time ago. All that God said happened just as He planned. Much of God’s plans are written in the Bible, which we call prophecy.
The main reason we can trust biblical prophecy is that it, like the rest of Scripture, was written—literally “God-breathed”—by the Creator of the universe. It is inerrant, perfect, and true. Biblical prophecy plays two roles. It foretells the future, and it explains what the positive or negative results of future events will be.
True biblical prophecy is always accurate and precise. What God prophesies always occurs.
Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
God never changes, it is impossible for God to change. He will never be stronger or weaker. His knowledge and wisdom will not increase or diminish. God does not compromise or change His values.
Isaiah 14:26-27 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?"
The plan of God was conceived in eternity past, before even time existed:
Hebrews 4:3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
(1) if a plan was formed “before the foundation of the world,” no matter whether a moment, an hour, a year, or millions of years, the plan is equally fixed. Any objection which could be raised against an “eternal” plan, will lie against a plan formed a day, hour, or year; before the event.
(2) if a plan was formed “before the foundation of the world,” it “was eternal.” God has no new plan, He forms no new schemes. He is not changing and wavering.
These verses reference to a point of time of absolute pre-existence before any creation
Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
KJV Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
2 Tim. 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
KJV 2 Tim. 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
There are things God determined and ordained before He had done anything. God decided certain things in eternity before He did anything in history
God’s plans, include our Salvation, Sanctification and Glorification.
In the sovereignty and omniscience of God, many things were determined and accomplished before or from the foundation of the world:
Here is a profound mystery. Before the world was founded, mankind presented themselves to God as lost; the work of redemption was planned and its details arranged from all eternity.
1 Peter 1:20 He [CHRIST] indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
From Believers Bible Commentary - Christ's work for us was no afterthought on God's part. The Redeemer was destined to die for us before the creation of the world. But at the end of the times, that is, at the end of the dispensation of law, He appeared from heaven to rescue us from our former way of life.
2 Timothy 1:8,9 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
God in His wisdom and foreknowledge prepared everything beforehand for us to be regenerated! It was so certain in the divine purpose, that it might be said to be already done. Christ was destined to die for us since before the creation.
To make any sense, if the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world does not literally mean that Christ was slain at or ever since the foundation of the world, but means that Christ was slain from the foundation of the world in the sense that it was so foreordained from the foundation of the world and, therefore, so certain that God declares Jesus to be slain before He actually is. This notion that what God has foreordained in advance being spoken of, or declared to be, as if it has already taken place upon its having been foreordained is not unheard of in scripture.
A Christian’s involvement in God’s plans
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 9:5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Matt. 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Philippians 2:12,13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Here Paul presents both sides and makes no effort to rationally harmonize the believer’s part and God’s part in sanctification. He is content with the paradox and simply states both truths, saying on the one hand, sanctification is of believers (12), and on the other hand, it is of God (13).
Our final Glorification in God’s plans
Glorification is God's final removal of sin from the life of the saints:
John 14:2 "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Rev. 21:4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Final glorification must await the manifestation of the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory
Personal Application
If you are saved consider:
Rom. 12;1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Are you a living sacrifice – A daily commitment, it’s part of your being, an expression of your life in action
Living holy lives –1 Peter 1:15,16 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
Daily putting off/ putting on Col. 3; Rom 13, 14; Eph 4, 5; Col. 8
Exhibit Christ likeness – no highest description of character
Set apart – more than positionally; but also practically
Being set apart from the world doesn’t mean we can’t have fun, but we are not to indulge in the sinful activities of this world.
Thomas Watson “He that chooses God, devotes himself to God as the vessels of the sanctuary were consecrated and set apart from common to holy uses, so he that has chosen God to be his God, has dedicated himself to God, and will no more be devoted to profane uses.”
Are you acceptable to God 2 Cor. 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
It is only your reasonable service- Total commitment is our reasonable service in this sense: if the Son of God has died for me, then the least I can do is live for Him.
In Rev. Ch 2 & 3, letters to the 7 Churches – “I know your works”
What would He say to us corporately and each of us individually?
Are we examples of Christ to the outside world?
Philippians 3:17 ESV Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Titus 2:6-8 ESV Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Is your life a reflection of Jesus? Would you do what you now do, if Jesus was literally walking beside you?
If you are not saved Consider:
Consider God’s creation, His all His perfect plans that never fail, etc.
Consider ll the prophesy in the Bible and accuracy and mathematical possibilities
Consider Jesus taking on your sin, past present future (believer or not)
Consider God couldn’t look at Jesus when He took on all sin
Consider consequences of excepting or not excepting Jesus