We are told that God had a plan for the world and mankind that he made before the foundation of the world and he has been working that plan ever since. Ephesians 1:4-12 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” This passage of scripture tells us much about God’s plan for mankind. Following is a summary of some of the major elements of His plan as described in Ephesians 1:4-12.
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” His plan was from eternity. Acts 15:18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.” He first created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Then He created man. Genesis 1:26a “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” He created man, but He knew that man would sin and need redemption. His plan included giving redeemed man eternal life. Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.”
“That we should be holy and without blame before Him.” To give man eternal life, He planned the church, the called out, of those He would sanctify and cleanse and make holy. Ephesians 5:25b-27 “Just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” God’s plan was to establish His church of those who were made holy.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Romans 3:23-26 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” God’s plan was to send his son Jesus Christ into the world. Through the sacrifice of Christ, He would redeem and justify those who had faith in Jesus.
To accomplish His plan and bless all of the families on earth, God chose Abraham. He told him in Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This was a prophesy about Jesus. God later chose Isaac and then Jacob, also named Israel, and then He chose the children of Israel through whom Jesus Christ would come. Speaking of Christ, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:20-21 “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s plan by dying on the cross and raising from the dead.
“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” God’s plan was a mystery to mankind until Christ came and revealed what God had planned. 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” God’s plan for mankind was kept as a mystery until Christ should come. The rulers of that age didn’t know. Even the prophets didn’t understand what they prophesied. 1 Peter 1:10 “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.” But now we know His plan.
“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him.” God’s plan includes an eternal inheritance for the saved. 1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
“Who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” God worked His plan and is continuing to work His plan. Ephesians 3:9-11 “And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We see that God’s plan is wisdom.
“We who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” I encourage those of us who have received God’s mercy to praise and glorify Him for His marvelous plan of redemption and eternal inheritance.