Before the world was made

God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time – to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 1 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 2

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 3 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 4

God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. 5

This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere , so that they too might believe and obey him. 6 We speak of the mystery of God – his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 7

God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth. 8

Rejoice because your names are registered in heaven, 9 written in the Book of Life before the world was made. 10

 

1 2Tim 1.9 2 Eph 1.4 3 Rom 8.29 4 Eph 1.5 5 1Pt 1.20 6 Rom 16.25-26 7 1Cor 2.7 8 Eph 1.9-10 9 Lk 10.20 10 Rev 13.8