Before the Foundation of The World

 

 

It was my privilege to substitute for our Bible Study Teacher Linda who was taking a much needed Christmas Holiday. Since it was Christmas approaching, I wanted to have a lesson about Jesus – but something different than the usual.

Our first look was at God who dwells in eternity.  No beginning, no ending, just everlasting without time as we know it. 

Now if we understand there was no beginning of God, we read in Genesis “in the Beginning,”  and also in John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God and the Word was with God and all things were made by Him.” 

 

What is this beginning?

As we think about it we can conclude that this word beginning is speaking about the Creation of the World, when the sun and moon was put in place there became day and night thus “Time,” began.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one, all things In Christ -

Even prior to the Creation God planned to send Jesus to become the Lamb of God.  No doubt this was necessary after the rebellion in heaven when the beautiful Arch Angel Lucifer with his huge following decided he would take over and become god. This was no surprise to God, and he made short work of the revolt by casting Satan and 1/3 of the angels out of heaven.

God is all knowing and even as He created Adam and Eve and they enjoyed sweet fellowship every evening – He know what was soon to occur.

The first time the gospel was preached was in Genesis 3:15. Right after Adam sinned, which separated himself and all his descendants from our Creator; God revealed He already had a plan to provide a way of salvation for sinners: “ … And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

God further illustrated His redemption plan when he made clothing for Adam and Eve from animal skins: “… Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” This was the first blood sacrifice as a covering for their sin—a picture of what was to come in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who would die and be raised from the dead to TAKE AWAY our sin.

As you contemplate this truth, I want you to think about the fact that, as God killed these animals to cover Adam and Eve, He knew that this would happen to the Son of God one day—in fact, he knew this before He had created the universe, before there was time, God had predetermined that the Son of God would become a sacrifice for sin so that those who received the gift of salvation could be saved for all eternity.

Jesus understood God’s plan and was a willing volunteer: John 17:5: And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Acts 2:23  states: “ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”

The Old Testaments Prophets knew of this salvation and that it was associated with the birth of Christ of whom they prophesied.  (1 Peter 1:1-10)

We mentioned Psalms chapter 22 and also Isaiah chapter 53 are prophetic chapters.

Isaiah 7:14 King James Version (KJV) ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you be little among the thousands …

We spoke a bit about Salvation and that it denotes deliverance, preservation, healing salvation for the total man, spirit, body and soul (mind, will and emotions.)

Prior to Jesus birth, his mother Mary experienced a divine encounter with an Angel who announced that she was highly favored among women and the child she would bare was sent from God.  Naturally she was afraid, but realized she must say yes and allow this to happen.  After an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he too realized this was of God and he was to protect and care for her and the child.

We know the story how they went to Bethlehem to be taxed (to fulfill the prophesy) where Mary gave birth to Jesus.  Shepherds also had an encounter with angels as they sang and announced the birth of a Savior and instructed the shepherds where to find the baby.

Many other prophesies were fulfilled through out Jesus life.

One prophesy is yet to come and that is the return of our Lord.  May we rejoice this Christmas season that Jesus was born according to a divine plan so that we may chose to spend eternity with him in Glory.

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As I completed the lesson, I passed out several pages of  Old Testament Prophesies (353) that were all fulfilled in Jesus.  According to the Scriptures.org is where you can find these, and print it out for yourself.