The Church in Christ Before the Foundation of the World.
The magnitude of God the Father’s creation of the universe and the beautiful earth. The fathomless depths, the unreachable heights and his unsearchable riches in Christ our Lord.

John recorded Jesus’ prayer, were Jesus indicates that the church was created in God’s heart and mind before the foundation of the world, before the fall of humanity.
God appointed Jesus and the church, his body of believers to fulfil his purposes and plans, revealed through Jesus and the Holy Spirit to those whose faith is in Jesus. Jesus prayed, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their (apostles) word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. . . . Father, I desire that they also, who you have given me may be with me where I am, to behold your glory which you have given me in your love before the foundation of the world.” John 17: 20,21,24.

The Greek words used in verse 24 “the foundation of the world.” Foundation -Katabolo –throwing down and the ‘world’ – Kosmos –– world affairs, humanity. The pivotal moment in time, “the fall of humanity.”
Jesus used the word “Before” the foundation of the world,” The church Christ’s body of believers were created in the mind and heart of God before the fall of humanity. Therefore, the devil cannot prevail against it.
The term “from the foundation of the world” relates to when the devil caused the first humans to be separated from God, known as ‘the fall’ of Humanity, termed in the Bible as being “from the foundation of the world.

God created the church in heaven before the fall of humanity, Jesus has revealed the plan of God when he established the church on the earth in his death, resurrection and ascension, uniting his church in heaven and on the earth.

The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words” Editor Verlyn D Verbrugge. Katabole: foundation, beginning. Katabollo: throw or strike down, found, ground.

 Matt 13: 35. 25: 34. Psalm 78: 2. Rev 13: 8 is a fixed expression for the point from which historical dates are reconned. When God’s free activity is dated ‘before’ this point in time (e.g. Jn 17: 24) where the object of God’s love is Jesus: Eph 1: 4 when God’s providence from the absolute beginning he himself set for human history. The independence enables God to break into history in his loving presence and to bring the course of salvation history to its completion again in his love.”

God created the church before the foundation of the world in heaven. Jesus has revealed the plan of God when he established the church on the earth in his death, resurrection and ascension, uniting his church in heaven and on the earth. Jesus fulfilled his Father’s plan, when he suffered and died on a cross. Peter speaking at Pentecost, in his address he states, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know– this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts 2: 22,23 Acts 4: 28.

The Jewish leaders and people acted in ignorance when they handed Jesus over to Pilate for sentencing. The jews were taught from the law that the Messiah would not die, he would remain for ever. John 12: 34. The Messiah’s Secret by Dorothy Newton Published 2001

God in his foreknowledge before the foundation of the world, put in place the means of reconciling humanity back to himself through Jesus, his blood being the atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin, between God and humanity.

Part 2 God created the church before the foundation of the world in heaven. Jesus has revealed the plan of God when he established the church on the earth in his death, resurrection and ascension, uniting his church in heaven and on the earth.

God in his foreknowledge that is before the foundation of the world, put in place the means of reconciling humanity back to himself through Jesus, his blood being the atoning final sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.                                                                                                        

Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, “Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” Romans 5: 12-14. One man’s sin brought about separation from God. A Type meaning one man Jesus restored our relationship with God. Jesus sometimes referred to as the second Adam.

Moses’ inspired story of the fall of humanity, he tells us that the first human beings had fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden and instructed them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They were tempted by the serpent to eat from that tree, he said to them that they would be like God knowing good and evil. Eve was tempted first to eat from the tree, and she gave some to her husband Adam. As a result they became aware of the presence of evil and their nature fell under the influence of the devil and they became subject to eternal death. Their relationship with God changed from knowing God in a personal way, to knowing about God, for him to be revered, but kept at a distance. Genesis 3.

John recorded the words that he heard when Jesus prayed to his Father, Jesus prayed, Father, glorify thou me, in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” John 17: 5. Jesus saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. Luke 10: 18. Ezekiel 28: 11-19.

Jesus was tempted by the devil on the earth and was offered the kingdoms of the world if Jesus acknowledged Satan as god. Matthew writes, “Again, the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4: 7-10.

 In the plan of God Jesus was sent to restore the relationship between humanity and God. Jesus accomplished this through his death, paying the price for sin, in his life’s blood shed for forgiveness of all that stood against humanities relationship with God.

When Jesus rose from the dead and after his ascension the coming of the Holy Spirit, he established the church.

Paul confirms Jesus’ prayer indicates that the church was in God’s heart and mind before the foundation of the world, before the fall of humanity. God appointed the church to fulfil his purposes and plans, revealed through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians saying that he knew that God had set him apart before he was born. “Set me apart before I was born and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” Galatians 1: 15,16. Jeremiah 29: 11,12.

When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he encouraged the Gentile Christians that God had planned their inclusion into the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus before the foundation of the world. ”Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Ephesians 1: 4.

God had prepared their ministries, the vessels of mercy. ”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”     Ephesians 2: 10

Responding to God’s call to ‘follow Jesus’ God is able to reach to reach to the deepest depth of sin in a person’s life. In forgiveness he takes a person to the heights of joy, love and peace. The plans he has made will be challenging and need the support of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to fulfil it. The purpose will emerge as his plan unfolds.

Every Christian is called to fulfil God’s purposes and plans in their lives.

Jeremiah’s prophecy, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 11,12.

John wrote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.

The endless possibilities of God’s love and grace to those who believe in Jesus.

 ‘Whoever believes in Jesus’ or is it ‘Predestined?’

In the term ‘whoever’ there will be several people among those who respond to become a follower of Jesus who in the foreknowledge of God (predestined) will serve the Lord our God till the end of their lives. For example, Paul writes in Romans, “We know that everything in God works for good, for those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those who he forknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those he predestined he also called, and those who he called he also justified; and those who he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8: 28-30.                                                                            

The Holy Spirit searches the heart and mind of every person who turns in faith to Christ. Those who seek to do God’s will through loving God in the Spirit of God, have been justified, declared not guilty before God of sin, through their faith in Jesus, as he paid the cost of their freedom from sin in his life laid down on the cross. God glorified Jesus in his resurrection so, every person receives forgiveness from sin and the causes of sin. Mark 9: 42-48.

Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’ he teaches that we should not judge one another, as every Christian receives the Holy Spirit when we confess that Jesus is our Saviour and Lord. We all are called to fulfil God’s plans and purposes through the gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 3-11.

Ephesians 1: 4 “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should holy and blameless before him.”

The parable of ‘The Sower’ gives reasons why not everyone who believes about Jesus will become his disciple. The Sower scattered the word. Those who heard and received the word along the path, however, Satan came and took away the word that was sown in them, and likewise from others, who for various reasons, would accept it for only a short time before turning away and rejecting his message. Only those who accepted the teaching of the kingdom. and repented would bring forth a harvest of varying proportion. Mark 4: 1-20. God embraces both, ‘Whoever believes in Jesus’ and those ‘predestined’ to believe in Jesus. The parables of the dragnet and the banquet present the same principal were God searches the mind and heart of every person who believes in Jesus.

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians he confirms to both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus will come and ‘Fetch the Bride’ both the dead and those who are alive to this meeting in the air. Jesus will then take the church to his home in heaven followed by the marriage ceremony which takes place in heaven.

“Fetching the Bride.”                                                                                               

Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians writes concerning Jesus the bridegroom. The church – the Bride. The Jewish term for this is ‘Fetching the bride.’

“Paul writes, “But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4: 8-18. Mark 13: 24-27.

“Footsteps of the Messiah” by Arnold Fruchtenbaum.                                                                “The marriage was accomplished when the bridegroom would go to the home of the Bride and fetch her and bring her to his home, as he approached his own home, he would be met by a procession of virgins that would conduct (organise) the bride and groom for the marriage ceremony and the marriage feast.”

The church is the virgin Bride of Christ.” Revelation 19: 7. 2 Corinthians 11: 1,2.

Today the church is watching and listening for Jesus calling out  ‘to fetch the bride.’

The creator of this beautiful earth has given humanity stewardship of the world. Genesis 1: 28.                               

God knows that there is an evil power at work in the world (spiritual powers of darkness) that seeks to destroy humanity and all that lives on the earth. Jesus Christ is the hope for all humanity and the continuing existence of this world. Ephesians 2: 1-6.

Jesus is the Saviour of the world, and he will return with his Bride the church from God’s kingdom in heaven and defeat the powers of darkness at work on the earth and bring peace and stability to this world. Revelation 19: 13-20.

Paul writing to the church at Ephesus to both Jews and Gentile Christians, Jeremiah’s prophecy is found in his teaching as part of the New Covenant that Jesus established in his death, resurrection and ascension.

Jeremiah’s prophecy Chapter 31 verses 31-34. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, ³² not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. ³³ But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

God’s covenants and promises were between God and the nation of Israel. The first covenant stemmed from Abram’s relationship with God that from him and Sarah a great nation would emerge and through him all the families (nations) on the earth would be bless themselves. Genesis 12: 1-3

Paul informs the Ephesians that the Gentiles had no covenants with God.

Jeremiah verse 31 “^“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”   

Paul in his letter emphasises to the Gentile Christians that before they came to faith in Jesus that the Gentiles had no covenants with the God of Israel. “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2: 11,12.    

God revealed to Paul his purposes and plans, “How the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  Jesus has enabled those whose faith is in him to attain the promise of receiving eternal life. Paul reveals that this news had now been made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. Ephesians 3: 3, 6

Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 32 “Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke.”                                                                                                                                                                                   Jeremiah’s prophecy refers to the incident when God met with Moses on the mountain and gave Moses two tablets of stone on which God had written ten commandments. When Moses returned to the camp at the base of the mountain, he found the people worshipping an idol of a golden calf. In his anger he threw down the stone tablets and broke them. Moses later returned to meet with God on the mountain where he received again the commandments.

Paul reminds both the Jews and the Gentile Christians at Ephesus not to include any gods that they used to worship in their former way of life. Paul writes, “And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2: 1,2.

Gentiles in the first century worshipped more than one god, often believing in the one god that was the supreme god and all the other gods under his rule. Today, many people hold the same view and incorporate the spirituality of different deities along with their god-fearing beliefs.

Verse 32 Jeremiah’s prophecy speaks of God being a husband to Israel. “Though I was their husband, says the Lord.”                                                                                                          Apostle John records in his gospel, the incident when the Pharisees brought before Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery. They asked Jesus what should they do to punish her? In his response, Jesus pointed to Jeremiah’s prophecy of a New Covenant. John’s narrative, the woman I believe represents Israel, the wife of God. Jesus, wrote with his finger twice on the ground, representing the two tablets on which the ten commandments were written, and were broken when Moses brought them down from the mountain into the camp where he found the Israelites worshipping the idol. When Jesus asked those present for those without sin to cast the first stone at her, they were convicted of unconfessed sin in their lives and walked away. They were convicted from the heart of the law of commandments written in their hearts. Jesus I believe endorsed Jeremiah’s prophecy. John 8: 1-11. Matthew 5: 17-19

Verse 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts.”  

In the temple at Jerusalem there was a dividing wall separating Jews from Gentiles. On the Jewish side is where the rituals and sacrifices took place. Jesus having made the final sacrifice for sin and had fulfilled the rituals observed by the Jewish law for both Jews and Gentiles. As a result, he removed the wall of separation making peace.

Paul wrote,  For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” Ephesians 2: 14-17.                                                                                                            

The New Covenant abolishes the commandments and ordinances that took place at the temple at Jerusalem and removes the barriers from knowing about God to knowing God in a personal way. The cross becomes like a bridge, where we pass over from eternal death to eternal life. It is through our repentance, and by Jesus taking our sin upon himself on the cross and dying in our place. His body broken and his blood shed for forgiveness of sin. So, the cross is where we die to sin and death and receive God’s forgiveness and raised in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection. The Holy Spirit acts upon our faith in Jesus and as a result, a change takes place within a person’s heart. The commandments are not kept as a set of rules, instead they become part of our nature, written in the heart. Ezekiel 11: 19,20. 2 Corinthians 3: 3

Verse 33 “And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  “Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, and soul and mind. This is the first and great commandment. Jesus continued saying, And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”   Matthew 22: 37-40                                                                                                                                                                               Paul endorses this commandment, “There is one body and one Spirit; just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, (Jesus) one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4: 4-6

One God- three persons in the one God. Paul teaches: one Spirit, one Lord Jesus, one in the Father who is above all and through all and in all.

Only the perfect sacrifice from God himself could make us right with God. Jesus the Son of God made peace between God and humanity through his one sacrifice of himself and at the service of Holy Communion we remember Jesus establishing the New Covenant in his death and resurrection and in his ascension unifying heaven and the earth.  

Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 34 “And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother.” It is by example we love our neighbour and brother as ourselves with the guidance of the Holy Spirit

God’s covenant with Moses enabled a Jewish person to earn their righteousness through doing good works and keeping the law. The pharisees and lawyers loved God but added laws to justify earning their righteousness by doing good deeds.

Paul writes in Ephesians teaching them of a change in the New Covenant Chapter 2: 9,10 “Not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  

Christians have entered God’s Sabbath day of rest; we cannot work towards earning our place in God’s kingdom. Jesus has secured a place in God’s kingdom in response to having faith in him.

Ephesians Chapter 4: 25-29 “Therefore, putting away falsehood, let everyone speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. ²⁹ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”                                               

God’s love in the heart working in every believer by demonstrating their love for their neighbour by acts of kindness and doing charitable deeds that God has prepared for them to do.                                            

Chapter 5: 5 Paul writes, “Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is covetous (that is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Chapter 6: 1,2. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise). This commandment has the promise of living a long life on the earth.

Jeremiah’s prophecy Verse 34 “Saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”                                                                                                                                                                                              Paul writes, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,(the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us.) ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 17,18.

Personal testimony – I made my commitment to follow Jesus nine years prior to receiving the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands at a prayer group meeting. Afterwards, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that God was my Father and I felt one with creation. I realised that God had added substance, reality to my faith because I knew spiritually that the gospels gave a true account about Jesus. Since that wonderful day: I know Jesus is God revealed in the flesh and Jesus is the word of God clothed in the flesh and that he is the Son of God and I know the commandments are written in my heart, the Holy Spirit revealing God’s love and I discern his guidance, revealing Jesus through the word and prompting action through stepping out in faith.

                                                                                                                                                                               Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 34 “Says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”                                                                                                                                                                                                Paul writes, “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us.” Ephesians 1: 7,8. Jesus’ redemption includes sin done in ignorance and generational sin.

Paul writes, “Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22-24

Jesus added a new commandment to ‘love one another.’    Agape love.

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3: 17-19. God reached to the depths of a person’s sin and forgives. Paul writes, God has blessed every Christian with every spiritual blessing in the highest place, heavenly places, in Christ.

Paul’s example of forbearance when writing this letter to the Ephesians, “With all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love.” Ephesians 4: 2

Paul points out the necessity of being trueful, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” Ephesians 4: 15

Jesus dying in agony to fulfil his Father’s will, “Therefore be of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God,” Ephesians 5: 1,2.

Love fulfils the commandments loving God and loving our neighbour as ourselves.

Today, a Christians’ love for God, enables God’s love to flow through his Church, Christ’s body. Christ’s love reaching out to love our neighbour and making Christ known to them by sharing the gospel and by faith in action doing charitable deeds.