I. Eternal Salvation (Before Time Began)

A. Salvation as God Sees Us (Our Position)

1) God sees us in Eternal Justification in Christ. That is, God saw His Elect, according to Ephesians 1:4-11; as chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the earth:

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4)

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5)

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7)

“Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;” (Ephesians 1:8)

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:” (Ephesians 1:9)

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” (Ephesians 1:10)

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Ephesians 1:11)

Verse 7 reveals that this Justification came in the Atonement of Christ.

2) Revelation 13:8c says, “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

3) See also 1 Peter 1:18-20:

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;” (1 Peter 1:18)

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:19)

“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1:20)

Verse 20 proves that God’s Purpose of Salvation in Christ was in the mind of God before time.

4) In Romans 8:29-30, Paul explains the Chain of Grace:

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30)

These verses show that the Chain of Grace was before time ever was concerning the Chosen’s Salvation. The foreknown were predestinated in Christ to be conformed to His Image. And these ones were “called,” “justified,” and “glorified”; all these words being in the past tense reveals this was the Purpose of God before time.

Therefore, our Position in Christ before Time is how God sees His People; which means our Salvation began in Christ, not because of our choice, but by God’s Eternal Purpose in Christ by Grace, and Grace alone. For we were not even born; being before time began.