God’s Plan: The atonement of Christ was no accident.[1] This was the eternal purpose of the all-wise God (Rom. 11:33-34) who forged His plan before creation[2] and executed that plan by His sovereign power over all things[3]. It was in the mind of God before creation to redeem sinners (His elect) through the ransom of Christ’s precious blood so as to put on display His manifold wisdom and the glory of His grace.[4] For us, this means, at the present time, justification by faith, sanctification by the Spirit,[5] and freedom from “futile way of life” in sin, ungodliness and fruitlessness.[6] This was God’s eternal plan.

Hope: Our faith in God overflows with hope because of Christ. Our hope is anchored in Christ in that just as God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so He will do for us also, His elect[7]. We trust in the Resurrector and the Glorifier, whose resurrection and glory are fully realized in Christ. And when Christ returns, we also will share fully in the same.[8] The misery of this cursed world will be reversed, and our redemption will be complete.[9] We live with future glory in our hearts, sojourning through life with hope of that reality.[10]

[1] Scripture repeatedly affirms redemption is the eternal plan of God (Acts 2:23; Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:8-11; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:1-3). “We believe salvation is entirely the work of God, which He planned from eternity past. It is the demonstration of His sovereign power over all things and the expression of His grace” (FCC SOF).

[2] “before the foundation of the world” refers to pre-creation. Cf Matt. 25:34; Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rev. 13:8.

[3] Cf. Job. 42:2; Isaiah 46:10; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11

[4] Cf. Eph. 1:6, 12, 14; 2:4, 7; 3:10; Rom. 5:8; 8:32.

[5] In Christ, we are justified (Rom. 3:24-25; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9) and sanctified (1:2; Rom. 15:16; 2 Thess. 2:13).

[6] Scripture repeatedly speaks of our freedom in Christ from such vices: John 8:31-36; Rom. 6:17-18, 22; 8:1-2.

[7] Cf. Rom. 8:17; Phil. 3:21; Col. 1:27; 3:3-4; 1 John 3:2.

[8] At Christ’s coming, we will be glorified (1 Cor. 15:51-53) and we will be ushered into His kingdom (1 Cor. 15:50; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:18).

[9] God will one day fully reverse the curse: Rom. 8:20-22; Rev. 21:3-5; 22:3.

[10] Cf. 1:1; Rom. 5:2; 8:24-25; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 11:10, 13, 16, 26.