BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

(Eph. 1:4)

This unique company `the church which is His Body' is not only blessed with every blessing that is spiritual, not

only blessed in heavenly places, but was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. This too is unique.

We have a number of passages which speak of those who are associated with a choice and a call FROM or SINCE the

foundation of the world, but one company only is ever said to have been chosen BEFORE. Let us set the Scriptures

that use these terms before the eye:

FROM THE FOUNDATION

(1) With reference to the use of parables, in speaking of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

`That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will

utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world' (Matt 13:35).

(2) With reference to the separation of the nations at the second coming of Christ.

`Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom

prepared for you from the foundation of the world' (Matt. 25:34).

(3) With reference to the character of those who killed the prophets sent to them:

`That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this

generation' (Luke 11:50).

(4) With reference to the typical character of the Sabbath:

`As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the

foundation of the world' (Heb. 4:3).

(5) With reference to the character of the offering of Christ:

`Nor yet that He should offer Himself often ... for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the

world' (Heb. 9:25,26).

(6) With reference to names written in the book of life:

`Every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb

that hath been slain' (Rev. 13:8 R.V. Margin)

`They whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world' (Rev. 17:8 R.V.).

BEFORE THE FOUNDATION

(1) With reference to Christ alone:

`Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world' (John 17:24).

`As of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of

the world' (1 Pet. 1:19,20).

(2) With reference to the redeemed:

`Chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world' (Eph. 1.4).

Comment upon the most obvious difference between these two sets of passages is unnecessary. Let us, however,

not miss one precious item of doctrine that is revealed by comparing together the three references to `before the

foundation'.

In John 17:24 Christ was `loved' agapao; in 1 Peter 1:19,20 He was `without blemish and without spot'

amomos. In Ephesians 1:4 the believer is said to have been chosen before the foundation of the world `in love'

agape, to be `blameless' amomos.