Project Description

2014/11

From Everlasting

“I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning,
or ever the earth was.”
Proverbs 8:23

From all eternity and in keeping with the divine will of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Christ was foreordained to the great work of man’s redemption. The One who is the glorious Immanuel, the faithful and true witness, has declared, “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was” (Proverbs 8:23).

If He were not the everlasting God, He could never have been set up (appointed) from everlasting, nor could He have told us what was enacted in the divine mind and council. As ‘The everlasting Father’ (Isaiah 9:6), “His goings forth were from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). Peter affirms, “He was verily foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God” (1Peter1: 20,21). As his Father’s Elect (Isaiah 42:1), He voluntarily consented to redeem all who were chosen in Him and the Father promised to prepare Him a human nature to be personally united to His divine nature (Hebrews10:5). He was set up as a second Adam, the Head of a new covenant of grace and promise. This covenant was transacted with Him from everlasting and derives all its stability and strength from Him (Psalm 89:3,28).This is what makes it a sure covenant to us. “For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee” (Isaiah 54: 9,10).

Christ is our peace and our salvation – the Salvation of God. Old Simeon who held the child Jesus in his arms said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people” (Luke 2:29-31). He is our salvation from sin (Matthew 1:22), Satan (Hebrews 2:14) and the sting of death (1Corinthians 15:55). He was set up: as our Saviour and Redeemer to pay the ransom price justice demanded, as our Surety to pay the debts of bankrupt sinners when He was ‘made a surety of a better testament (covenant)’ (Hebrews 7:22), and as our Shepherd to gather His Father’s flock (Isaiah 40:11). Christ is worthy to be exalted by all who bear testimony for the cause of the gospel. He that set Him up from everlasting will have His cause maintained throughout time, despite the powers of Hell and the unbelief in hearts that seeks to counteract the work of God from eternity. So then the language and life of faith in Christ cannot but be pleasing unto God who set Him up from everlasting. Even faith itself is the very work of God. “This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29).

Rev Leslie Curran.