6. God and the salvation of mankind

The economy of our salvation.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all

spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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. Having

predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the

good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted

in His beloved Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness ofsins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom

and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure,

which He hath purposed in Himself That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He

might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on

earth” (Eph. 1:3-10).

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth

in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we

were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ” (Eph. 2:4-5).

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation

for our sins... We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:10-19).

God, in foreknowledge of the fall of man, foreordained the salvation of men, even “before

the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). The word of God calls the Saviour the Lamb of God

“foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20).