Ephesians 1:9-14. He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Scripture declares that God chose you in Christ before the creation of the world—even before you had done anything right or wrong (Ephesians 1:4). His choice was not based on your works, merit, or ability, but solely on His eternal love and purpose.
Yes, even before Adam and Eve broke the covenant and fell under the curse of Satan, sin, and hell, God had already determined to save you. He knew you from eternity past. Long before you took your first breath, He called your name while you were still in your mother’s womb (Isaiah 49:1).
From the moment humanity became enslaved to the enemy, God revealed His salvation plan. He gave the first promise of the gospel in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This was God’s declaration to Satan that the Christ would come to destroy his work.
When the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, Jesus, to fulfill this promise: “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7–8).
For thousands of years, the Old Testament recorded the preparation for Christ’s coming—through prophecies, covenants, sacrifices, and the history of Israel. Then, in the New Testament, God fulfilled His promise, and those who believed in Christ, God’s chosen, bore witness to the Christ who came, died, and rose again. As Jesus Himself said, “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).
But why did it have to be the Christ? Because no one can free themselves from the three fundamental curses: the power of Satan (Revelation 12:9), the curse of original sin (Romans 3:23), and eternal separation from God in hell (Ephesians 2:1). From birth, every person is spiritually dead, cut off from the glory of God.
Throughout life, people are trapped in three patterns of destruction: self-reliance and self-centeredness (Genesis 3), corruption and pursuit of worldly pleasure (Genesis 6, and pride in human achievement and success (Genesis 11). On top of that, Satan binds people inside three unbreakable frames: the power structures of the world (Acts 13:4–12), the economic systems that enslave (Acts 16:16–24), and the culture of darkness that dominates society (Acts 19:8–41).
Because of this, all are destined to live as children of the devil (John 8:44), worshiping idols (Exodus 20:4–5), suffering mental torment (Matthew 11:28) and physical affliction (Acts 8:4–8), facing eternal condemnation in hell (Luke 16:19–31), and passing down the same spiritual curses to future generations (Matthew 27:25).
This is why it is critical to understand the purpose for which God sent His Son—to bring salvation (1 Peter 1:9). Salvation is not a small, temporary, external change; it is the ultimate reason and goal of our faith.
Salvation means complete freedom from your past. Because Jesus, your True King, lives in you, Satan no longer has power over you. You are no longer his servant, and you no longer have to obey his commands. This is the blessing of the Passover (Leviticus 23:4–8). On that night in Egypt, God’s judgment passed over every house marked by the blood of the lamb. The blood of Jesus once and for all set you free from the bondage of your past.
Salvation means victory in your present. You now possess the position, status, and authority of a child of God. Because Jesus, your True Priest, lives in you, the curse of sin has no claim on your life. This is the blessing of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15–22). God will empower you with the Holy Spirit so you may be victorious in all circumstances.
Salvation means absolute certainty for your future. God has already seated you with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Because Jesus, your True Prophet, lives in you, your eternal destination is secure—you are on your way home to heaven. This is the blessing of Ingathering (Leviticus 23:33–43). Your background is the kingdom of God, who will cause all things pertaining to His kingdom to be fulfilled on your covenant journey.
For this reason, every step you take in the work of evangelism and world missions is connected to God’s eternal plan, formed before the foundation of the world. Nothing about your calling is ordinary. Every prayer you lift, every soul you share the gospel with, and every act of obedience is a continuation of His work from eternity past.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for calling me as Your evangelist to carry the message of the cross. Open my spiritual eyes to see Your eternal plans for the world and my part in them. Let my life be fully aligned with the mission You prepared from before creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.