Christ, the Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World
By C. L. Taylor
God is eternal. Deut. 33:27. He “inhabiteth eternity.” Isa. 57:15. The psalmist says of Him, “From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Ps. 90:2. God is infinite. Eternal in all His attributes, He is infinite in all His ways. “Touching the Almighty, we can not find Him out.” Job 37:23. Infinitude has been stamped upon all His work. But while men by searching can not find Him out, yet He has been pleased to reveal to them thru His word somewhat of His greatness as comprehended in His purposes and plans. He desires that man shall by faith enter into the secrets of divinity (Ps. 25:14), and thru both time and eternity join with Him in fulfilling the divine will (Eph. 2:7). The Scriptures speak of God’s “eternal purpose, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eph. 3:11. This glorious purpose, in which man has a place and part, was laid “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4),—before worlds sprang forth and before angels came to be. Not only this world but all worlds thruout illimitable space were provided for in its wonderful fulness of righteousness and life. This glorious purpose, all-embracing and never-ending, was “purposed [that is, laid] in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He was to be its foundation and assurance. Of necessity this had to be; for an infinite and eternal plan called for infinite and eternal resources and support. In Jesus Christ alone could be found a sufficient pledge that such a purpose should not fail. From the days of eternity, therefore, the Son of God accepted the responsibility of maintaining the uprightness of all things in all God’s universe, of providing a safe-conduct, as it were, for every world which should move thru space, and for every life which should be brought into existence. In pursuance of the great and eternal plan of God, the Son became the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3), the Upholder of all things (Heb. 1:3; Isa. 40:26); by Him they consist (Col. 1:17), from Him they receive their name (Eph. 3:15), and, finally, in Him all will be gathered together (Eph. 1:10). Like the great whole of which they were but a minute part, the specific plans for this world were laid for eternity. “What God doeth, it shall be forever.” Eccl 3:14. And as for the whole, so Jesus Christ was pledged to maintain earth’s purity and freedom, to preserve its original uprightness forever. What were earth’s plans?—Under the fashioning hand of the divine Architect, earth was to be made a glorious and eternal Eden, inhabited by holy characters formed after the divine similitude. And “from the foundation of the world” these character-names were “written in the book of life.” Rev. 17:8. In harmony with the beautiful design, the Creation took place. Formed in the image of God, our first parents were placed upon test, every advantage being given them to demonstrate their loyalty to Him who had given them life. Had they continued faithful, every character-name would have found its human dwelling, multiplication would have ceased, and mankind would have been immortalized. But the sad record of man’s failure is familiar to all. “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Rom. 5:12. It appeared that Heaven’s plans had ended in failure. Yet it was not so. The mighty stream of omnipotence and infinity was destined to flow on, even tho an enemy maliciously sought to check its course. The Development of the Purpose.
As we have seen, the eternal purpose of God had set forth Jesus Christ as surety, and thus had provided against every emergency. And so it was, that in that day of sin, that hour of world calamity, the divine resources, brought forward from the days of eternity, were called into requisition. True to the responsibility which “from the beginning” He had assumed, the Son of God threw Himself, with all the divine “fulness of the Godhead,” into the void which sin had made. Tho “foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20), it was not until earth’s crisis actually came that the Son of God, in that mysterious “counsel of peace” between Himself and the Father, surrendered Himself as man’s Substitute and announced to the universe the glorious plan of redemption. But in that day of doom, He took man’s place. Where death was, there He placed life; where sin was, there He established righteousness. In God’s plan He was that day offered up; He was henceforth “the Lamb slain.” Rev. 13:8. From the very foundation of the world, therefore, “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” was thus made available to man. The virtues of the Christ-character were imparted to believing sinners. In the promise of the coming “Seed” which should “bruise” the head of all evil (Gen. 3:15), our sorrowing first parents were made to know of the Redeemer. To them the “Child” was even then born; to them the “Son” was “given.” In their hearts was placed the enmity; in their lives the Lord Jesus Christ found an abiding-place. Over them the second Adam began to reign. The beautiful story of John 3:16 was first told in Eden. And when Adam and Eve were driven forth from the garden, they were not without the comforts of faith, hope, and love. They saw the cross, and met it in their own lives. Their faith in the Coming One was expressed in their offering up of the lambs of the flock, and day after day and year after year they saw5more and more clearly the love of God, and knew more fully that power which saves from sin and sinning. Thru the gift of His Son, God maintained His purpose. That purpose, as originally designed before worlds were created, will be carried out. Sin may apparently triumph, but its time is short. The day is soon to dawn when with open face we shall see that the eternal purpose of Jehovah has been fully realized in “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”