Todd's Road Grace Church would like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd Nyberg. We are located at 4137 Todd's Road, two miles outside of Manowar Boulevard. Sunday services are at 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at 9.45 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services. For more information, visit our website at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Now here's our pastor, Todd Nybert. Before I read my text, I would like to announce my title, Before the World Began, or Before Time. began. Now let me read my text, Titus chapter 1 verse 2. Paul speaks of, in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began. Literally before time began. Now, if someone told me that they're going to tell me what took place before time began, I would probably think you're crazy. But we have what the Bible tells us took place before time began. And let me remind you, the Bible claims to be the inspired, infallible Word of God. Second Timothy 316, all scripture is given by inspiration of God. I believe that. The Bible is the truth. And the only way we can know what happened before time began is by what the scriptures of truth tell us. I'm not giving my opinion about this, or I'm not trying to use logical inference. I'm simply looking at what the Bible says took place before time began. What an interesting subject. Before time began. Now notice Paul speaks to Titus of eternal life. in hope of eternal life. And that's not just talking about the longevity of that life, that's talking about the quality of that life. The life of Christ as my life before God. The Lord said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. Now, Paul says, in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie. Promised. God can't lie. It's against his nature. He's holy. He cannot lie. He cannot be other than that which he is. He cannot act contrary to any of his attributes. He cannot lie. Oh, I'm so thankful for this glorious God who can't be contrary to who he is. Utterly faithful. God that cannot lie made this promise of eternal life, and this promise was made before the world began. Now, the word began is the word usually translated time, chronos. It's where we get the word chronological from. You have to have time to have a sequence or an order of events. Time is measured by how long it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun. 365 and one-fourth days. That's when time began creation. The morning and the evening were the first day. A day is a 24-hour period, how long it takes the Earth to rotate. And that is why we have days and nights in this thing of time. We measure time with clocks. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries. I was born in the last century. 1959, the Sun has orbited, or the Earth has orbited the Sun 65 times since I was born. And however old you are, that's how many times the Sun has orbited the Earth. And with regard to the time that I've had on the Earth in these 65 years, I can say the same thing that Jacob said when he gave a summary of his life, few and evil have been the days of the years of my life. Now, it would be utterly fruitless to try to speak of what took place before time began if we didn't have the scriptures. But the scriptures tell us what took place before time began. Now, men have their theories as to when time began. I hope I'm going to state these accurately, but many people believe in what is called the Big Bang Theory. You can't prove it, but that's what many people believe. I don't know. Some say that there was already matter and it exploded because of this energy upon it. There's others who say that there was no matter. There was just this energy that brought the universe into existence and that's when time began, during this big bang. People have their theories of the origins of life. Some time in this primordial stew, there was some kind of random chemical reaction, and all of a sudden out comes this one-cell living organism, and all forms of life come from that. That would be men's theory of the origins in the beginning of time. Now, that's a whole lot harder to believe than to believe Genesis 1-1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now, the Bible, as I've already stated, is the inspired Word of God, and the Bible tells us what took place before time began. And the text I just read to you speaks of the promise God made before time began." Now, before time began, where was Jesus Christ before time began? I want to read a passage of Scripture from Proverbs 8, beginning in verse 22. This is the Lord speaking. And He said, the Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. That means before the creation of the universe. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth. When there were no fountains abounding with water, before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth. While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world, when He prepared the heavens, I was there. When he set a compass upon the face of the depth, when he established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep, when he gave to the sea his decree that the water should not pass, his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth, then I was by him as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. Now that's Jesus Christ's description of himself before time began. I love the scripture in John chapter 1 verse 1, in the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. as a distinct person, and the Word was God. The same was, eternally was, in the beginning with God, when God created the heavens and the earth. The scripture says all things were made by Him, speaking of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word. And without Him was not anything made that was When he gave his great high priestly prayer in John chapter 17, when he's praying for his people, listen to these words during this great high priestly prayer, beginning in verse four of John chapter 17. He says, I have glorified thee on earth. I finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world. was. And he said in verse 24 of the same chapter, thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. This is the eternal Jesus Christ. Now the Bible gives us specifics about before there was time. what took place before there was time. John speaks in Revelation 10 verse 6 that there should be time no longer when all there is is eternity. Now right now we're living in time. Yesterday Today, tomorrow, what was, what is, and what will be. We are creatures of time, but God is not confined to space. God is not confined to time. And in the eternal now, where we have eternal life, eternal bliss, Paul calls it the eternal weight of glory, we read of eternal damnation. and eternal punishment and eternal destruction. I love what Paul says when he says in 2 Corinthians 4, we look not at the things which are seen, but the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal, temporary. Everything you see right now is temporary. but the things that are not seen are eternal. Now, I wanna read you a passage of scripture from Isaiah chapter 46, beginning in verse nine. God says, remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is none else. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning. And from ancient times, the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. Whatever takes place in time was determined by God in eternity. And that covers everything. I don't care if you're talking about arc of a particle of dust flying through the air. I don't care if you're talking about a presidential election, whatever takes place, God determined to take place in eternity. He purposed it. In Revelation chapter 13 verse 8, we read of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Now, Jesus Christ was slain some 2,000 years ago. He was nailed to a cross. But we read of the Lamb having been slain before the foundation of the world, before time, when there was no creation, when there were no stars, sun, moon, earth. He was the lamb slain, having been slain from the foundation of the world, and he was slain for only one reason, sin. Before there was sin, there was the Savior from sin. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And we read of some names which were written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Before time began, the Lamb died for a particular people. the ones whose names were written in that book. We read of that book in Daniel chapter 12, we read of that book in Revelation chapter 5, Revelation chapter 17, Revelation chapter 20, The name's written. If you're saved, your name was written in that book of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. You see, God created the world. He purposed the fall of our first father, Adam, and everything else that the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world could be the Lamb slain in time. This is God's eternal purpose, which He purposed in Himself. I love what Paul says in Ephesians 1, 3, and 4, "...according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." And he also stated in that same passage of scripture in Ephesians 1, verse 12, that we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Christ. Who first trusted in Christ. No human being. God first trusted in Christ. When did he first trust in Christ? Before the foundation of the world, when Christ stood as the surety of his people. That's the Lamb's flame from the foundation of the world. God entrusted his people to him to save him. He saved them. He is the one to first trust in Christ. Listen to this scripture. Hebrews 4, verse 3 says, All the works were finished from the foundation of the world. All the works. That includes everything. were finished from the foundation of the world, eternity. Everything that takes place in time was already completed in eternity. And that is why we love all things, Romans 8 28, all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. He has complete sovereign authority over the free and uncoerced thoughts and actions of men. We do what we want to do, but God is completely sovereign over all of that, working out His glorious purpose. Every event in time was decreed in eternity. The wise man said in Proverbs 16, 33, the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Now, this is speaking of not simply Everything that takes place in time, this is talking about salvation. When he talks about God who cannot lie promised before the world began the lamb, having been slain from the foundation of the world, having been raised from the foundation of the world. Now we read in Romans 8, verses 28-31, this is going to tell us something about what took place before time began. And let me say this, you and I cannot really intellectually grasp eternity, I realize that, but we can believe it. As a matter of fact, it's the only thing that makes sense. A lost man can see this. When he sees the creation of the world, he sees somebody made this and nobody made him. That is just natural to even think. So while we can't grasp this thing of no past, no future, everything in the eternal now, We're still given information in the scriptures concerning what took place before time began. Now listen to this scripture, Romans 8, verse 28. I've already quoted the first verse. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose, for whom He did foreknow. Like he said to Jeremiah, before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee. Every believer has personality before God, before the foundation of the world. These are people that he foreknew, whom he knew beforehand, whom he loved beforehand, whom he did foreknow, them he also did predestinate. to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Do you believe in predestination? Absolutely. God is the God of absolute predestination. And these people he foreknew. He predestinated before the foundation of the world that they should be perfectly conformed to the image of his son, Jesus Christ, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. God determined to have a bunch of children exactly like His only begotten and well-beloved Son. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, the Scripture says, them He also called. Now, He called them in time, that's true, but it's because they were called before in eternity. And whom He called, them He also justified. Now, I love this. Justification took place in eternity. You see, God said, I'll by no means clear the guilty. If God ever views you or me as guilty and clears us, that would mean he's unjust. If a human judge cleared a guilty person and said, well, I'm going to justify them even though they're guilty, he would be an unjust corrupt judge. God is utterly just, and all of God's elect are eternally justified in the Lamb's flame from the foundation of the world. Now, in our experience, we see our guilt, we see our sin, but in God's eternal purpose, all of God's elect have always been justified. and whom He justified, them He also glorified." It doesn't say He will glorify them, although He will. This is not a prophetic statement, though. This is a historical event. He glorified. They're already glorified. That's true of every believer. And all this took place before time began. He said, behold, I've loved you with an everlasting love, a love that had no beginning. This is God. This is not talking about human love, but God's love. Behold, I've loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. This is the eternal God. From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. And beside thee is none else. Now somebody may be thinking, but I've sinned. How could he see me as eternally just? Because in time I've sinned. There's no question about that. Yes, you have. But do you know that that sin was seen in the lamb slain from the foundation of the world? And in due time, Christ did come in time to die for the ungodly and put away their sin. 2 Timothy 1, verses 8 and 9 says, he saved us. Who's the us? Everybody he saved. He saved us. Obviously, that's not including someone who is not saved. There is such a thing as being saved and being lost. This is only talking about those he saved. He saved us and he called us. What came first? The saving or the calling? He saved us and He called us, not according to our works. The Lord didn't save you because of something you did that obligated Him to save you. He didn't save you because of some good quality in you. He didn't save you because of a decision you made. not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. If you're a believer, everything you have was given to you in Christ Jesus before the world began. You know, even on Judgment Day, when the Lord describes Judgment Day in Matthew chapter 25, we read, beginning in verse 31, when the Son of Man shall come in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, And he shall set the sheep on the right hand, but the goats on the left. 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. Even on judgment day, this is brought out. Now, If you believe the gospel, why do you believe? Is it because you're better than somebody else, smarter than somebody else? You exercise your free will in a good way, whereas they didn't? Why do you believe? Why do you love Christ? If you do, why do you love him? Is it because you're better than the person who doesn't? Why do you see him as the only hope you have? If you do, why? Is it because you're smarter than somebody else? Why do you see him as the only hope that you have? Why do you see him as beautiful? Why do you love God? Why do you love his attributes? Why do you love his way of saving sinners? Let me ask you another question. How is it that you know you're a sinner in the first place? How is it that you know that you're an evil person? Why do you know that? Let me tell you why. Because it was all determined in eternity. That's why you can't give yourself, you can't give your work, you can't give anything about you any of the credit. You understand that it's because he loved you freely in his son before time began. And everything that takes place in time is all according to His eternal purpose. It's what Paul called it in the book of Ephesians. The eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. God is a God of purpose and His purpose all takes place in time. Now, I realize that People object to this. The unbeliever says, well, this will destroy all efforts to live for the glory of God. If you believe everything was already purposed, why do anything? This will destroy efforts to spread the gospel and preach the gospel. If you believe everything was already purposed, that's ridiculous. I'm preaching the gospel right now, aren't I? And I want you to believe. I want you to bow to the Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to see you're all in him. I believe if God purposed it, you will, but that doesn't prevent me from preaching the gospel. Now, the Lord has made time, and I love what Paul said, redeem the time. Make the most of every opportunity. This is not talking about some kind of fatalistic idea. I don't say, well, if it's God's purpose for me to have a garden, I'll just have one. Therefore, I don't have to plant and sow. No, of course not. We are to do what we can for the glory of God, but we know everything that takes place in time, particularly the salvation of our souls, was purposed and ordained by God before time. in the Lamb, having been slain from the foundation of the earth." Now, this is who God is, and the only response is to bow down and say, Thou art God, and beside Thee is none else. To receive a copy of the sermon you have just heard, send your request to todd.neibert at gmail.com or you may write or call the church at the information provided on the screen.