When did God have His purposes for humanity?
God had His purposes for humanity in eternity past, before anything was ever created—before heaven, before the first angel, before the first star or celestial body. From that eternal past, He purposed them for the human race in Christ Jesus our Lord, according to His eternal purpose.
Les teaches that verse 11 continues the thought of verse 10, 'the manifold wisdom of God,' because it is a comma, so the thought goes into 'according to the eternal purpose.' When you see 'eternal,' he says it takes you back to eternity past, before there was ever anything created. Even before there was a heaven, before the first angel, before the first star or celestial body—that's eternity. From that eternity past, God had His purposes for you and I, for the human race, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Then verse 12 says 'in whom'; when you're a believer, you're part and parcel of Christ Himself, and in Christ we have boldness and access by faith in Him.
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
More Questions
In whom did God purpose His eternal purpose for humanity?
God's eternal purposes for humanity were purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.