Was God's grace and purpose given through the nation of Israel or in Christ Jesus before the world began?
God's own purpose and grace was given to us not through the nation of Israel, but in Christ Jesus from before the foundations of the world, before the world began. It is His eternal purpose, not according to our works, and is tied to His holy calling and salvation.
Les explains from II Timothy 1 that God saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. That grace was given us not through the nation of Israel but in Christ Jesus from before the foundations of the world, before the world began—His eternal purpose. Les also notes God made a valid offer to Israel; He was not playing games. They could have entered the promised land at Kadesh Barnea, with its milk and honey, and God would have driven out the Canaanites with hornets, slowly so the weeds would not take over first. Israel did not do it, but the offer was valid. God knew they would not, and the forty-year wilderness was in the divine plan, yet His eternal purpose and grace was in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
More Questions
When was God's grace given to us in Christ Jesus?
The grace by which God called us was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.