“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love …” (Eph. 1:4).

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (v. 5).

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace …” (v. 7).

It shall once again be emphasized: In the time period of the Old Testament, the prophets and the people of Israel knew God only as the one Lord/Yahweh, Who revealed Himself to them. The designation Lord God/Elohim-Yahweh is written more than six thousand times in the Old Testament – always in the singular, not once in the plural form. God Himself gave His covenant people the confession of faith: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord …” (Deut. 6:4-9).

Likewise, we already find all the promises that refer to the Saviour and the plan of Redemption throughout all of the Old Testament. Not until the realization of His own plan of Salvation does God reveal Himself as Father in heaven and in His only begotten Son on earth.

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Lk. 1:35).

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:11).

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mat. 3:17).

“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (Jn. 20:17).

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29).

“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” (Hos. 1:10).

The two promises of the Son of God and of the sons of God belong together, that is how Paul saw it: “As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” (Rom. 9:25-26).

“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2. Cor. 6:18).

“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1. Pt. 2:10).

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love …” (Eph. 1:4).

 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (v. 5).

 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace …” (v. 7).

It shall once again be emphasized: In the time period of the Old Testament, the prophets and the people of Israel knew God only as the one Lord/Yahweh, Who revealed Himself to them. The designation Lord God/Elohim-Yahweh is written more than six thousand times in the Old Testament – always in the singular, not once in the plural form. God Himself gave His covenant people the confession of faith: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord …” (Deut. 6:4-9).

Likewise, we already find all the promises that refer to the Saviour and the plan of Redemption throughout all of the Old Testament. Not until the realization of His own plan of Salvation does God reveal Himself as Father in heaven and in His only begotten Son on earth.

 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Lk. 1:35).

 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:11).

 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mat. 3:17).

 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (Jn. 20:17).

 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29).

 “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” (Hos. 1:10).

The two promises of the Son of God and of the sons of God belong together, that is how Paul saw it: “As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” (Rom. 9:25-26).

“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2. Cor. 6:18).

 “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1. Pt. 2:10).