After declaring our redemption by the "precious blood of Christ," Peter says concerning Him, "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God" (1 Pet. 1:20-21). From these verses three truths emerge about our Redeemer.

First, Christ was planned from eternity. "Foreordained [foreknown, ASV]" simply means to know something before it happened (Acts 26:5; Rom. 8:29; 11:12; 2 Pet. 3:17). This shows that Christ was not an afterthought, when "Plan A" failed! "Before the foundation of the world" shows the time when God knew the plan of salvation (Jn. 17:24; Eph. 1:4 cf. Mt. 25:34; Lk. 11:50; Heb. 4:3; 9:26; Rev. 13:8; 17:8).

Second, Christ made known God's eternal plan by His becoming flesh. "Manifest" means to make known, reveal, make evident or plain (cf. 1 Jn. 1:2). "Last times" is a reference to the Christian age, the final period in human history (Acts 2:16 cf. Heb. 1:2; 1 Jn. 2:18; 1 Cor. 10:11).

Third, Christ gave us faith and hope in God. Christ's life, death, and resurrection proved that God was (and is) true (Jn. 3:2; Mt. 27:54; Rom. 1:4). We know that what God has promised, He is able to fulfill (Rom. 4:21). Thus, we can trust and hope in God. Is Jesus Christ our Redeemer?