according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“But this is what you concealed in your heart, and I know that this was in your mind:
The land trembles and writhes, for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand— to lay waste the land of Babylon so that no one will live there.
Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,