The repeated phrase “in Christ” reveals that God pours Himself into His plan. For “in Him the whole fullness of Deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
And [Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together…. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell… (Colossians 1:17,19).13
The King of the universe comes down to this tiny planet for us!
“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you” (1 Peter 1:20).
In a real sense, when Jesus died for us, He bled the blood of God! As Paul reminds the elders of Ephesus,
“…the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
See how seriously the Lord takes His church. He invests Himself, giving Himself fully, passionately, painfully, and above all personally, to saving her. She is the love of His heart, and for her He gives the ultimate sacrifice.
… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Here is the most amazing thing about God’s plan. He chooses filthy people, blamed people, disreputable people, with a view to cleaning them and making them “holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27; 1:4). He plans ahead to adopt sinners as sons. How is this possible? Ephesians answers with the intriguing words, “He predestined us.”
13. Research subject – Deity of Christ: John 1:1,14; 10:30; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Colossians 1:16; 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 22:13 with 1:8; Isaiah 7:14 with Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 9:6
Picture: Christ bought “the church” with the blood He bled at the cross (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-27).