We are adopted brothers of Christ through baptism. God's only-begotten Son is the first born among many brothers; and we are those brothers. How remarkable that God has named us sons of God for the sake of His Son. And not only this, but He has made this determination from eternity. This was His eternal will, that we should be called and be brothers of Christ and sons of God, for God's calling makes things to be. Christ has taken our flesh. We share flesh with the incarnate Son, which makes us His blood relatives. We are a family closer than any mere human community, because the church is made not by just ordinary blood, but the blood of God's own dear Son. This blood binds the vast community of saints into one body.

It is hard to conceive of God's eternal decision, that before we were conceived our heavenly Father foreknew us in Christ. We would know nothing of what happened before we were born, unless we were taught by family, teachers, books, etc. We would not have known of this predestination unto election had God not actually put into operation the plan; sending His Son into the flesh  to be offered for us sinners on the tree of the cross. Christ's work was conceived in eternity by our Father and His Son and brought to fruition in time for our sakes. What a deep mystery that our salvation was sealed before time and set before us in the work of Christ. How decisively God works for us. He grudges no effort. Nothing is left amiss either in time or in eternity.