In recent centuries, some theologians have found it helpful to describe God’s eternal decree regarding his glorious kingdom as a “covenant of redemption.” The theological term “eternal decree,” refers to:

God’s plans for the universe, which were set before his work of creation.

Scripture indicates that before the creation of the world, the persons of the Godhead entered into a solemn arrangement to secure redemption, and to apply it to the fallen creation.

Different theological traditions have different beliefs about the nature and extent of God’s plans. Some believe that God’s eternal plan includes every detail of history. Others believe that God has fixed certain things and not others. But we all agree that what Christ accomplished is central to God’s plan — that God ordained salvation in him, and that Christ won’t fail.

It was an agreement in which the Father plans the work of salvation on behalf of his people. And the Son agrees to come to this earth, lay that perfect life down on the cross, and be a substitute for God’s people. Also, part of that covenant of redemption is the sending forth of the Holy Spirit who takes the work of Christ and then applies it to God’s people. [Dr. Jeff Lowman]

God designed this world to be a place where he could dwell with his creatures. But Adam and Eve’s sin alienated them from God; their fellowship with him was broken. God didn’t take long to reveal his plan for humanity’s redemption. In Genesis 2:17, God had threatened to kill humanity if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they didn’t immediately die. Instead, God showed a measure of mercy by delaying their deaths.

And then God did something even more merciful: he promised to send a Redeemer that would crush the plans of the devil and restore God’s people to faithfulness. The first mention of this Redeemer is often called the “first gospel,” and it’s found in God’s curse against the serpent after Adam and Eve had sinned. Listen to this curse in Genesis 3:15:

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

In this curse on the serpent, God promised that eventually the offspring of the woman would rescue humanity by defeating the serpent.

The covenant of redemption is important to our understanding because it explains and outlines the things Jesus has already done and continues to do in his incarnation.

The Son began to save sinners immediately after the Fall. And he has continued to save sinners in every age — as many as have repented of their sins and turned to him in faith. Listen to the way Paul described the Father’s decision to save us in Ephesians 1:4-6:

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

God wasn’t shocked by humanity’s fall into sin. And our salvation isn’t his last-minute attempt to fix something that broke unexpectedly. On the contrary, everything happens according to his plan. And as amazing as it seems, this same God — the architect and creator of the universe — became incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth. He entered creation in order to restore it, and us, according to his eternal purposes.