The phrase "long ages ago" refers to eternity. Long before He created the world, God promised eternal life to those who would be chosen of Him. But to whom did God make this promise? It wasn't you and me, because we didn't yet exist. God the Father made this promise to His Son, the Lord Jesus. In 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul said the grace that saves us "was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity." In other words, we as believers were promised or given to Christ by His Father in eternity past.

Titus 1:1 and Titus 1:2