The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 30

of God "·(Ltrl.e viii.' 10). It ought, .therefore, to ,be ·the prayer of every Ohristian, •• Open thC!lll •mine eyes, that I may see wondrous .things out of thy Law I·" e.nd we are encouraged in our supplication by the knowledge that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor. ii. 9).-T. C. • • Ver. 18.-Tle lmowlerige Qf God a,ad its outkts. The effect of the Divine illumina- tion i8 tJJ enl.&rge our knowle<lge in three different directione-pointing at once to the hope dau is lodged in the hEBrt of our Divine calling, to the glory of our future inheritance, a.nd t-0 the greatness of the change involved in our regeneration by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Peter reproduces exactly the same order of thought- :when he blessed God (1) for having he!zott.en us by the resurrection of Christ frolD. •the ,dead io a lively hope; (2) to a.n inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and UDfading; (3) re~erved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God unto salvation. . The ideas are presented in exactly the same order. There is a grand alliance of blessings inchided, in the knowledge of God.-T. C. • , ··· Ver. 18.-The hope of Goirs calling. It is impossible to appreciate the hope till we unden;tand the true nature of the calling to· which it is so beautifully attached. I. Tm!: CALLING IS THE EFFECTUAL CALL OF Gon BY THE- SPIRIT. 1. It is posited 11eeurely between predestination on one side and justification on the other·; , for "·whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified" (Rom. vii1. 80). 2. It is a call to peace: "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body" (Col. iii 15). 3. It is a, call to blessing: "Knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing" (1 Pet. iii. 9). 4,,,It is a call t.o eternal glory: "The God of all grace who hath called us nnt.o his eternal glory by Christ Jesos" (1 Pet. v. 10). It may, therefore, be well described as a high er heavenly calling (Phil. iii.14; Heb. iii 1). New hope is lodged in the heart of this c:illing. . IL TEE !-ATUl[g OF THE HOPE. It must be regarded both subjectively and objectively, that is, born as a hope allied to joy-., rejoicing in hope" (Rom. xii 12), as "a living ho~" (1 Pet. i 3), as a hope full of consolation (H eb. vi 18), as a hope "that maketh nm ashamed" (Rom. v. 5), and as a hope connected with certain deep and strong foimdarions. These are described in the Epistle to the Hebrews-the Epistle of the better hope-as" the two immut.able things," the oath and the promise of God, termi- nating or converging upon onr great High Priest of the Melchisedec__order, who ~~/by virtue of hu atoning work, the real <rHope of glory" made known to srnners (Col.~. 27). We cannot know this hope, either subjectively or objectively, without t!3-e aid,_'of• the Holy Spirit; and therefore the apostle prays," The God of hope fill you with. all JOY and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, by the power- o~ the H~I:v:cGhost" (Hom. xv. 13). The apostle, therefore, prays here that the EpheSJan Christians I!lay have an aboundina assurance of their interest in Christ based on the best possible gronnds". 'I.; Every believer is called to have an assurance of his personal interest in Christ. A whole Epistle has been written to help toward this assurance: "These things have I written to yon that believe on the Ne.me of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John v. 13). 2. It is implied that belie:vers may n?t fully know " the hope of their calling.n Yet they may still be true believers. Faith and ll.6burance are not to be eonfounded. The hope in question ie held by an anchor that eanoot be dragged from its sure holdin2-ground (Heb. vL 18, 19). " Hope of 1111 passions most befriends us here ; Passions of prouder name befriend DB less; Joy has her tears and Transport has her death. Hope like a cordial, inllocent, though strong, Man's heart at once inspirits and serenes." • T.O. Ver. 18.-The ricMs of the glory of God's inheritance, How little we know of this inheritance! We de;;ire to know more. There arc five points included in our fuller study of this inheritance. Oll. 1. 1-23 .] TBE EPISTLE TO TBE EPHESIANS. 27