The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 47

!II. THE EARLIER BOBN AND THE LATER DORN HAVE CERTAIN THINGS IX CO~IMO:<1. "In whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, "hich is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God's own possession, unto the IJraise of his glory." 1. A common seal. (1) What the seal is-the Holy Spirit of 1,romise. And what could be more equalizing to Gentile Christians (Acts ii. 15-17)? 'l'his sealing with the Spirit implies a certain similarity of nature along with his power of working on us as the mighty Artificer. (2) What is sealed on us-the Divine image. That image is impressed on us in what is called character,as being something impresged. It is for us to be as wax under the working of the Spirit. It is the holiness of God that he. who is the Holy Spirit seals on us. (3) What is sealed to us-that we are the sons of God (Rom. viii. 16). In what the Spirit works in us of conformity to the Divine image do we obtain the comforting assurance that we are born of God. 2. A common guarantee. (1) To what the guarantee pertains--<>ur inheritance. "If sons, then heirs." It is the inheritance formerly referred to. And the equalizing further is this, that the later born share it with the earlier born. (2) How far the guarantee extends -until the redemption (full) of the purchased possession. The "purchased posses- sion" are the possessors of the inheritance. It is a theocratic word that was well understood. It was used to describe ancient Israel as property which the Lord had acquired for himself. We Ch1istians now answer to the ancient designation. We are the successors of Israel, and therefore the Lord claims us as a people for his peculiar r,ossession (1 Pet. ii. 9). We are the peculiar property of God by right of redemption. The price was formerly mentioned-Christ's blood (ver. 7). And the redemption, which was there viewed as begun in the forgiveness of sins, is now viewed as carried forward to completion; and it is only as fully redeemed that we come into the full enjoyment of the inheritance. (3) In what the guarantee consists-the earnest of the Spirit. The earnest money is small in comparison with the full payment; but it is part., and is to be taken as a token that the whole will in due time be forthcoming. And so in what we enjoy now or the Spirit we have the foretaste and pledge of what the full inheritance will be. .3. They can join in a common doxology: "Unto the praise of his glory." Gregory of Nyssa, referring to the close of the Psalter, pictures the time" when the creatures shall be harmoniously united for one choral dance, and the chorus of mankind concerting with the angelic chorus shall become one cymbal of Divine praise, and the final song of victory shall salute God the triumphant Conqueror with shouts of joy." In this song the first born shall join with the later born, parents and teachers sh:111 blend their voices with those who have come after them to glory; with no feeling of self-exaltation or of envy because of priority, but all rejoicing in the marvellous grace that has given them a place and God the victory.-R. F. Vere. 15-23.-Prayer for the Ephesians. I. FoUNDED ON INFORMATION. 1. Re- garding their faith. "For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you." He bad already more than once referred to their Christian faith ; he refers to it now as ground for his pri,.yer on their behalf. We are to pray for I' all men," even for unbelievers; but whoever through faith are admitted into the same Christian circle, claim a special interest in. our prayers. 2. Regarding their faith as manift!lted saintward, "And which ye show toward al I the saints." "Love" is omitted in the Revised translation; but the thought must be" faith working through love." It was toward the saints. They were saints themselves (ver. 1); they were kind to the saints as to those who were actuated by the same lofty sentiments. They recognized them as having the first claim on their sympathies, according to the order laid down in Gal. vi. 10. It was toward all the saints. They exhibited r,atholicity. They did not confine their interest to their own immediate circle, but extended it to the whole circle of the saints. They did not boast of their superiority to other Churches, but were able to appreciate Christian excellence wherever it was to be found. They were not restrained ln tho outgoings of their brotherly love by any difference in uD,essen.tials. II. IT COMBINED TWO THINOS. 1. Thanksgiving for tliem. "Cease not to give thanks for you." His information supplied him with matter for thanksgiving. lle l1oard of their faith and its manifestations, and so he thanked God fur them. 'l'his is 11, very intcrostiug part of our priestly oflico. All joys of others wo then make ours.  THE EPlSTLE TO TRE 1£Pl1ESIANS. (OB. I. 1-23,