The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 54

"Our citizenship is in heaven," etc. 3. Di.vine sonship, "The adoption of.children." All men are the offspring of God, but none are his true children but those who have the troeftl,ial spirit. To possess this involves man's highest blessedness. This is the work of Christ. "As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of .God "-the true sons-" heirs of God. and joint heirs with Christ." These are some of the "spiritual" blessings which flow to man through God.1s redemptive predestination. Paul does not refer to a single evil or woe as coming to man 'from that source. ' Good. and good only, he saw flowing from that fountain. The inhuman, the blasphemous dogma of reprobation never entered his mind in connection with this grand subject. What reason for exult.ant thankfulness is here I Well may we exclaim; "Ble§ed be God, the Fathe. of our Lord Jesus Christ." · II. J&::,'US CHRrsT IS ITS MEDnnr.. Predestination, which in nature makes the sun the medium of lighting, quickening, and beautifying the earth, in redemption makes Cl:.rist the Medium of con.eying all those spiritual bles&ngs which constitute the happiness and dignity of man. The "heavenly places" to which we are raised are "in Christ .Jesus." Tbe adoption of children is "through .Jesus Christ." All the Divine grace-fa.our-bestowed on man is through "Christ Jesus, the Beloved." What a :Medium is this! This is the great gift of predemnation. God's only begotten, well- beloved Son : " He that spared not bis own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all thing1! ?" What reason·for exultant thank- fulness is here ! Well may Paul exclaim, " Blessed. be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," etc. • III. ETEB.."IAL LOVE IS ITS SPRING. " In love, having predestinated us unto ,the adoption of children by .Jesus Christ." 1. This love ezisted ,before the ob.fects of it came into actual being. Millions of ages before mankind came int-o existence, before the " foundation of the world," he loved them. His love. created them, •organized· them for happiness as creatures, and provided for their spiritual recovery ·as sinners. 'l'he uncreated, those that are to be, are as real to God as the created that are.. 2. This love ia the happiness of his own natun. Its manifestations are the "good pleasure" of his own will The good pleasure of malevolence is misery ; the good pleasure of love is happiness. Are not tbe reasons suggested. by Paul for gratefully exulting in God's redemptive predestination abundant? "Predestination,"" choice,"" counsel,"" pnrpose," "decree" I The more ignorant men are, the more they profess to have fathomed the meaning ()f these terms, as representing the mental acts of the Eternal ; and the more flippa.nt the¥ are in their use. But what do they st.and for when applied to God? Volition- wili, nothing more. " God is love," and bis will must be happiness. He is " of one mind," and his will must be unalterable. A certain theology, which, thank God, is d ~ out, has invested these grand old words with attributes of hideousness, before which weak souls in all ages have trembled. with horror. But I.hey only ·indicate the wiU of iu ~nite lol"e to flood immensity with bliss. " Love is the root of creation, God's easen<!e; worlds without nutnbcr • Lie in hie bosom like children; he mBde them for this purpose only, Only to love and to be loved again ; he :tireatbed forth hi11 Spirit Into the slumbering dust, and upright standing, it laid its Hand on its heart, and felt it was warmed with a fie.me out of heaven," D.T. Vers. 7-14-.-Tne redemptive predestination of God in its subjective and objective aspects. "In whom we h~ve redemption_ through hie blood, the forgiv~nese o~ sine, according to the riches of h111 grace; wherem he hath abounded toward us m all wisdom and prudence; havin~ made known 11:nto _us the mys~ry of h!s will; _according to his good pleasure which he hatb purpo~ m h1msel_f: t~at m ~he d1speosa:1on of the fulnees of times be might gather together m one all thrngs m Chnst, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinatE:d according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the conn11el of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted. m Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel -0f your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the CB, I, 1-23,] THE EPISTLE 'l'O THE EPHESIANS. 61