The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 55

purqbased possession, unto the praise of bis glory." This passage, treated bomiletically, presents redemptive predestination to us in some of its subjective and objective aspects. We use those words with no liking, for they savour of a school of thought with which we have but little sympathy, But the terms, experimental and doctrinal, internal and external, would not represent our thoughts so well. Let us then look at the passage as presenting redemptive predestination-- L IN SOMlll OF ITS BU11JECTIVE ASPECTS. There are certain words employed which indicate its influence and issues upon the heart of its true disciple. There is: 1. Deliver- ance. "In whom we have redemption." This means simple deliverance, and perhaps is used in allusion to the Exodus of the Jews. Unregenerate humanity is in moral bondage, is ca.rnally.sold under sin. It is in a captivity compared with which the most cruel physical bondage is but a shadow. 'l'he gospel is the deliverer. It crushes the despots. It sounds the trump of jubilee. 2. Pardon. "The forgiveness of sins." This, like redemption, me-ans release, but it indicates release, not from calamity alone, but from crime. Redemption delivers man at once from the slavery of sin, forgiveness from its guilt. Divine forgiveness, what is it? It is remedial mercy separating the sinner from his sin. "Far as the east is from the west," etc. Separating not from its memory, nor from all its effects and influences, but from its soul-accusing power. 3. Unificatioo. "He might gather together in one." Uniting the dis- harmonious soul of man with the universe, by uniting it to Christ. As planets are bound together, though millions of leagues apart, by a common centre, so true souls in all worlds and ages are united by being united to Jesus Christ. He is the Head. 4. Heritage. "Obtained an inheritance," "the earnest of our inheritance." What is the inheritance of, a Christ-redeemed soul? Ah I what? What springing energies, what rising hopes, what high fellowships, what glorious liberties, enter into that inheritance ! "All things are yours." The allusion is perhaps to Cani\an. What is the true Canaan of the soul? 6. Divinity. " Sealed with that Holy Spirit." (1) Divinely imprused. (2) Divinely distinguished. (3) Divinely secwred. II. IN SOME OF ITB OBJECTIVE ASPECTS. We observe that it has objectively: 1. Or. e primordial source. Whence does this grand redemptive system spring? From "the riches of his grace." "His good pleasure." "The counsel of his own will." Its spring is in God. Creation and salvation well up from the same etemal fountain. 2. Manifold manijutations. How many terms are here employed to represent this one system I (1) "His Mood." Christ's blood, or his self-sacrificing love, is its vital power, its very substance, without which it would be a cloud without water, a body without a soul. Christ is Christianity. (2) " Wisdom." Two words are here employed-'' wisdom" and "prudence." But they mean in reality the same th.i.ug, "wisdom." The word" wisdom" may indicate intelligence, and "prudence" its application. Christianity is "the mani- fold wisdom of God." (3) "Mystery." It is not only necessarily a mystery to all to whom it i., not revealed, but it must ever be to a great extent a mystery to its most advanced students. It is that which angels "desire to look into.'' It he.s heights no intellect can scale, depths no philosophy can penetrate. It has lengths and breadths for ever outreaching the swiftest and strongest wing of thought. (4) "Dispensation." It is a Divine scheme. 'l'he intellect that planned the universe planned it. (5) "T/111 word of truth." Truth is reality. Divine truth is eternal reality. Reality has many words, and the gospel is the word of this eternal reality. (6) "The gospel of your salvation." The good tidings of infinite love. 3. A gradual uufoldmimt. It was once a" mystery," unknown to the universe, unknown to man. It was in the mind of G01l. He spoke its first sentence, perhaps, to Adam, and from that hour it has been gradually unfolding itself. It has had its striking epochs, and it is moving on to "the fulne,s of times." It will flood the universe with its brightness one day. 4. A sublime result. "Unto the prais!l of his glory." The highest aim of the creature is to worship with tho fullest loyalty iind love. the Creator. Tho guilt and misery of this world is that it fails in this. The ultimate aim of Christianity is to tune the world's heart to music, e.nJ cause loud he.llelujahs to break from every lip.-D. T. Vere. 15-23.-Apostolic philanthropy. "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cea.se not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 52 'l'IIE EPIS'l'LE 'l'O THE EPHESIANS. [OH, I, 1-28,