The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 67

where the fellowship ond the enjoyment of as to understand a.bout it, there muet be a heaven are known, where e.n elevation of personal reception of salvation by us, and spirit is experienced as if heaven were that is by faith. Faith at once believes begun. Buch wos the case of the three the good news of e. free salvation through disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration; of Christ, and accepts Christ as the Saviour. the two on the way to Emmaus, when their We commit onrselvesto him, trust ourselves heart burned within them; of the beloved to him for that se.lve.tion of which he is the disciple when he was "in the Spirit on the Author. In the act of thus entrusting our- Lord's day;" of many at the Holy Supper, selves to him for his salvation, we receive or in fervent communion with brother and the benefit, and are saved. It is not that sister believers, when they seem e.t the very faith is accepted by God in place of works, gate of heaven. This is sometimes the ex- but because faith indicates that attitude or perience at conversion, but the vividness of men towe.rds Christ in which it pleas, s the feeling does not always a.bide. The God to save them, tre.nsfening to him e.11 repetition of " in Christ Jesus " in this con- their guilt, imputing to them e.ll his merit. nection emphasizes the fact that this gra- And that not of yourselves : it is the gift of cious proceediDg of God towards us is in God. Which of the two things is meant- immediate connection with the work and sal ve.tion or faith? The gramme.tice.l struc- person of Christ. It is as being one with ture e.nd the analogy of the passage fa vou:r Chriet Jesus that all this raising up comes the former view," Yonr salvation is not of to us. yourselves," though many e.ble men be.ve Ver. 7.-The.t in the ages to oome he might taken the latter. The apostle is so anxious ahow forth the riohes of his gre.oe. A special to briDg out the great distinguishing doc- purpose served by God's free grace bestowed trine of grace the.t he puts it in all lights, on such persons. os the Ephesians. It was e.flirmir it posi ti vel y, con tre.sts it with ita :ip.tended e.s e. lesson for future ages. "The opposite, and emphasizes it by repetition. ages to come " denoteH eras to begin from It is a gift, not e. pnrchase; e. free gift, that time, running on now, and to continue without money and without price; what hereafter. It would be e. profitable lesson would never have been yours, but for the for the people of these ages to think of the generosity of God. It is very usual in the Ephesions, far as they were by nature from New Testament thus to represent salve.tion; God, receiving his blessing so abundantly. of. our Lord's words to Nicodemus (John From this they would learn how great are iii. 16); to the wome.n of Se.maria. (John iv. the riohes of God's grace, In kindness towards 14); St. Paul's "Thanks be to God for his 111 in Christ Jesus. The particulor channel unspee.ke.ble gift" (2 Cor. ix. 15); "The in which the riches of his gre.ce flows is gift of God is eternal life through Jesus kindness shown to us in Christ Jesus. Kind- Christ our Lord" (Rom. vi. 23); and 1 John ness in the matter of the blessiDg, forgiving v. 11, "God gave unto us eteme.l life, and us freely, ond occeptiDg.e.nd adopting us in the life is in his Son." This use.ge con- him; kindness in the manner of the blessing, firms the view the.t it is not merely fe.ith, dee.ling with us e.s Jesus dealt with the but the whole work and person of Christ womon the.t was e. sinner, or with the thief whioh faith receives, that is meant here II<! on the cross, or with Peter after he had the "gift of God." fallen, or with So.ul of Tarsus; kindness in Ver. 9.-Notof works, lest any man should the ntent of the blessiDg, providing amply boast. Exegetical of the lo.st clause, "Not fqr eve1y w·ant ; kindness in the duration of yourselves: certainly not of your works." of the blessing-for evermore. But again, The suppression of boasting was e. purpose the Medium or Mediator of blessing is of God in his scheme of siuv11tion; not the specified-" in Christ Jesus." It is not the ohief or final purpose, any more than the kindness of providence, not the natural manifestation of his grace in coming ages bountifulness of God, but that kindness and wo.a his ohief or fine.I purpose in showing bountifulness which are specio.lly connected meroy to the Ephesions, but insepe.re.ble with the atoning work of Christ: "God from the nature of his plan. The spirit of was in Ghrist, reconciling the world unto glorying is essentie.lly unsuited to the rc- himself." le.tions between the creature and the CrMtor, Ver. 8.-l'or by grooe have ye been saved, botween the Redeemer and the redeemed. through faith. l{e repeats what he had It is the very opposite of the spirit, "Not said po.renthetically (ver. 5), in order to open unto us, 0 Lord" (Ps. cxv. 1)-lhe spirit the subject up more fully. On the part of that casts its crown before the throne, and God, so.I vo.tion is by grace; on the part of that breathes in the songs of heaven," Unto man, it is through faith. It does not come him the.t loved us .. , bo glory and do- to us by an involuntary aot, us light falls minion for ever and ever" (Rov. i. 5, 6). on our eyes, sounds on our ours, or air enters Ver. 10.-For we are his workmanship. oui lungs. When wti arci so fo,i enlightened t\nother illustrntinn anc\ evidence of grace 64 THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [OH. II. 1--22.