The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 93

spring from the flesh ; ~ut in order to be gratified they require the consent of the mind, and s~ they become desires, not only of the flesh, but of the mind. And were 1Yy nature the children of wrath, ev!"" as the rest. "By nature n is a qualifying clause. The Jews could not be spoken of in the same terms as the Gentiles without qualification. For they vi:ere ~ifferent in having a c?vena~t_position, in having Divine helps vouchsafed to them, In bemg placed under special trammg. And though they dicl testify to depravity in their frequent rebellions, yet was there alongside a work of grace, which showed itself conspicuously in some. It could only be said, then, that by nature, that is apart from covenant grace, they were the children of wrath, even as the rest. What; testi- mony is there here to universal depravity I All have the Divine displeasure imprinted on their nature. In the condemning voice of conscience there is an echo, often very faint, of the condemnation of God. Our evil tendencies, which we so soon exhibit are tokens that God is angry with us. His righteous sentence has gone forth upon us: even in our present condition. This is unpalatable trnth, but it agrees with the facts. It is well that we should keep it in mind, in order that we may be humbled by it, and in order that we may realize the forces against which we have to struggle. III. Otra SALVATION. 1. Its explanation. "But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses." The mercy is mentioned first, as standing in closest connection with the miserable state which has been described. And as their former state was described in strong terms, so now is there set over against it the superlative quality of the mercy. He is not content with the expression," God in his mercy." That language is too bare in view of what they once were. So he applies his common.epithet, "rich." "God, being rich in mercy." The mercy is a particular outgoing of the Divine love, viz. toward sinners. So he traces it up to the more general feeling, which leads him to seek the good, and nothing but the good, of all his creatures whatsoever. And to this in turn he applies another common epithet," great." "The great love wherewith he loved us.'' And the greatness of the Divine love is here presented under a special aspect. In the fifth of Romans it is said, "God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The thought is very similar here. "Even when we were dead through our trespasses he quickened us." Stress is laid upon the moment of the Divine movement. When we were dead and could do nothing for ourselves, that was the time for the going forth of the great love of God in rich mercy toward us. And it is in this connection that we are to bring in the words within brackets, "By grace have ye been saved." For, though he has it in his mind to magnify the Divine grace further on, yet now, having the opportunity to make a point, he cannot let it pass. And the incidental way in which he brings it in shows the great importance which he attac1 ed to that doctrine. 2. Its nature. "Quickened us together, with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the henvenly places, in Christ Jesus." It is set forth in relation to our previous deadness. And it will be observed that the description here is connected with a certain historical point. 'fhe idea is that we were dead up to the time when Christ was quickened. We were dead, even as Christ was dead in the tomb. Nay, more, weJwere dead with Christ in the tomb. For it was as our Representative that he was lying; there. And when he was quickened, it was as our Representative too. He was quickened, not for himself, but for us whom he represented. And therefore it can be said thut, when the life-giving power went forth upon him in the grave, we were quickened with him. And it did not stop there; but when he was raised up we were raised up with him, in tho whole breadth that language can bear. And not only so, but the consummation applies to us too. It is not indeed said that we were made to sit at the right hand of God, as is said of Christ in the first chapter and twentieth verse. But it is said that we were made to sit with Christ in the heavenly places. Even here on earth we are sitting with Christ in the heavenly places. We aro sitting there in him as our Head. Thut is no fancy, but the actual language which is applied to us by an inspired apostle. Oh, what a glorious privilege is conferred on us I How does it become us to be thankful, and to be humbled I Let us, in our life, rise to the height of our position. Let us not be as creeping on the earth, but as sitters with Christ in the heavenly places. 3. A purpose served by o"!r sa_lvation. "That ii: th~ ag;cs to coll;,e he might show the exc~eding riches of his grace m kindness toward us ID Chnst Jesus. The language IS iipphcable !JO 'l'HE EPISTLE TO THE, EPHESIANS. [Oil, IL 1-22.