The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 94

to after ages on earth. There ,is encouragement to us, even now, in the fact that such kindness was shown to Ephemans who had been dC!l,d thro~h trespasses and sins. Dut the language is also applicable t.o the ieons or whioh the Scripture speaks beyond this life. For if there is nC1t room there tor sinners being encouraged, there certainly is room for the demonstration, the more complete realization, of the Divine grace, . It will llf' one of the le.~as of those ages t.o learn how much in our histof) on earth we were in,iividus.lly indebted to grnce. Here a.,onin, in the fulness of emotion, he aives an ample characteriza.t.ion of the gmce, the exceeding riches of his grace, in. kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. The latter expre..ssion has reference to benefits conferred, Yiz. our quickening. (1) The e:coeeding .riches of his grace appears itl ths complete eulusion ef human merit. " For by grnce have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselrns: it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory." ; Our 6akation is given to the subjective disposition of faith. lt is when we believe, that the union between our aouls and Christ takes place, and the first, not the comj>leted, quickening goes forth upon us. But this believing does not make us the authors, o'r gi,e us the merit, of our salvation. It, that is to say, our salvation, is the ,gift of God. And believing is just taking it as a Divine gift, taking it as t.hat. for.which we have given nothing. Christ has paid the full price for it; he has paid the uttermost farthing, and so we can receivo it as a free gift. But works are out of the question; for it is just as impossible for a dead man to rise. and do the works which he was wont. to do, as it is for the dead through trespasses and sins to work out their salvation. Divine help is the plainest necessity, and to such an extent that there is, no room. for boasting. (2) The exaeding riches of his grace appears in good worl.s following on the D·ivine:worlc- mansJ.ip. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we sl?,ould walk in them." ".An honest man's the noblest work of God." A. Christian is certainly the noblest work of God. "For we are his work- man.ship, created in Christ Jesus." We are the result of all the means that. God has used. It may be seen in us, as saved persons, what Christ has done by his blood. And we are not his workmanship 'because of works which we were afterwards to do; but we were created "for good works, which God afore prepared .that we should walk in them." It may be said of a tree that it is afore prepared for the fruit which it is to bear. It may be said of a vessel that it is afore prepared for the uses which it is to serve. But as the fruit is not the cause of the tree, nor the uses served by a vessel the cause of the vessel, so neither can it be said that the works we perform are the cause of the Uiviue workmanship that has gone before. Our salvation, then, is wholly of grace~ -E.. F. Vers. 11-22.-Union of Jews and Gentile,s in the (Jhristian Ohurch. "Wherefore remember, that aforetime." The Ephesian .Christiana are reminded of. what they were "aforetime," that is, before they received the gospel. It is a good exercise of memory for us all to go back on what we once were. For we did not all receive the gospel when it was first presented to ns. Many of us who now believe were for years. in a state of indifference. How well, then, does it become us to "remember" our former unconverted condition! The memory c,f what we were aforetime should make us humble and thoughtful, and quicken us in present duty. J. 'JROSETHATWEREGE:STILES BY NAllE. "Ye, the Gentiles in the flesh." The name "Geutiles," both in the Hebrew and in the Greek; is "nations." It was applied by the .Jews to all nations except their own, just as we distinguish Christians e.nd heathen. Tt.e Jews were one nation over against many; and though Christians aro relatively 11.:<Jre numerollll than were the Jews, still they are the few and the heathen tho multitudinous. But the apostle has reference to what the Gentiles were" in the flesh," anci so he applies a second name to them. II. THOSE THAT WERE THE UNCIRCUMCIBION. "Who are called Uncircumcision by that whlch is called Circumcision. in the flesh, made by hands." The Jews were distinguished by a bodily mark. It is referred to in the language "in the flesh, made Ly hands." By this surgical mark on them, they were known as God's. They were therefore properly called "the Circumcision," as all others who had not the mark wero prop21 ly called "the Uncircumcision." And when the apostle uses the noticeable la11:~uage here, "Who are called Uncircumcision by that which is ea.lied Circumcision," cu. n. 1-22.] TIJE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE EPHESIANS.