The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 182

dernity sl1onl<l meantime as brethren" dwell together in unity"! (b) How this unity ie or01,gld 01d. "One Lord." "In whatsoe'l"er notion we take the word 'Lord,' either as a. prir.ee oYer subj~et~, or as a ~ia~ter over servants, or as an owner of goods, or as a. prc- t·ePh'r and president over d1sc1ples, or as a leader and captain to followers, or as a p~N'Il singular!~- eminent abo,e inferiors, he is according to all such notions truly , ,,·r Lord." A b,-..dy implies a head, and as our dependence on Christ is that of responsi- 1 .'.ir~·. lie ig tn;ly our Lord. As united to the smne Head, it becomes us to be in good ,,~,-rherho..--d. This is his law (common it is), "Hereby shall all men know that ye :n: r.\y disciples, if ye ha,e lo,·e one to another." "One faith." We have all the same uniting b,,nd to Christ, the same subjective dispc.-..sition toward him. We all relv upon the awning merits of his sacrifice. We all confide in him for what is needed to com- plet€ our sal'"ation. We can all use the same language of trust; we can sing the same hymns ; we can offer the same prayers. Being thus alike in the essential element of character, it is fitting that we should exhibit catholicity, that we should be free from all sectadan feeling. "One baptism." It is this which symbolizes our union by faith to Christ. Our unity has received visible manifestation. We have all been baptized into Christ. It is fitting, then, that we should live in good fellowship one with another. (c) How this unity is sustained. "One God and Father of all." As the apostle has been speaking of Christians, we must not extend the range of this language beyond them. We can all say, "Oar God." and "Our Father." "Who is over all." In his sovereignty he has an absolute right to dispose of all. This a. father has to a limitec. extent over his children. " And through a.II." In his fatherly love he goes out to all, and pervades all with his gracious influences. So a father wishes to pervade his children with those sentiments of which he approves. " And in all." With the revelation of his fatherhood he blesses all. So a. father would have his children to live in the sunshine of his love. In love of the brethren, then, we should be tenderly affcc- tioned (or have natural affection) one to another. We must think of God as rejoicing in the peace of his ChJUCh, as a father rejoices to see good feeling maintained between those whom he has bt:gotten. (2) What diversity there is Christ has appointed. "But unto each one of us was the grace given according t.o the measure of the gift of Christ." It is a moti'l"e for unity. (a) That we have all grace for which to be thankful. No or>e has been overlooked in the distribution. The humblest Christian has his grace as well as the greatest apostle. (o) That the diversities of grace have not been arbitrarily ar:!:Xlinted. They have been measured out (to a. nicety, it is suggested by the language) by the great Distributer. (c) That all the diversities are necessary to the grand unity which Christ has in his mind. It was on his ascension that he became Donor, or Dis- tributer t.o men. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." The conception is that he ascended as a conqueror. Satan, sin, and death were in his triumphant train. On his victory over these, he gave " gifts " to men. These were the spoils of the battle-field, as it were, which he distri- buted among his followers. We are to think of them, in their special association with the Ascension, as the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of a. finished redemption, the gift of a completoo Bible, the gift of the Christian style.of character, ancl, as we shall see presently, the gift of the gospel ministry. It was because he descend~d _that he could do so mnch when he ascended. "Now this, he ascended, what 1B 1t but that he also deSC€nded into the lower parts of the e.arth? He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he mi~ht fill all things." His descending n:,-, the lower parts of the earth points emphati~lly t.o_ t~e reality of his ~eath. His to~y was not merely on the earth, but was received _with":"' the earth. His soul was not ~erE:ly a dweller in an earthly body, but was rece1_ved mto Hades. He thus had the extrerro/:8 in his experience, and therefore can fill all things, from the lowest depth to the highest height. He can especially, out of his own. expe~ence, be wit~ his people in the grave and in Hades, and thence carry them with him to the heights. (3) The wri<nu ministering order, were upec-ially his gifts. (a) What ehese were. ".And he gave some to be apostles • and some prophets ; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." .Apostles. ''l'hese wer~ the highest functionaries in the Church. Functions were combined in them which were separated in others. They also possessecl extra.- ordinary qualifications. (a) They had, extraordinary administrative power. 'l'hey had the care of the Churches generally (or widely), and were a gift to the early Church in CH. IV. 1-32.] 'rHE Ef'ISTLE 'l'O THE EPHESIANS. 181