Ephesians 1:1-2. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints, which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The apostle desires just the same blessing for us, who are «the faithful in Christ Jesus,» as he did for the saints at Ephesus. He longs that we also may be filled with grace and peace, «from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.» And the wish of the apostle is according to the will of God, who would have us abound in grace and in peace. Some of you Christian people are troubled in mind, yet your Lord said to his disciples and through them to you, «Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it he afraid.» Jesus knew that, in the world, you should have tribulation; but he willed that, in him, you should have peace; and the way to get that peace is by getting grace. «Grace be to you, and peace.» The more gracious you are, the more easily will you bear the trying circumstances, which surround you. Look not for peace apart from grace; but when you have grace, you have a right to peace.
Ephesians 1:3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
I notice how often, in the Epistles, benedictions are followed by doxologies; this is because the true heart loves to bless the Lord. What a rich treasure we have who are blessed «with all spiritual blessings»! There is nothing we can need but what is provided for us by our gracious God. Why are you poor, then, when God «hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ»? Is it not because you often forget to go to the heavenly in Christ, and begin looking to the earthly in yourselves? There is nothing but starvation there, but all true riches are found in the heavenly in Christ.
Ephesians 1:4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should he holy and without blame before him in love
The apostle did not ignore the glorious and blessed doctrine of divine election; he delighted to meditate upon it, and to speak of it. I wish that some Christians, nowadays, were not so much afraid of it. All spiritual blessings come to us in this way, this is the fountainhead of all favor and grace: «According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world.» The object of our election, that to which God hath chosen us in Christ is, «that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love.» Unless thou art holy, how canst thou talk of being chosen of God, for the elect are chosen unto holiness, chosen to be delivered from all blame through the love and grace of God.
Ephesians 1:5-6. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
It is well said, by an old writer, that there is no book, which is written with such brevity as the Bible; it seems to give us the condensed essence of truth in the smallest possible space. What a mass of thought there is in those few lines, which I have just read to you! We see here that we become the children of God by adoption, whatever the universal Fatherhood people may say: «Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself;» and that this adoption is the result of predestination, and is not because of our own merits, but «according to the good pleasure of his will.» Some systems of theology have much of logic, but little of God; but in Paul's teaching, it is God first, and last, and midst, and over all.
«To the praise of the glory of his grace.» What a wonderful expression this is,-not only «the glory of his grace,» but the praise of that glory! God has done all things with a view to magnifying his grace in the hearts of the sons and daughters of men: «wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.» There seems to me to be a sacred poem in these words, «accepted in the beloved.» To my heart, there is more heavenly music in those four words than in any oratorio I ever heard. «Accepted in the Beloved.» Oh, what honey this is in the mouth, what cheer this is in the heart! Are all of you, dear friends, «accepted in the beloved»?
Ephesians 1:7-8. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Wisdom and prudence are two of the handmaids of grace. Grace reigns through righteousness, and the wisdom and prudence of God are set to work so to conduct the whole of the arrangements that «the glory of his grace» may be all the more conspicuous.
Ephesians 1:9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Even our knowledge of God's will is the result of «his good pleasure.» If your eyes have been divinely opened, you see the will of God coming in everywhere, and ordering all things according to his gracious and unerring purpose.
Ephesians 1:10. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
All the things that are in Christ shall be gathered together; none of them shall be left out. His great covenant work shall be, in all respects, fully accomplished; there shall be no failure in any point. Whether in heaven, or on earth, the things which are in Christ shall be gathered together in One, «even in him:
Ephesians 1:11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
How the apostle delights to harp upon this theme! The Holy Spirit knew that a time would come when men would put a slur upon this glorious truth, so he inspired his servant to set it forth as the very brightness of the sun in the spiritual firmament: «being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.»
Ephesians 1:12-14. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Twice more, in these three verses you have this expression, «to the praise of his glory,» making a third time with that which he said before, «to the praise of the glory of his grace.» The true gospel glorifies God. False gospels may have what is called «the enthusiasm of humanity» about them, but the true gospel has an enthusiasm for the living God, and it magnifies and glorifies him. Note, O believers, that you first trust in Christ, and after that you have the seal of the Spirit. There are some who look for the sealing of the Spirit before believing in Jesus; but neither God nor man will set a seal to a blank paper; there must be the writing of faith upon the heart, and then the Spirit of God comes in, with his blessed seal, and sets it at the bottom as his divine and gracious token of acceptance. The Holy Spirit is «the earnest of our inheritance.» Now, an earnest is a part of the possession itself; it is not simply a pledge, it is more than that; so the Holy Ghost in our heart is heaven begun below, it is the young dawn of the everlasting day. Blessed be God, we have his spirit within us, and we rejoice in his indwelling.
Ephesians 1:15-17. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
You do know him, for he has saved you; now go on to know a great deal more of him. You can scarcely have a better gift than this, «the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.» The knowledge of Christ crucified is the most excellent of all the sciences. It is better to be well acquainted with Christ than to be a very Solomon concerning all other things, yet not to know him.
Ephesians 1:18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
You have eyes; God's grace has given them to you; but they are capable of additional power and force; and there is the telescope of faith, which you are allowed to use, which will enable you to see much more than you have ever seen as yet.
Ephesians 1:18. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,-
First, you are to know what your inheritance is; that is «the hope of his calling;» and, next, you are to know what Christ's inheritance in you is, which is another thing. It is a most blessed subject for meditation that you are Christ's, altogether Christ's, and that all you are to be, will be Christ's, and that in you, poor creatures though you are, he will yet have a rich inheritance. Paul would have you know what are «the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,»
Ephesians 1:19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe,
It takes a great deal of grace to make a believer, and to keep a believer; nothing but the almighty power of God can do it.
Ephesians 1:19-20. According to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,-
Not only raising him from the dead, but lifting him up to his own right hand, and setting him there, «in the heavenly places,»
Ephesians 1:21. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
The power of God, which works in a believer, is the same power with which he raised Christ from the dead, and set him in this preeminent place.
Ephesians 1:22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
This power is also to be seen working in you who believe in Jesus. What wonders of grace we shall be when God has exerted that stupendous and amazing energy, in each one of us, even as in his own Son! What an inheritance Christ will have in us then!
Ephesians 1:23. Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
Said I not truly to you that this blessed Book is full of truth put into as few words as possible? Verily, there is none like it. Other books, at the best, are like gold hammered out very thin; but here you have ingots of solid spiritual wealth, priceless in value. God help us all to make them our own treasure, for Christ's sake! Amen.