Ephesians:1

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mhcc @Ephesians:1:1 ,2 . @ Verse 1 ,2 . - All Christians must be saints ; if they come not under that character on earth , they will never be saints in glory . Those are not saints , who are not faithful , believing in Christ , and true to the profession they make of relation to their Lord . By grace , understand the free and undeserved love and favour of God , and those graces of the Spirit which come from it ; by peace , all other blessings , spiritual and temporal , the fruits of the former . No peace without grace . No peace , nor grace , but from God the Father , and from the Lord Jesus Christ ; and the best saints need fresh supplies of the graces of the Spirit , and desire to grow . * Verse 3-8 - Spiritual and heavenly blessings are the best blessings ; with which we cannot be miserable , and without which we cannot but be so . This was from the choice of them in Christ , before the foundation of the world , that they should be made holy by separation from sin , being set apart to God , and sanctified by the Holy Spirit , in consequence of their election in Christ . All who are chosen to happiness as the end , are chosen to holiness as the means . In love they were predestinated , or fore-ordained , to be adopted as children of God by faith in Christ Jesus , and to be openly admitted to the privileges of that high relation to himself . The reconciled and adopted believer , the pardoned sinner , gives all the praise of his salvation to his gracious Father . His love appointed this method of redemption , spared not his own Son , and brought believers to hear and embrace this salvation . It was rich grace to provide such a surety as his own Son , and freely to deliver him up . This method of grace gives no encouragement to evil , but shows sin in all its hatefulness , and how it deserves vengeance . The believer 's actions , as well as his words , declare the praises of Divine mercy . * Verse 9-14 - Blessings were made known to believers , by the Lord 's showing to them the mystery of his sovereign will , and the method of redemption and salvation . But these must have been for ever hidden from us , if God had not made them known by his written word , preached gospel , and Spirit of truth . Christ united the two differing parties , God and man , in his own person , and satisfied for that wrong which caused the separation . He wrought , by his Spirit , those graces of faith and love , whereby we are made one with God , and among ourselves . He dispenses all his blessings , according to his good pleasure . His Divine teaching led whom he pleased to see the glory of those truths , which others were left to blaspheme . What a gracious promise that is , which secures the gift of the Holy Ghost to those who ask him ! The sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit seal believers as the children of God , and heirs of heaven . These are the first-fruits of holy happiness . For this we were made , and for this we were redeemed ; this is the great design of God in all that he has done for us ; let all be ascribed unto the praise of his glory . * Verse 15-23 - God has laid up spiritual blessings for us in his Son the Lord Jesus ; but requires us to draw them out and fetch them in by prayer . Even the best Christians need to be prayed for : and while we hear of the welfare of Christian friends , we should pray for them . Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom . Are not the best of us unwilling to come under God 's yoke , though there is no other way to find rest for the soul ? Do we not for a little pleasure often part with our peace ? And if we dispute less , and prayed more with and for each other , we should daily see more and more what is the hope of our calling , and the riches of the Divine glory in this inheritance . It is desirable to feel the mighty power of Divine grace , beginning and carrying on the work of faith in our souls . But it is difficult to bring a soul to believe fully in Christ , and to venture its all , and the hope of eternal life , upon his righteousness . Nothing less than Almighty power will work this in us . Here is signified that it is Christ the Saviour , who supplies all the necessities of those who trust in him , and gives them all blessings in the richest abundance . And by being partakers of Christ himself , we come to be filled with the fulness of grace and glory in him . How then do those forget themselves who seek for righteousness out of him ! This teaches us to come to Christ . And did we know what we are called to , and what we might find in him , surely we should come and be suitors to him . When feeling our weakness and the power of our enemies , we most perceive the greatness of that mighty power which effects the conversion of the believer , and is engaged to perfect his salvation . Surely this will constrain us by love to live to our Redeemer 's glory . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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