Ephesians 2:9 - Exposition

Not of works, lest any man should boast. Exegetical of the last clause, "Not of yourselves; certainly not of your works." The suppression of boasting was a purpose of God in his scheme of salvation; not the chief or final purpose, any more than the manifestation of his grace in coming ages was his chief or final purpose in showing mercy to the Ephesians, but inseparable from the nature of his plan. The spirit of glorying is essentially unsuited to the relations between the creature and the Creator, between the Redeemer and the redeemed. It is the very opposite of the spirit, "Not unto us, O Lord" ( Psalms 115:1 )—the spirit that casts its crown before the throne, and that breathes in the songs of heaven, "Unto him that loved us .. be glory and dominion forever and ever" ( Revelation 1:5 , Revelation 1:6 ).