ephesians-1:11-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:11-12

The believer's inheritance. This is for the children, who are not only partakers of the knowledge of redemption, but heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus ( Romans 8:17 ). Property in this world usually goes by inheritance, but it is not so with Heaven's highest blessings. They are "not of blood, neither of the will of man," but of God. The serious question suggests itself—Have we any part or lot in the great gathering together in Christ of which the apostle has just spoken?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:11-14

Priority in the purpose of redemption. The connecting thought is the divulging of the purpose of redemption ( Ephesians 1:9 ), in which there is development and a consummation ( Ephesians 1:10 ). Under successive epochs or dispensations men must occupy different standpoints relative' to the purpose as more or less fully manifested. And there are those to whom it is earlier divulged than to others. The conspicuous instance is that of Jews and Gentiles. There is a special reference here... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:12

That we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. The "we" which hitherto has been applied to the whole Church, Jewish and Gentile, begins to have a more limited reference, and to contrast with "you" in Ephesians 1:13 . The first "we" in this verse embraces all, as in the preceding part of the chapter; the second (omitted in the A.V.) is conditioned by the words following, and is applicable to the Jewish Christians, who, through the promises given to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:12

Hope in Christ. "Who first hoped in Christ." Hope, as one of the great springs of human action, is to be distinguished from simple foresight or simple expectation; for the one may be a foresight of evil, the other an expectation of coming misfortune. Hope, on the contrary, is the expectation of future good. We do not hope for mistake, or for misfortune, or for pain; we hope for what will fill our future with brightness. "Hope is the noblest offspring, the first born, the last buried child... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

In whom are ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the good news of your salvation. A.V. has "in whom ye also trusted," or hoped, supplying a verb from προηλπικότας in Ephesians 1:13 , but without the prefix. This seems hardly natural, because the prefix πρὸ is characteristic and emphatic in Ephesians 1:12 . It is a much less strain to supply simply ἐστὲ , the important point being that you are now in him—in Christ. This expression, "in Christ," is one of the hinges of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

The means of salvation. "The Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." This double title is significant because the faith which cometh by hearing has a relation at once to the understanding and to the will. The Word of truth is to satisfy the understanding; the gospel of salvation is to satisfy the will, which embraces Christ as he is freely offered in the gospel. It is the "Word of truth"—not cunningly devised fables or illusory dreams of men; for it comes from the God of truth, it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

Faith in Christ. "In whom having believed." Faith is a God-given reliance on an all-sufficient Mediator. I. IT IS MORE THAN A MERE BELIEF or THE TRUTH ' it is an act of the will; it is trust in a Person. It has been strongly urged in our day that faith is simply the belief in God's testimony that Christ has died for us. "It is simply believing that Christ died for me." There are two statements here: Christ is the Savior of sinners; he has saved me. The first is true,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

The prayers of an apostle. In other Epistles the apostle introduces his expression of thanksgiving at the beginning, but here he brings it into the very heart of a doctrinal statement, enumerating in successive steps the immense blessings of salvation. I. IT IS THE INSTINCT OF . A HOLY HEART TO PRAY FOR THE SPIRITUAL WELL - BEING OF OTHERS . "It is an angel's grace to rejoice over the conversion of sinners." But Paul had the care of all the Churches... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13-14

The seal of the Spirit and the earnest of the inheritance. I. THE SPIRIT IS HIMSELF THE SEAL BY WHICH BELIEVERS ARE KNOWN AS GOD 'S. 1. In his inward operations on their hearts . 2. In the outward effects of his working . II. THE SPIRIT IS ALSO THE EARNEST OF THE INHERITANCE . Heaven a condition more than a locality. Heaven is brought to men before they are brought to heaven. Renewal of soul is the beginning of heaven. It is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13-14

The sealing of the Holy Spirit. "In whom, having believed, ye were scaled." It is spoken of as a past process, but, though dating from a certain specific point of time, it is continuous in its operation. I. THE NATURE OF THE SEALING . It is something different from faith, as the scaling of a letter is different from the writing of it. In the order of nature there must be a difference; in the order of time, the faith and the sealing may be contemporaneous. The sealing implies... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:11-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:11-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:13-14

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