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Notes on Ephesians Chapter One
AUTHOR: | Oliphant, James H. |
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3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. How truly this expresses the feelings of the Christian, who is engaged, as Paul was, in reviewing the mercies of Jehovah. It denotes reverence and tender affection, and rises spontaneous in the heart of every believer. "Bless the Lord, O my soul," cries the Psalmist, "and forget not all his benefits." Luke tells how Mary, Elizabeth, and Zachariah all poured forth the sweetest strains of blessing and praise to God under a sense of his mercy and good will to men. This expression confirms the doctrine of a Triune God as to the Father and Son. Take from us this sweet truth, and you take from us the mediatorial office and our hope perishes. There is no sweeter portion of divine truth, and no gift so precious as the knowledge of a Savior equal with God and one with him, and yet who could say, "I must work the works of him who sent me." Our praise to God grows out of a sense of his goodness, as prayer grows out a knowledge of our wants. Jesus teaches us to say "Our Father," and Paul inculcates a common interest with believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Our blessing God confers no real benefit on him, but when he blesses us, "the poor are filled with good things" and made to rejoice. When a mother, helpless and poor, exclaims, "bless my child," she but manifests a tenderness and depth of love, that tells plainly what she would do if she were able, and so Paul, in the same manner, reveals a supreme devotion and tender, loving regard for his Maker, while utterly unable to bestow the slightest favor. If God hath blessed us, then we are secure in estate, character, and hope. The earth may reel and stagger as a drunken man, and the elements grow black with terror, but he who created all material things, will never remove far from us the everlasting arms. If we are not blessed of the Father, we are ruined, though all the world speaks well of us. We are to place little value upon the applause of men or the flattery of the world. We should esteem spiritual blessings as infinitely of more value than material good. Paul seemed to forget temporal blessings in his ardor to commend the things that pertained to his eternal welfare. There seems often to be a connection between temporal losses and our spiritual well being. "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy word," may be said by many as truthfully as David. If riches and honor bring pride and cause us to forget God, it is a mercy to be stripped of those snares, and if tribulation brightens us as does the hope that maketh not ashamed, let us receive it as the "excellent oil of kindness." Humility is the royal gem of religion, and is God’s gift. Sometimes it is like bitter herbs to the tried soul. David becomes humble when driven from his throne and stripped of earthly glory. If bereavements or poverty be attended with lowliness of spirit, then we may bless God, even for what we suffer. "Places" is an italicized word, and is rendered "things" in the margin. This phrase should not give rise to vain speculation. It no doubt refers to our being raised to walk in newness of life. The apostle would certainly include faith, repentance, love to God, spiritual discernment and understanding. These blessings do not make believers proud and boastful, but on the contrary, lowly minded, thankful and tender hearted. If you are a child of God, it is his work, and your heart should overflow with unceasing love to him, and kindliness of spirit to all men. Who can portray the advantages of a Christian life, which is but a display of the spiritual blessings the apostle had in view.
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