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Notes on Ephesians Chapter One
AUTHOR: | Oliphant, James H. |
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4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. The world "according" here is highly significant. It illustrates the harmony to be found between God’s design and its exact fulfillment. The Bible teaches that God works according to his purposes, and that purpose is eternal. The thought should not frighten nor distress us, but rather exalt our ideas of God’s perfection and immutability. His dear favor and the blessings contemplated by Paul and his Ephesian brethren, and like manner "to the faithful in Christ Jesus," which adapts it to people of every land and every period of time. Some would call this high doctrine, and would break its force by saying that the Christian dispensation was intended by the word "world," but the weakness of this idea is exposed by remembering that Paul was not called before the "gospel age," but some years after the church was set up. And again, the Greek word for world (kosmos) occurs nearly two hundred times in the New Testament, and is never once rendered age or dispensation. Its use indicates invariably that Paul taught that God’s choice was before the "worlds were framed." This same writer says to Timothy, "Who hath saved us and called us, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace given us in Christ before the world began." The translation of 1881 reads, "before the times eternal." So Paul plainly designed his readers should understand God’s choice to be from eternity. That we should be holy and without blame before him in love. It is taught by some that election rests on foreseen goodness or obedience, but that doctrine is overthrown by this text. The design of God’s choice is that men "should be holy." Holiness is the result of election, and does not go before it, and this is the undoubted meaning of the passage here. This truth is confirmed by many proofs. The same apostle declares, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done," "Not of works, lest any man should boast," "Not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth." If it were by any of these things, and God which foresaw, it would be the election of obedience, or the election of works, whereas it is called by the apostle, "The election of grace." The doctrine of eternal election is inseparable from the perfections of God, and an intelligence that is infinite. It is foolish and absurd for men to decry election as leading to unholiness. Holiness of life does not go before election, but it is the very end and evidence of it. That we should be holy and without blame is the intent of God’s choosing us. A man that is inclined to an evil course is cut off from the hope of election, but if his heart is drawn to obedience and upright living, there is ground to hope that God has remembered him. The spirit bears witness to all filial obedience, and gives the sweet hope of sonship. When Jesus was baptized the Spirit testified, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," and when the believer now, is baptized, he is given the answer of a good conscience toward God. To be without blame before God in love, is the happiest thought that ever thrilled the heart of a poor, erring man in this world of sin. In this life, the best of men are sensible of imperfection. "Who shall deliver me, for I am the chief of sinners. All my righteousness is but filthy rags. O my leanness, my leanness. Behold I am vile." Such expressions reveal the state of warfare and unrest which the believer encounters, and to all such what a comforter is Paul, when he points to the blessed of being at last before God without blame in love! This they will be when the work of grace is completed, and they stand before God with clothing of wrought gold, and raiment of needlework---the imputed righteousness of Christ---which alone can bear the piercing eye of Jehovah and give exceeding joy.
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