Notes on Ephesians Chapter One
AUTHOR: | Oliphant, James H. |
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6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. The great object of God in bestowing salvation is to manifest his grace, and not to pay an obligation he is under to man. Each person saved stands in time, and will through the cycles of eternity, as a monument of God’s rich grace. Paul would put mountain upon mountain in his desire to magnify and intensify the power of grace. "To the praise of the glory of his grace." What luster shines and sparkles in the words! The sun is dimmed and the stars grow pale as we contemplate the wonder-working power of almighty grace. And so all true ministers should seek to extol the heavenly excellence of redeeming, sanctifying, saving grace! This is not done by urging that God ought to do anything for man, nor by insisting that there is something good in the nature of the life of man, but he who would glorify the lifting, cleansing power of grace, must first see man justly condemned and destitute of all claim to the favor of his Maker. It is a sweet thought to be accepted in the beloved. The ground of this acceptance is not a mixture of our obedience with God’s grace, but our sins are thoroughly purged away by his blood and his righteousness is imputed to us.
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