#EPHESIANS 2 8 FULL#

#EPHESIANS 2 8 FULL#

All who do so, are without excuse.This is to be understood, not of temporal salvation, nor of preservation in Christ, nor of providential salvation in order to calling, and much less of being put in a way of salvation, or only in a salvable state but of spiritual salvation, and that actual for salvation was not only resolved upon, contrived and secured in the covenant of grace, for the persons here spoken to, but it was actually obtained and wrought out for them by Christ, and was actually applied unto them by the Spirit and even as to the full enjoyment of it, they had it in faith and hope and because of the certainty of it, they are said to be already saved and besides, were representatively possessed of it in Christ their head: those interested in this salvation, are not all mankind, but particular persons and such who were by nature children of wrath, and sinners of the Gentiles and it is a salvation from sin, Satan, the law, its curse and condemnation, and from eternal death, and wrath to come and includes all the blessings of grace and glory and is entirely owing to free grace: for by grace is not meant the Gospel, nor gifts of grace, nor grace infused but the free favour of God, to which salvation in all its branches is ascribed as election, redemption, justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, and eternal glory: the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, 'by his grace', and so some copies and it may refer to the grace of all the three Persons for men are saved by the grace of the Father, who drew the plan of salvation, appointed men to it, made a covenant with his Son, in which it is provided and secured, and sent him into the world to obtain it and by the grace of the Son, who engaged as a surety to effect it, assumed human nature, obeyed and suffered in it for that purpose, and has procured it and by the grace of the Spirit, who makes men sensible of their need of it, brings it near, sets it before them, and applies it to them, and gives them faith and hope in it: hence it follows, None can from Scripture abuse this doctrine, or accuse it of any tendency to evil. It was his purpose, to which he prepared us, by blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit producing such a change in us, that we should glorify God by our good conversation, and perseverance in holiness. All is the free gift of God, and the effect of being quickened by his power. These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us, therefore all boasting is shut out. Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest any man should boast. The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners heretofore, encourages others in after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy. Sinners roll themselves in the dust sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, are raised above this world, by Christ's grace.

A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul he lives a life of holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace. Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul. The grace that saves is the free, undeserved goodness and favour of God and he saves, not by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus.

And every converted sinner is a saved sinner delivered from sin and wrath. What reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for that grace which will make them, of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! God's eternal love or good-will toward his creatures, is the fountain whence all his mercies flow to us and that love of God is great love, and that mercy is rich mercy. From Scripture it is clear, that whether men have been most prone to sensual or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath. Satan is the author of that proud, carnal disposition which there is in ungodly men he rules in the hearts of men. A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world. But if we viewed things aright, we should be far more affected by the thought of a dead soul, a lost, fallen spirit. A never-dying spirit is now fled, and has left nothing but the ruins of a man. When we look upon a corpse, it gives an awful feeling. A man dead in trespasses and sins has no desire for spiritual pleasures. Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 2:8 Commentary on Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2 8