3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (Ephesians 1:3-8 KJV)
Thomas Scott
Verses 3-8: The following twelve verses, properly speaking, form one sentence. The apostle’s mind was so full of his subject, that he was not very exact about his style; and this renders a double degree of attention requisite in the reader who would fully enter into his meaning. We shall, however, better understand his argument and doctrine by considering the passage in a more detached manner.—Reflecting on the great things which God had done for him, and by him, especially among the Gentiles, the apostle broke out into the most rapturous praises and thanksgivings unto God on that account. He could do no other than speak well concerning “the God and Father of the Lord Jesus,” and celebrate the praises of his name, who had done so well and graciously by his believing people, and had conferred on them all spiritual blessings which could be desired or enjoyed in respect of heavenly things, and as the earnest of heavenly felicity, by giving his Son Jesus Christ for them, and by calling them to believe in him: or, by exalting Christ as their Surety, Advocate, and Forerunner, into “the heavenly places,” God had at once, as it were, conferred all spiritual blessings on every believer, as united unto him and interested in him. This resulted from his choice of them in Christ, and as given to him even “before the foundation of the world;” not because he foresaw they would of themselves be more holy than others of their fallen race, but that they should be made holy by separation from sin, consecration unto God, and the sanctification of the Sprit, in consequence of the election in Christ. Thus he purposed to render them “blameless before him in love;” not only in respect of their complete justification in Christ, but by there present integrity and sincerity in the professed love of Christ, of each other, and of all men; by their blameless walk “before God in all his ordinances and commandments;” and at length by making them perfect in holy love and heavenly felicity. For he had “predestinated” or foreordained them to be adopted as his children by faith in Jesus Christ, and to be openly admitted to the privileges of that high relation to himself, notwithstanding their original and actual sinfulness. In doing this according to his sovereign will and pleasure, he intended to exhibit the gory of his rich, free, and distinguishing grace, a in the most illustrious manner; that they, and innumerable multitudes of redeemed men and holy angels, might celebrate the praises of it for ever: as by that glorious grace he had made them (lost sinners both of the Jews and Gentiles) “accepted in his beloved” Son, even “the righteousness of God in him:” so that, as the Father was well pleased in his beloved Son, he was also well pleased with them for his sake.—Or hath “highly favoured us in him;” as a word of the same import is elsewhere rendered (Lu 1:28); including all other blessings as flowing without fail from their justification in Christ.—For though in themselves they had been condemned criminals, enslaved, and imprisoned under the curse of the law and the power of sin and satan, without any possibility of delivering themselves: yet Christ had paid a complete ransom for their souls when he shed his blood on the cross; and having been brought into a state of union with him by regeneration and faith, they had obtained a complete redemption; their sins having been fully pardoned, and their souls set at liberty from the fetters and dungeon of their former wretched condition. This deliverance accorded to the unspeakable abundance of the free mercy and grace of God: his love appointed this method of redemption, provided the Redeemer, “spared not his own Son,” brought them to hear and embrace this salvation, freely pardoned all their sins, gave liberty to their captive souls, supplied all their wants, and invested them with the riches variety of privileges and blessings.—In exercising such astonishing grace after so abundant a manner, the Lord had also acted with all wisdom and prudent counsel: for whereas mercy to criminals often gives encouragement to crimes, and disgraces or weakens the hands of government; his method of grace was so wisely ordered, that it showed sin in all its odiousness and desert of vengeance; exhibited the divine justice and holiness in the most tremendous glory; manifested all the attributes of God in glorious harmony; furnished the most effectual motives to the believer’s future obedience; and tended directly to subvert satan’s empire of ungodliness and iniquity. So that the wisdom of God never shone so bright in the view of all holy intelligences, as in this display of the riches of his glorious grace. (Eph 3:9-12; Ro 3:19-31) Exalted and mysterious wisdom had also been displayed in all the steps by which the way was prepared for the revelation of this plan, and in the time and manner in which it was revealed.—Blessed, &c. (Eph 1:3). When we bless God, we speak well of him; when he blesses us, he powerfully confers blessings on us.—Predestinated, &c. (Eph 1:5). “Predestination to the adoption of children” should be carefully distinguished from actual adoption, which is subsequent to regeneration and actual believing, and makes way for the Spirit of adoption (Joh 1:10-13)