Ephesians 1:7-10. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
The main purpose of the gospel is to exalt Christ and to glorify God. We forget God’s great design if we look only to humanity. If we regard salvation as a means only of lifting up our race from its fall, and putting it among the princes, we have made a mistake. We should remember that God’s glory is a greater object even than man’s salvation. Not so much to save us, did God give his Son, as to honour himself, and to glorify that Son of his; and we should always remember that the gospel has for its chief aim the glory of all the attributes of the Divine Being. He has determined at last to gather together in Christ all things that are in heaven and in earth. Some foolish persons have wrested this text, to prove the absurd doctrine of the final restitution of the lost; they have said that even the fallen spirits in hell are to be restored. We find it not in this text; we have it particularly said, "things in heaven and things on earth." But there is no mention made of those concerning whom it was long ago said, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." I have often thought that these words of the angel are conclusive with regard to the eternity of future punishment. Once dead, immutability is stamped upon our state; once let us die, and our destiny can never be changed.
There are no acts of pardon passed
In the cold grave to which we haste;
But darkness, death, and long despair,
Reign in eternal silence there.
But "things which are in heaven, and which are on earth" are, "in the dispensation of the fullness of times," to be gathered together in one, "even in him,"
Ephesians 1:7-10. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
The main purpose of the gospel is to exalt Christ and to glorify God. We forget God’s great design if we look only to humanity. If we regard salvation as a means only of lifting up our race from its fall, and putting it among the princes, we have made a mistake. We should remember that God’s glory is a greater object even than man’s salvation. Not so much to save us, did God give his Son, as to honour himself, and to glorify that Son of his; and we should always remember that the gospel has for its chief aim the glory of all the attributes of the Divine Being. He has determined at last to gather together in Christ all things that are in heaven and in earth. Some foolish persons have wrested this text, to prove the absurd doctrine of the final restitution of the lost; they have said that even the fallen spirits in hell are to be restored. We find it not in this text; we have it particularly said, "things in heaven and things on earth." But there is no mention made of those concerning whom it was long ago said, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." I have often thought that these words of the angel are conclusive with regard to the eternity of future punishment. Once dead, immutability is stamped upon our state; once let us die, and our destiny can never be changed.
There are no acts of pardon passed
In the cold grave to which we haste;
But darkness, death, and long despair,
Reign in eternal silence there.
But "things which are in heaven, and which are on earth" are, "in the dispensation of the fullness of times," to be gathered together in one, "even in him,"