Read verse in KJV Bible Reader
John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Ephesians 1 In this chapter are contained the inscription of the epistle, the salutation of the persons to whom it is written, the apostle's thanksgiving for blessings received by him, and them; in which the efficient, moving, procuring, and final causes of salvation are taken notice of, and the several parts and branches of it observed; and the whole is concluded with prayers for...
John Gill
According as he hath chosen us in him,.... This choice cannot be understood of a national one, as Israel of old were chosen by the Lord; for the persons the apostle writes to were not a nation; nor does he address all the inhabitants of Ephesus, only the saints and faithful in Christ that resided there; nor are they all intended here, if any of them. However, not they only, since the apostle...
Matthew Henry
Introduction. (a. d. 61.) 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is, 1. The title St. Paul takes to himself, as belonging to him—Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, &c. He reckoned it a great honour to be employed by Christ,...
Charles H. Spurgeon
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: The first great blessing of the covenant of grace is our election. We were chosen, but chosen in Christ — chosen not because we were holy, but chosen that we should be holy. The great object of the divine choice is our holiness. And let no man say that he is...
Charles H. Spurgeon
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, That is the commencement of all the blessing, God’s electing love. This is the fountain from which the living waters flow. There would have been no stream of blessing to us at all if it had not been for this first primeval choice of us by God, even as Jesus said to his disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen...
Charles H. Spurgeon
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, One of the first doctrines of our holy faith is that of the union of all believing souls with Christ. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. Apart from Christ we are nothing;...
Charles H. Spurgeon
That we should be holy and without blame before him in love: We are chosen, not because we are holy, but that we may be made holy. The election precedes the character, and is indeed the moving cause in producing the character. Before the foundation of the world, God chose us in Christ, “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” You see, then, beloved brethren and sisters, the...
Charles H. Spurgeon
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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: The apostle commences by laying down the great doctrine of predestinating love. There is little gospel preached where election is...
Charles H. Spurgeon
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should he holy and without blame before him in love The apostle did not ignore the glorious and blessed doctrine of divine election; he delighted to meditate upon it, and to speak of it. I wish that some Christians, nowadays, were not so much afraid of it. All spiritual blessings come to us in this way, this is the...
Charles H. Spurgeon
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: What an inheritance! To be made holy. Oh, that we might be perfected as our Father which is in heaven is perfect, sanctified through and through. We are elected to this end: it is the very object of the divine choice that we may be without blame before him in love.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, The high mystery of election is taught in the Word of God, but some are afraid to speak of it. Not so our Apostle. He brings it out very clearly and distinctly, and so should we, only taking...
Charles H. Spurgeon
That we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. You hear much about the free will of man, hear a little about the free will of God. You would think, from the talk of some, that God was man’s debtor and must needs do according to the will of man. But it is not...