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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:7

Verse 7 7.That in the ages to come. The final and true cause — the glory of God — is again mentioned, that the Ephesians, by making it the subject of earnest study, might be more fully assured of their salvation. He likewise adds, that it was the design of God to hallow, in all ages, the remembrance of so great goodness. This exhibits still more strongly the hateful character of those by whom the free calling of the Gentiles was attacked; for they were endeavoring instantly to crush that scheme... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-7

The resurrection and ascension of the soul. Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was, as we have seen, that they might appreciate the mighty power of God to us-ward who believe. This power was first manifested in the person and experience of Christ in raising him from the dead, in exalting him to the Father's right hand, in putting all things under his feet, and in constituting him Head of his Church. We are now to notice a parallel experience of power in the case of the believer. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-7

From death to life. 1. The process . This is a history of spiritual lift. It reverses the order of natural history. Instead of "funeral marches to the grave," we have a resurrection gladness, as the soul grows upward from death to life eternal. I. THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH DEATH . The death here referred to is not a future penalty, but the past condition of many men and the present state of all others. 1. There is a spiritual death in the midst of natural life. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-7

From death to life. 2. The secret . What is the secret of the wonderful reversal of the order of nature that is seen in the spiritual transformation from death to life? The power is put forth by the grace of God, and the method of its influence is through union with Christ. I. THE POWER THAT TRANSFORMS FROM DEATH TO LIFE IS THE GRACE OF GOD . 1. The power is Divine . 2. The power is put forth by the grace of God . He might leave the dead to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

SPIRITUAL HISTORY OF THE EPHESIANS . This passage corresponds to Genesis 1:1-31 . It is a history of creation, and we note the same great stages. 1. Chaos ( Genesis 1:1-3 ). 2. The dawn—the Spirit of God moving on the face of the waters ( Genesis 1:4 ). 3. The work of creation—in successive stages ( Genesis 1:4-10 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Spiritual history of Ephesians. I. THE CHAOS , or original state. 1. It is a state of death , implying previous life, but present insensibility and helplessness. The element of death is "trespasses and sins "—their killing power. 2. Yet a state of unholy activity , 3. A state of unholy indulgence ; seeking the fulfillment 4. A state of condemnation ; "by nature," by our very constitution, we are children of wrath. And this true of all. II. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Association with Christ. The concluding thought of the first chapter was the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. In order now to bring out how they were benefited thereby, he calls up to them their original condition . He shows them the pit out of which they have been dug, the rock out of which they have been hewn. In the first and second verses he has special reference to Gentile Christians, in the third verse he includes Jewish Christians in his description. I. GENTILE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Gospel reformation great and gracious. "And you hath he quickened," etc. This passage, though its language is somewhat obscure, sets forth most manifestly the greatness and graciousness of gospel reformation . The gospel is a reformative system; it is revolutionary in its spirit and its aim. It uproots the noxious in life, and plants the wholesome. It pulls down the corrupt and builds up the holy. It burns up man's old moral heavens and creates new ones, "wherein dwelleth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:5

Even when we were dead in our sins. Repeated from Ephesians 2:1 , in order to set in its true light the declaration that follows of what God did for us to make more emphatic the free and sovereign mercy of God. Though sin is the abominable thing which he hates, loathsome to him in the last degree, he did not turn from us when we were immersed in it; nor did he wait till we began to move towards him: he began to influence us even when we were dead. Made us alive together with Christ ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:5

The believer's union with Christ. The apostle teaches that, in virtue of the union between Christ and his people, his death was their death, his life their life, his exaltation their exaltation. It is the familiar doctrine of Romans 6:4 , "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." These words indicate a bond of connection between the spiritual life of... read more

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