The Church is the Monument of God's Grace
God saved us for His glory and our good.
The resurrection and sitting in heaven, which are here mentioned, are not yet seen by mortal eyes. Yet, as if those blessings were presently in our possession, he states that we have received them; and illustrates the change which has taken place in our condition, when we were led from Adam to Christ. It is as if we had been brought from the deepest hell to heaven itself. And certainly, although, as respects ourselves, our salvation is still the object of hope, yet in Christ we already possess a blessed immortality and glory; and therefore, he adds, in Christ Jesus.
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 endeavouring instantly to crush that scheme which was destined to be remembered through all ages.
Christ’s resurrection and exaltation to the Father’s right hand in “the heavenly places” (here and in 1:3 the heaven of the redeemed is meant; contrast 6:12) not only foreshadows and guarantees our glorious bodily resurrection and all the consequent glory that will be our portion at the great consummation, but is also the basis of present blessings. Whatever happens to the Bridegroom has an immediate effect upon the Bride. This effect has reference not only to the church’s state or legal standing before God’s law, but also to its condition, the latter because from the place of his heavenly glory and majesty Christ sends forth the Spirit into the hearts of believers, so that they die to sin and are raised to newness of life. Therefore, both as to state and as to condition we can say that with Christ Jesus we ourselves were tried, condemned, crucified, buried (Rom. 6:4–8; 8:17; Col. 2:12; 2 Tim. 2:11), but also, made alive, raised, and set in heavenly places (Rom. 6:5; 8:17; Col. 2:13; 3:1–3: 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:4).
Our names are inscribed in heaven’s register. Our interests are being promoted there. We are being governed by heavenly standards and motivated by heavenly impulses. The blessings of heaven constantly descend upon us. Heaven’s grace fills our hearts. Its power enables us to be more than conquerors. And to heaven our thoughts aspire and our prayers ascend.
Therefore, God’s purpose in saving his people reaches beyond man. His own glory is his own chief aim.
We are his sparkling jewels. Illustration: A Roman matron when asked, “Where are your jewels?” calls her two sons, and, pointing to them, says, “These are my jewels.” So also, throughout eternity the redeemed will be exhibited as the monuments of “the marvelous grace of our loving Lord,” who drew us from destruction’s pit and raised us to heights of heavenly bliss, and did all this at such a cost to himself that he spared not his own Son, and in such a manner that not a single one of his attributes, not even his justice, was eclipsed.
Paul does not say “God’s grace,” nor even “the riches of his grace,” but “the sur- (super) passing riches of his grace.”
The purpose, then, which God had in mind when he bestowed on us this great salvation described in verses 4–6, was that “in Christ Jesus” (see on 1:1, 3, 4) throughout this entire new dispensation and forever afterward he might place us, Jew and Gentile alike, on exhibition as monuments of the surpassing riches of his grace expressed in kindness of which we are and forever will be the recipients