_But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ._ SIN, THE SEPARATOR Sin has its dark offices--offices which it is always fulfilling. For sin is that dividing element, which, where it comes in, breaks up the harmony of all things, and sends them out into... [ Continue Reading ]
_For He is our Peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition._ CHRIST OUR PEACE 1. Christ Jesus is the author of all our peace. (1) In restoring the amity and friendship which we had in creation, but lost by the Fall. (2) In vanquishing those enemies which had... [ Continue Reading ]
_Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man._ CHRIST ABOLISHING THE ENMITY In this difficult passage it will be well first to examine the particular expressions. 1. The word rendered “to abolish” is th... [ Continue Reading ]
And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity thereby. RECONCILIATION 1. Our reconciliation itself. 2. The order of it. (1) Incorporate in Christ. (2) Concorporate with His members. 3. To whom. 4. The cause. (1) More remote--Himself crucified. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_And came and preached peace to you which were afar off._ CHRIST PREACHING PEACE This refers not merely to the time Christ lived as a Man upon earth, but also to His preaching through the Spirit in all after ages. 1. Christ is so absent from us, that He has not quite forsaken us. Whenever His Wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father._ THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY The doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which the apostle implies in these words, is the centre of a group of Christian doctrines which may fairly be said not to have been explicitly known antecedently to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God._ THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS The Church at Ephesus was a mixed community of Jewish and Gentile converts. The old feuds between them had not passed away. The Jew refused to let go the claim of his nation to some religious superiority over t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets._ THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH I. The apostle represents the Church under the figure of a city and a household. 1. A Chu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets._ THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH I. The apostle represents the Church under the figure of a city and a household. 1. A Chu... [ Continue Reading ]