COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS
LESSON NUMBER 6
Eph 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved . . ."
(Eph 1:6)
HE MADE US ACCEPTED
It is always in order to remind the saints that their salvation is wholly owing to the work of God Himself. He is the One who made all of the key determinations, without which salvation would be beyond the reach of man. No form of human wisdom could have successfully devised a way back to God, or a means of appropriating the expiation of sin. Although this may appear quite clear, our adversary the devil is ever vigilant to hide this from us. He does this by diverting our attention to lesser things. How important some of them appear, having to do with personal success, family concerns, influencing people, etc. When any subject, however lawful it may appear, dominates our attention, we are set adrift on a sea that carries us away from God. This is precisely why the ministry of Jesus Himself, as well as that of the Apostles, did not major on human relationships. When they were mentioned, they were always within the context of our identity with God. Husbands and wives, therefore, are to think of their relationship as a figure of Christ and the church (Eph 5:22-32). Masters and slaves were to consider their positions in view of their association with the Lord (Eph 6:5-9). Children were to view submissiveness to their parents as being obedient to the Lord (Eph 6:1-3). Parents were raise their children with the Lord and His will in mind (Eph 6:4). The burden of every letter written to believers deals with the matter of their identity with God through Jesus Christ. Everything is seen through that lens. No letters are written to an audience because they are businessmen, politicians, or of a particular occupation. No letter is specifically written to husbands, wives, children, or people in a particular earthly class or age group. Words are delivered to such souls, but they are always within the context of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Among the gifts placed in the church, there is not a single one that is for a special group within the body of Christ. Even when Luke wrote to Theophilus, an apparent official of some sort, he wrote of the Gospel of Christ (Luke), and the spread of the Gospel (Acts). It appears that Philemon was a man of means, yet when Paul wrote to him, it was within the context of the body of Christ and mutual ministries within that body. It is apparent from the letter to the Ephesians that Paul is focused on things men do not consider to be practical, or having to do with everyday life. However, that is a wholly erroneous conclusion and must be avoided at all cost. Paul is writing of things that touch upon every facet of life.
THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE
Eph 1:6a "To the praise of the glory of His grace . . ."
Paul continues to speak of the saints being "predestinated unto the adoption of children unto Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (1:5). This is an elaboration of why He chose us in Christ "before the foundation of the world" (1:4). This is not a cold doctrine, nor is it intended to provoke controversy among the saints of God. The information that is here vouchsafed to all believers is intended to assist them in evaluating their own status before the Lord. It is not enough to stand before the Lord only with our sins forgiven! There is a reason why we have been forgiven, justified, and sanctified. If that reason is not realized, either God's purpose will not have been carried out, or thpse claiming to have their sins forgiven have not told the truth. I do not see how we can escape these conclusions.
TO THE. Other versions read, "so that we would," CJB "Unto the," DOUAY "so that," GWN "so we," NLT "Now," LIVING and "so that we might be." AMPLIFIED
This is the language of purpose - of Divine intention. This accounts for the reason God does something - the aim or objective that is intended by His action.
This is a perspective that was not readily seen in the Law. Duty was largely perceived as an end of itself, even though there were occasional glimpses of Divine reasoning. However, in Christ a new manner of speaking has been established. Now an eternal perspective is granted, and a consciousness of why God has worked in the revealed manner, and why we are required to do certain things. In this text the focus is on why God has worked as He has - choosing and predestinating, and adopting.
PRAISE OF THE GLORY. "To the praise of the glory." Other versions read, "so that we would bring him praise," CJB "so that . . . should be praised," GWN "might be glorified," MRD "for the praise of the glory," NAB "Now all praise to God for," LIVING "Praise God for His glorious," IE "to the [praise of the splendor," WEYMOUTH "so that we would praise this glorious," ISV "in high praise of the glory," ABP "so we should praise God," CEV "this brings praise to God," ERV "Let us praise God," GNB "He wanted us to enter into the celebration of," MESSAGE "[So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious." AMPLIFIED
Many of the versions miss the point of the text. This is not an exhortation to praise, it is a statement of what God intended. The idea is not that He intended us to praise Him, although that will take place once His gracious intention is seen. Rather, the idea is that the saints themselves became a cause for praise. They are trophies that exhibit a hitherto relatively veiled trait of the Lord. Heavenly hosts see this trophy as well as insightful men. Salvation, by its very nature, shines the spotlight on the Divine trait that is here extolled.
OF HIS GRACE. Other versions read "glorious grace." NIV The glory, or splendor, is that of God's grace - how it is beheld, shining in pristine brightness in a world that is dominated by the wicked one. It will also be beheld in the ages to come, when He shows "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:7).
This grace is not perceived by God overlooking the sinful condition of man, but is perceived in their holy and blameless state before Him (1:4). The saints are a changed people with new hearts, eyes that can see, and ears that can hear. Their appetites have been refined, and their preferences changed. They prefer the light, and are preparing themselves to be the bride of Christ (Rev 19:7). It ought to be apparent that an unholy and lethargic church contradicts the revealed purpose of God. Jesus did not die, come back from the dead, and return to heaven in order to have a people that show no evidence of the power of the grace of God.
HE HATH MADE US ACCEPTED
6b " . . . , wherein He hath made us accepted . . ."
WHEREIN. Other versions read, "by which," NKJV "which," NASB "that," NRSV "commensurate with," CJB "He favored us with," CSB "in which," DOUAY and "wherewith," GENEVA
The word "wherein" is translated from a Greek word meaning, "of place proper; a. in the interior of some whole; within the limits of some space," THAYER "the primary idea is within, in, withinness, denoting static position or time . . . (1) of place; (a) denoting a position within boundaries in, within." FRIBERG
The environment in which the stated objective is realized is the point of this expression. This is admittedly a technicality, but it must be seen with some degree of clarity. The point here is not that God bestowed grace upon us - although He certainly did do that. Rather, it is what takes place within the environment of grace - what is accomplished in that domain.
When it comes to the grace of God, men are not prone to think about what is accomplished. There is a marked tendency among professed believers to view grace as Divine favor in spite of what men are by nature, and what they have done.
Grace is described as the environment in which we "stand," or are spiritually stable (Rom 5:2; 1 Pet 5:12). It is the well from which spiritual gifts are issued (Rom 12:6). It is what enabled Paul to affirm he had "labored more abundantly than they all" (1 Cor 15:10). Grace brings a "sufficiency" that cannot be otherise realized (2 Cor 9:8; 12:9). God has called the saints "into the grace of Christ Jesus" in order that they might appropriate the benefits of salvation (Gal 1:6). The "grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love" (1 Tim 1:14). In the grace of God we are made strong (2 Tim 2:1). There is "help" in grace for the "time of need" (Heb 4:16). Grace is the environment in which we "grow" (2 Pet 3:18).
Thus "grace" is seen as something in which we are located - a place in which marvelous supplies and enablements are realized. It is not an area in which God pretends that we are something that we really are not.
HE HATH MADE US. Other versions read, "which He freely bestowed on us," NASB "has freely given us," NIV "favored us with," CSB "he has taken us in to His favor," DARBY "He had made us freely accepted," GENEVA "poured out on us," NLT "gracious love that He gave us," IE and "He has enriched us." WEYMOUTH
The words "made us" are the first part of a single Greek word [evcari,twsen] which means "to make graceful I. e. charming, lovely, agreeable." THAYER The idea is that God has caused us to be something. The trait that is now mentioned has been caused to be identified with us. This is the language of creation - the "new creation" (2 Cor 5:17). It is the result of Divine "workmanship" (Eph 2:10), or "the operation of God" (Col 2:12).
This is not speaking of something we have received, as some versions suggest. It rather speaks of what we have become by the grace of God. While it is true that we have received grace - even "grace for grace" John 1:16), that is not the point of this text. It is rather what grace has made of us - the work it has accomplished in us. That work does not contradict who we are, but rather has made us what we are in Christ Jesus.
ACCEPTED. Once again, the point of the text is not what we have received, but rather what we have become - "accepted." Other versions read, "favored us," CSB "taken us into His favor," DARBY "has blessed us,"ESV "made us freely accepted," GENEVA and "favor which He has shown us. WILLIAMS
God could not receive us in Adam, or according to our natural condition. Not even His matchless grace could induce such an acceptance. Further, the bestowment of grace upon us is certainly something that takes place in Christ. However, before grace could bless us with "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places" (Eph 1:3), we had to be changed - created anew. This could only take place within the circumference of Divine favor and preference. God could not ignore our fallen state. That is why before we were in Christ Jesus we are referred to as God's "enemies" (Rom 5:10), "alienated" from His life (Eph 4:18), "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1-1), and "having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12). In that condition, God's nature would not allow Him to "accept" us, for that would necessitate Him acquitting the guilty - and that is something God cannot do, not by any means (Ex 34:7; Nah 1:3).
Grace is an environment in which men are made acceptable to God. As they stand in that grace, they are pleasing to God, and He is attracted to them, to do them good. All of this assumes a distinction among men - they are not all viewed alike. Some are favored, and some are not. Some are accepted, and some are not. The difference between men can be traced to where they are located, and where they are standing. If it is in the grace of God, that grace is said to be "wherein He hath made us accepted." The grace of God, then, is not a cold and lifeless doctrine, designed to give assurance to the spiritually lethargic and immature. It speaks of the means by which we are transformed and caused to become the apple of God's eye.
IN THE BELOVED
1:4c " . . . in the Beloved." Other versions read, "In the One He loves," NIV "in the loved One," BBE "in the Beloved One," CJB "in His Beloved Son," DOUAY ""His dear Son," GWN "Christ . . . God loves Him," IE "by the One being loved," ABP "He gave us to His dear Son," GNB and "the One having been loved." LITV
IN THE. Notice what a point Paul makes of Christ in the first verses of Ephesians: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ . . . the faithful in Christ Jesus . . . Grace be to you, and faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ . . . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ . . . He [God] hath chosen us in Him [Jesus] . . . having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ . . . "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved . . . He might gather together in one all things in Christ . . . in whom [Jesus] we have obtained an inheritance . . . who first trusted in Christ . . . in whom [Christ] ye trusted . . . in whom [Jesus] also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that Holy Spirit of promise" (1:2-13) - and that is only the first part of the opening chapter.
Who does not know that many of these things are being addressed in the modern church without any particular regard for Jesus Christ? The fact that this unfortunate circumstance exists is proof of the aggressiveness of the devil, and the indolence of men. Men have, in fact, largely ignored what God has said about Jesus - "the record God has given of His Son" (1 John 5:10-11). There is no other explanation for the neglect and ignorance of the Lord's Christ!
In this text we have an explanation for why God has accepted us, or received us. He has "made us accepted" - but not by a Divine fiat or pronouncement. Our acceptance is owing to an accomplishment - something that only God could do. It is only within the context of that love that any acceptance of man is possible.
BELOVED. "The beloved" is Christ Jesus. There is a special construction in this Greek expression that should be noted [evn tw/| hvgaphme,nw|]. The literal translation of the expression is, "in the One having been loved." INTERLINEAR That is, before any love for man can be affirmed, the love must first be seen as being toward the Son: "having been loved."
Twice God affirmed Jesus was His "beloved Son" - first at His baptism (Matt 3:17), and second at His transfiguration (Matt 17:5). The word "beloved," as used in these texts, means "esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love," THAYER and "of one not only greatly loved but also unique, the only one of a class only beloved, one dear." FRIBERG God's love for Jesus is unique. The only way it can be accessed by anyone else is for them to be "in Christ." Outside of Christ, there is no way this love can be realized - and without this love, there can be no Divine acceptance of the individual.
The fact that God loves the Son is affirmed again and again. "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand" (John 3:35). "For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel" (John 5:20). Jesus prayed that His followers would be "made perfect in one that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them [the ones "made perfect in one"], as Thou hast loved Me" (John 17:23).
It is evident that God's love of a person is contingent upon their acceptance and love of His Son. Jesus told His disciples, "For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God" (John 16:27). In this case, being loved by God is synonymous with being accepted by Him.
Again, Jesus affirmed to His disciples that loving Him was the necessary prelude to God loving them. "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21). Again He said, "If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him" (John 14:23). The Lord Jesus declares that God's love for us is strictly owing to our relation to Jesus Christ - in the case of these two pronouncements, that includes having His commandments and retaining them, which is the evidence that the individual really does love Jesus, The love of Jesus includes a preference for Him, and a refusal to forsake His Word. Upon the basis of that love - a love confirmed by having and keeping the commandments of Jesus - the Father Himself will love us, Jesus will love us, and make Himself known to us. Further, based upon that manifested love for Jesus, He and the Father will take up residence in us.
THAT IS A VIVID PICTURE OF DIVINE ACCEPTANCE! It is all based upon our love for Jesus - a love that is confirmed by our reaction to His Word. In the words of our text, that is how God made "made us accepted." That is why He bids us to draw near to Him. It is why He has given to us "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Pet 1:3).
In our text, Paul has removed "the flesh" as any kind of motivation for Divine acceptance or blessing. The entirety of salvation in all of its varied aspects hinges on Jesus, and Jesus alone.