between the words `promise' and `gospel', which is not obvious to the English
reader. Promise, in the Greek is epangelia, gospel is euangelion, both
compounds of the same root word meaning a `message'. Whatever gospel Paul
preached, we know that it was only by the grace of God that he originally
learned its glorious message, and that he received continuing grace to make it
known. Here he actually says so in no uncertain terms:
`Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God
given unto me by the effectual working of His power' (Eph. 3:7).
Both the words `gift' and `grace' preclude human merit or mere attainment.
Dorea is used in Acts 2:38; 8:20; 10:45 and 11:17 for the special enduement with
holy spirit that was characteristic of Pentecostal times. In Paul's witness
this is only used once of such gifts, namely in Hebrews 6:4, the other
references (Rom. 5:15,17; 2 Cor. 9:15; Eph. 4:7), speaking of the grace of God
in salvation and without special reference to gifts as such. The form dorean
which occurs nine times, translated `freely', `without a cause', `in vain' and
`for nought' the more emphasizes the freeness of the grace thus bestowed.
Charis `grace' is a term that is very characteristic of the ministry of
Paul. James used the word twice, Peter twelve times, the epistles of John,
Jude, the Revelation four times between them, the gospels twelve times and the
Acts sixteen times, whereas Paul uses the word one hundred and ten times in his
epistles! The distribution of the word `grace' in Ephesians is as follows:
Charis `Grace' in Ephesians
Grace to you -- Salutation.
A
1:2.
B 1:6.
Grace exhibited
a
1:7.
Riches.
in salvation.
b
2:5.
Saved.
A 2:7.
Exceeding riches.
b
2:8.
Saved.
C 3:2. Dispensation of the grace of God.
B
Grace manifested
a 3:7.
According to gift.
in service.
b
3:8.
Preach.
A 4:7.
According to gift.
b
4:29.
Ministry.
Grace with all -- Benediction.
A 6:24.
How truly does the divine arrangement of this word emphasize its place and
importance. No salvation is complete without it, and the very benediction is
enriched by it. It runs through the whole fabric of redemption, covering the
ages past and to come with its unction. It gives its name to the special
dispensation committed to the apostle Paul, marking it off as pre-eminently one
of grace. It vitalizes the outcome of redemption, namely service, being as much
a necessity for the inspired and gifted apostle while preaching the Word, as for
the individual believer in his everyday conversation.
While grace and works belong to two very different categories, as Romans
11:6 will make very clear, grace can and should lead to works, even as Ephesians
2:8-10 has already demonstrated. So the gift of grace given to the apostle had
not been bestowed in vain, as he declared:
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