 |  |
"Giving thanks unto the Father Who hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in the light; Who hath delivered us from the authority of
darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son (or Son of His love),
in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1: 12-14).
The word "in" sometimes suggests the idea, "on account of," as e.g., Matt. 6: 7,
"on account of their much speaking," or Eph. 3: 13, "on account of my tribulations."
There is a practical outcome of this truth as we shall see, God willing, when we go
through the Epistle. Those who are thus highly favoured in the Beloved are exhorted to
"walk in love," and the concluding benediction particularly singles out this quality.
"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptibility." (Eph. 6: 24).
May the sphere of our acceptance be increasingly the motive and substance of our
walk and witness. His Name is upon us; we are spoken of as God's beloved ones. May
we walk in love as Christ also hath loved us.
#14.
The Blessings of the Son (Eph. 1: 7-12).
pp. 81 - 84
We have reviewed "The blessings of the Father" as recorded in verses 3-6; we have
now to consider those of the Son and those of the Spirit (verses 7-14).
The Blessings of the Son (Eph. 1: 7-12).
C1 | 7-. Redemption (en hõ, "in Whom").
D1 | -7, 8-. According to riches of grace.
C2 | -8-10. Mystery.
D2 | 9. According to good pleasure.
C3 | 11-. Inheritance (en hõ, "in Whom").
D3 | -11, 12. According to purpose.
It will be seen that the blessings we have to consider are three, redemption, which
includes the forgiveness of trespasses, mystery, which includes the dispensation of the
fulness of the seasons, and inheritance.
REDEMPTION (apolutrõsis).--The word means "releasing on the receipt of a
ransom." It is rendered "deliverance," apparently in a non-doctrinal sense, Heb. 11: 35,
and shows the real meaning of the term. In Eph. 1: the word is used with references to
the two spheres of its operations. "By Whom we have the redemption, through His
blood" (verse 7). That deliverance effects the forgiveness of our trespasses. "Unto a
redemption of the purchased possession" (verse 14), and "sealed unto a day of
redemption" (Eph. 4: 30), look forward to a future phase of deliverance. Ephesians is
not the only epistle that sets forward this twofold aspect. Rom. 3: 24, "Being justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Faith in His blood