+I. The happy change which the Gospel made in the Ephesians.+--A
change not peculiar to them, but common to all sincere believers.
1. _God hath quickened us._--Made us alive with Christ. (1) True
Christians are alive; they have spiritual senses and appetites.
(2) Spiritual motions. (3) Spiritual pleasures. (4) Spiritual powers.
The spiritual life comes through Christ and is conformed to Him.
2. _God hath raised us up together with Christ_ (ver. 6).--His
resurrection is a proof and pattern of that of believers.
3. _God hath made us to sit together in heavenly places in
Christ._--His entrance into heaven is a proof of the final salvation
of believers. He sits there for them, to take care of their
interests, and in due time will bring them to sit where He is.
+II. Contemplate the mercy of God in this great change.+--"God, who
is rich in mercy" (ver. 4). The mercies of God are rich in extent, in
number, in respect of constancy, in variety, in value. "The great
love wherewith He loved us." He first loved us. His love shines
brighter when we consider what a being He is. He is infinitely above
us. He is self-sufficient. The Gospel gives us the most exalted
conceptions of God's character.
+III. The general purpose of God's particular mercy to the Ephesians+
(ver. 7).--God's mercy in reclaiming one transgressor may operate to
the salvation of thousands in ages to come. The Gospel dispensation
was intended to serve some useful purposes among other intelligences.
Not only God's gracious dispensation to fallen men, but also His
righteous severity toward irreclaimable offenders, is designed for
extensive beneficial influence.--_Lathrop._