Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
IN the first part of this Chapter (after the Inscription, ver. 1, 2.) the Apostle unfoldeth the grounds and causes of the salvation of sinners, ascribing all unto God's free grace in Christ: which he doth, first, generally, by way of thanksgiving unto God, ver. 3. Secondly, more particularly: and first, he treateth of the grounds, causes and means of salvation, as they were prepared in the eternal decree of election; which he describeth from those ends which God intended in that decree, as our sanctification, ver. 4. our adoption or glorification, ver. 5. and the glory of His grace, ver. 6. Next, as they were purchased by Christ in the work of redemption, ver. 7. And lastly, as they are applyed unto the Elect in their effectual calling, ver. 8. which is illustrated from the mean made use of for bringing it about, to wit, the revealing and publishing of the Gospel, ver. 9. and from the end intended by God in the use of this mean, even the gathering together in one of all the scattered Elect, ver. 10. And thirdly, he cleareth yet further the former doctrine concerning the freedom of God's grace through Christ in our salvation, by giving some instances of it, 1. In the believing Jews, ver. 11, 12. Next, in the believing Gentiles, ver. 13, 14.
In the second part of the Chapter, he doth indirectly incite them to constancy and progresse in the knowledge of this doctrine; first, by shewing how he blessed God, and prayed unto Him for them, ver. 15, 16. Secondly, by holding forth a short sum of his prayer unto God on their behalf, even that God would bestow a greater measure of wisdom and saving knowledge upon them, ver. 17, 18—whereby they might know those good things, which they were to partake of in Heaven, ver. -18. together with the working of Gods mighty power in, and towards Believers, ver. 19. Thirdly, by commending this power of God unto them, from its mighty working in order to Christ's exaltation, ver. 20. which exalted state of Christ, he sheweth, doth include power and superiority over all creatures in general, ver. 21, 22-and over His Church in particular, ver. -22, 23.