Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 1 · Verse and explication 11
Vers. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.
THe Aposte applyeth the former doctrine, in the second place, to the believing Gentiles in the person of those Ephesians, That hereby he may shew they were as much in the debt of God's free-grace for salvation, as the believing Jews. In order to which he holdeth forth, first, the benefit which they had received from Christ, even the same which he shew was bestowed upon the believing Jews, to wit, the heavenly inheritance, and all those other spiritual blessings which lead to it: for, as it is necessary that some word be added to the beginning of this verse for making good sense; so it seemeth the word, trusted, taken from the close of ver. 12. cannot be it: for, the word rendred there, first trusted, is but one in the Original, and cannot be applyed unto the Gentiles, as not being the first who trusted in Christ; And therefore it is safer, and more apposit also unto the Apostle's scope to repeat that word (which is v. 11.) have obtained an inheritance, especially seing he is applying here to the Gentiles, what he had applyed there to the Jews; the principal part whereof, and that upon which all the rest spoken of there doth depend, is their obtaining an inheritance. Secondly, he setteth forth the mean whereby they obtained this excellent benefit, even their hearing of the doctrine of the Gospel, which he describeth from its excellent nature, as being the Word of Truth, and from that great good which it revealeth and offereth, even salvation. Thirdly, he mentioneth a work of God's holy Spirit upon their hearts after they had believed, which is here called sealing, by a metaphor taken from the use of Seals and Signets among men, which are chiefly used for putting a difference betwixt true Writs, and those which are counterfeit; so that this work here called sealing, did serve to evidence the truth and reality of somewhat which might otherwise have been questioned, and particularly, with relation to the Apostle's present scope, it did serve to evidence the reality of their right to the glorious inheritance, the truths of the Gospel, and the sincerity of their closing with, and believing of, the Gospel: now the work of God's Spirit, which maketh all this evident, and therefore hath the name of sealing, is mainly His renewing and sanctifying work, and especially His carrying-on of that work, whereby He imprinteth the image of Himself, which is holinesse (Eph. 4. 24.) upon Believers, as an impression of the draughts and lineaments of the Seal, are by sealing put upon the thing sealed; so, 2 Tim. 2. -19. the grace of sanctification and departing from evil is called a Seal, though those other works of God's Spirit in Believers, whereby He giveth them sense of His presence, comfort and joy unspeakable flowing from it, and full assurance, may be looked upon as lesse principal parts of this Seal. Fourthly, (ver. 14.) by the metaphor of an earnest, which is used among Merchants for ratifying of their bargains, he sheweth a use, for which the bestowing of the holy Spirit upon them, and His sealing of them by His sanctifying grace, did serve, even to be an earnest of the heavenly inheritance, the full possession whereof being delayed until the last day, God gave unto them His holy Spirit with His saving graces, as an earnest, or some small beginnings, and a part of that glory which shall then be revealed; that hereby He might assure them of their obtaining the whole in due season. Fifthly, he sheweth the date and time how long they were to content themselves with the earnest, even untill the redemption of the purchased possession, that is, untill the day of judgment, at which time those who are purchased by the bloud of Christ, and are His possession and peculiar people, shall obtain compleat redemption and full delivery from sin and misery; In which sense redemption is taken, Rom. 8. 23. And sixthly, he sheweth the end which God purposed unto Himself in all this, even the same which he mentioned formerly, ver. 12- to wit, the praise of His Glory.
From the benefit which those Gentiles received, (besides what is marked upon the parallel place, ver. 11-) Learn, 1. Though it was the prerogative of the Jews above the Gentiles that Christ was first preached unto them, and accordingly some of them did first trust in Him, (See ver. -12.) yet God hath made both Jew and Gentile equally to partake of all other things, aswell of those which concern salvation it self, as of the means and way of attaining to it: for, the same Christ, the same free-gifted inheritance through Christ, and the same Gospel which was bestowed upon the Jews, are also bestowed upon the believing Gentiles; In whom ye also have obtained an inheritance, saith he. 2. It is a thing highly observable, and much to be taken notice of, that the Gentiles, who were profane dogs, (Mat. 15. 26.) not a people, (Deut. 32. 21.) without God, (chap. 2. ver. -12.) should be set down at the childrens table, and have full accesse to free-grace and salvation, and all spiritual blessings tending to salvation equally with the Jews, who were God's only People, separated to Him above all People, Exod. 19. 5. to whom did pertain the Adoption, Glory, Covenants, &c. Rom. 9. 4. for, Paul cannot speak of this without an also, which is a note of exaggeration, and heightneth the purpose, as a thing very observable; In whom ye also have obtained an inheritance.
From the mean whereby they attained this excellent benefit, Learn, 1. The hearing of the Gospel, which supposeth the publick preaching of it, (Rom. 10. 14.) is the ordinary mean whereby faith is wrought, and consequently a right is conveyed unto the heavenly inheritance, in so far as the Gospel so preached doth not only propound and make known to the understanding the object of saving faith, which was before hid; but the Lord also, at, or after the hearing of this Gospel preached, doth work the grace of faith in the hearts of the Elect, Act. 16. 14. for, saith he, Ye obtained an inheritance, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel. 2. The Gospel is the Word of Truth, not only because it containeth nothing but truth, (for, so the whole Scripture is the Word of Truth, Psal. 19. -9-) but also the Truths of the Gospel are most excellent Truths, as being most remote from ordinary knowledge, Mat. 16. 17. most profitable to lost sinners, Tit. 2. 11. and do manifest the praise of God's glorious Attributes (Luke 2. 14.) more than any other Truths: besides, the Gospel doth clearly hold forth the truth and substance of all these dark and legal shadows, Joh. 1. 17. for, by the Word of Truth he meaneth the Gospel, as he presently cleareth; After ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation. 3. As the doctrine of Salvation is the doctrine of the Gospel, or glad-tydings to lost sinners; (for, the word rendred Gospel, signifieth a glad, or good message) So the doctrine of the Gospel is a doctrine of Salvation, as not only revealing Salvation, and a possible way for attaining to it, which the Law doth not, Gal. 3. 21. but also being the power of God to Salvation, Rom. 1. 16-. and the mean which God doth blesse for making us imbrace by faith the offer of Salvation, Rom. 10. 14, 15. and for working all other saving graces in the Elect, Col. 1. 6. for, the Apostle calleth this doctrine the Gospel, or glad tydings, of Salvation. 4. It is not sufficient to know that the Gospel is a doctrine of Salvation in general, or unto others only; but every one would labour, by the due application of the promises of the Gospel unto themselves, to find it a doctrine of Salvation to them in particular: for, Paul hinteth at so much, while he saith, not simply, the Gospel of Salvation, but of your Salvation.
From the Spirit's work of sealing following upon believing, Learn, 1. As the Gospel preached, and heard, doth not profit unto Salvation, except it be believed; so the Truths of the Gospel, and Jesus Christ that good thing offered in those Truths, is that in the whole Word of God which saving faith doth chiefly close with, and rely upon, and is fully satisfied with: It findeth death in threatnings, a burden of work in precepts, but in Christ and the Gospel it findeth the way to Heaven made patent, even a way how the sinner may be saved and divine justice not wronged: for, the Apostle, having spoken before of their hearing the Gospel, doth adde, In whom, to wit, Christ; the words may also read, In which, to wit, the Gospel, ye believed. 2. Though none can actually believe before the Spirit of God come to dwell in them, bringing alongs His royal train of habituall graces, and the habit of faith amongst the rest, unto the heart with Him; And therefore is He called the Spirit of Faith, 2 Cor. 4. 13-. yet, upon the actual exercising of the grace of Faith, the Spirit of God doth more fully manifest Himself to be dwelling in Believers, by His carrying-on the work of sanctification in them, for their greater comfort, and further strengthning of their faith: for, saith he, After ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit. 3. Whoever have rightly closed with the Gospel, and Christ in the Gospel, by believing, will have the grace of sanctification and holinesse of life following upon their so doing, as also sometimes some measure of joy, peace and, sensible comfort: for, as I cleared, by the seal is meaned those graces; And after ye believed, ye were sealed, saith he. 4. Even real Believers have need of confirmation and sealing, as being oftimes exercised and tossed with several doubts and scruples, both concerning the truth of the Gospel, and promise in general, Mark 9. 24. and the reality of their own closing with, and interest in the Promise, Psal. 88. 14. for, therefore is it, that after those Ephesians had believed they were sealed, hereby to evidence the truth of the Gospel, and the sincerity of their believing the Gospel; After ye believed, ye were sealed. 5. The Lord hath provided, and accordingly doth bestow sufficient means upon Believers whereby all their fore-mentioned doubts may be solved, and they abundantly satisfied; for, besides the writing of the Promise upon their hearts, and the outward seals of the Covenant of Grace, or Sacraments, which are visibly dispensed by Christ's Ministers, there is an inward seal, to wit, the saving Graces of God's Spirit, together with growth and increase in those, imprinted by the Spirit of God upon the hearts of Believers in order to their confirmation, although they sometimes cannot perfectly discern, nor exactly take up the draughts and lineaments of it; After ye believed, ye were sealed. 6. The saving graces of God's Spirit wrought in a Believer, and exercised by him in all sorts of holy duties, and especially growth in grace, is a most convincing evidence, not only that the Word of the Gospel, by which holinesse is wrought, is the undoubted Truth of God: for, this is the witnesse by water, spoken of, 1 Joh. 5. 8. there being no other thing but the Truth of God able to produce such strange and supernatural effects as those; but also it serveth to evidence the reality of the man's interest in the promise, and of his right to the heavenly inheritance, in whom those saving graces and the fruits of holinesse are, seing holinesse of life is the inseparable effect of saving faith and interest in the promise, Act. 15. 9. for, by the Seal is meaned mainly the graces of sanctification, and, as was shewn, they get that name: because, as Seals do confirm publick Writs, and make them appear to be authentick; so the saving and sanctifying graces of the Spirit do confirm to those, in whom they are, the Truth of the Gospel, and the sincerity of their faith in Christ; In whom after ye believed, ye were sealed. 7. Our doubts and scruples, whether concerning the truth of the Promise in general, or our own particular interest in the Promise, ought not in reason make us suspend our believing in Christ and the Promise, untill we first be sealed and sanctified, and so receive sufficient confirmation; but on the contrary, we are, first, to set our Seal to God's Truth, by believing and venturing our salvation upon it, and then we may expect next to have God setting His Seal upon our heart in order to our confirmation: for, that is the order here set down; In whom after ye believed, ye were sealed. 8. The sanctifying of our natures, and adorning of our hearts with saving graces, together with any confirmation in the truth of the Promise, or of particular interest in the Promise which Believers receive from these, is the work of God's Spirit only: for, it is ascribed to Him here, and with relation thereto He is called the holy Spirit, not only because He is essentially holy, and very holinesse it self, but also the author of sanctification, and of all saving graces in Believers, Gal. 5. 22. and the Spirit of promise, not only, because He was promised to be abundantly poured-out upon Believers under the New Testament, Act. 2. 16. but also His office is to seal and confirm by His gracious operations the Promises of the Gospel to Believers, Rom. 8. 16. Ye were sealed, saith he, with the holy Spirit.
From that use, for which the holy Spirit with his saving graces was bestowed upon them, Learn, 1. As the Spirit of God is a person subsisting, and not a created gift or grace; so this holy Spirit doth not only bestow His gifts and graces upon Believers, but also cometh Himself unto them, and dwelleth in them: In so far, as though He be not personally united with them, as the divine nature is with the humane in Christ; yet He is not only with them in his essence and being, as He is present every-where, Jer. 23. 24. nor yet in respect of His working by a general providence only, as He is present even with wicked men; for, in Him they live, move and have their being, Act. 17. 28. but He resideth in them, as in his own Temple by his special and saving operations, whereby He not only bestoweth upon them the habits of all saving graces at their first conversion, Ezek. 36. 25, 26. but doth also by his immediate, strong and special influence daily preserve those graces in life, (Joh. 10. 28, 29.) actuate them, (Philip. 2. 13.) and ordinarily maketh them to grow, (Hos. 14. 5.) for, whereas the word Spirit in the former verse is in the neuter gender… he repeats it here by a masculine relative (which would be better rendred who than which) to shew that the Spirit is a person subsisting: Which Spirit, he saith, is given us for an earnest of our inheritance. 2. Heaven and glory is the only portion and inheritance of Believers; all their enjoyments earthly, though never so great, being but mean, fading in themselves, and lyable to spoyling and vastation from others, so that this inheritance, which is incorruptible, fadeth not away, and is reserved in the heavens (1 Pet. 1. 4.) is only worthy to be looked upon as their inheritance: for, the Apostle calleth it our inheritance, by way of excellency; Which is the earnest of our inheritance. 3. As the right unto this inheritance is made-over unto Believers, upon their resigning themselves to God by faith, in way of covenant and paction, Isa. 55. 3. So the Lord hath thought it convenient not to give them the possession of it presently upon their right, but to delay it for a season, that in the mean time they may exercise their hope in longing after it, Philip. 1. 23. And God may get glory from the heirs of heaven here upon earth, and among earthly men, by being the means of salvation unto some, Mat. 5. 16. and of conviction and just condemnation unto others, Heb. 11. 7. for, the metaphor of an earnest, used among Merchants, when the sum covenanted is not presently given, doth bear so much; Who is the earnest of our inheritance. 4. As even Believers are apt to doubt, if ever the covenanted inheritance shall be bestowed and actually enjoyed by them; So the Lord is most willing to do all which in reason can be required, for removing all doubts of that kind; and more particularly He giveth them an earnest, or a part of this covenanted inheritance in hand, to assure them of his purpose to bestow the whole in due time: for, the metaphor of an earnest doth bear this also, the end of giving an earnest being to assure the receiver of the giver's honest purpose to perform all that he hath promised, which otherwise might be called in question; Who is the earnest of our inheritance. 5. The Spirit of the Lord sealing Believers, and those saving graces of the Spirit, which he worketh in sealing, do serve for the same uses in relation to the Covenant of Grace, wherein heaven and glory is promised to Believers, for which an earnest doth serve in a civil bargain: for, as the earnest is a part of the sum, and usually but a small part, and yet may assure the receiver of his obtaining the whole; So the Spirit and His work of grace received here, is begun glory, Joh. 17. 3. and though but a small part of it, 1 Cor. 13. 12, 13. yet the smallest measure of grace may assure the man who hath it, of his obtaining the full possession of glory in the day of the Lord Jesus, Philip. 1. 6. hence the Apostle calleth the Spirit with his graces this earnest; Who is the earnest of our inheritance.
From the time how long the use of this earnest was to continue, Learn, 1. As real Believers are Christs possession in whom He dwelleth, Eph. 3. 17. and whom He manureth and maketh fruitfull, Joh. 15. -2. So He hath purchased them, to wit, by paying a price to provoked justice, 1 Cor. 6. 20. and by force from Satan their old possessor and master, Heb. 2. 14, 15. and purchased them for this end, that He might possesse them: for, speaking of Believers, he calleth them a purchased possession. 2. Though the redemption and delivery of Believers be already begun, and their bonds loosed in part, Col. 1. 13. yet their compleat redemption is but to come, to wit, from sin at death, Heb. 12. -23. and from misery, not untill the last day; then, and not while then shall their bodies be raised up in glory, and their redemption be full and compleat, Rom. 8. 23. for, the Apostle speaketh of their redemption as of a thing yet to come; Untill the redemption of the purchased possession. 3. As this earnest, even the holy Spirit with His graces, being once given, cannot totally be lost; So, if this day of redemption were once come, there shall be no further use of an earnest: the covenanted inheritance will then be fully possessed, and consequently no place left for fears or doubts about the obtaining of it; for, he saith, the Spirit was to be an earnest untill the redemption, and so He must continue with them untill then, but was not to serve for an earnest any longer; Who is the earnest untill the redemption of the purchased possession.
From the end proposed, see what is already observed upon ver. 6. and ver. 12.