Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse and explication 10
Vers. 11. According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
HE magnifieth his Office, seventhly, by shewing, first, that the making manifest this manifold wisdom of God, in the dispensation of grace both to Jew and Gentiles by his Ministery, was a thing which God (who worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will, chap. 1. 11.) had resolved upon, and purposed, not of yesterday, but from all eternity, though for wise reasons he did reserve the making of so much known until the times of the Gospel. Next, that this eternal purpose, was purposed in Christ, to wit, not only as He was God equall with, and the eternal wisdom, of the Father, and so did joyn with Him in all His decrees and purposes; but also, as Mediator, God-man, by whom the Father was to effectuate and execute all His purposes for good towards the Church. See upon Chap. 1. ver. 4. for, the word rendered purposed, may be also rendered, He made, or, did execute in Christ. Doct. 1. This may commend the Ministery of the Gospel, and gain respect unto it, that the plot and draught of mans salvation dispensed thereby, is founded upon the wise and eternal counsel of God; and therefore such as will endure all the contradictions of sinners, 2 Sam. 23. 5. yea, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against, Matth. 7. 24, 25. and selfcondemned sinners may safely venture their salvation upon, Matth. 11. 28. for, Paul doth magnifie his Office from this, that the message which he carried, was according to Gods eternal purpose. 2. This may also, upon the same grounds, commend the Ministery of the Gospel much, that Jesus Christ, being chosen by the Father for that end, hath taken-on, and doth daily execute His mediatory Office for bringing about the salvation of the Elect, according to the plot condescended upon in Gods eternal purpose, and dispensed by the Ministery of the Gospel: for, Paul commendeth his Ministery from this, that God had purposed, and resolved upon that draught of salvation, in Jesus Christ our Lord. 3. As God before all time hath fore-ordained in His eternal purpose whatever cometh to passe in time, His works being known unto Him, and accordingly resolved upon by Him, before the worlds were made, Act. 15. 18. So, though Gods way of dealing in time with men, and more particularly with His Church, doth alter; yet this inferreth not any change or alteration in His purpose, seing every dispensation remaineth so long as He hath purposed, and every alteration falleth out according to His purpose: for, lest from what the Apostle spoke of Gods manifold wisdom in dispensing grace and salvation now, in a way diverse from what He did formerly, any should suspect, that therefore God had altered His purpose, he sheweth here all this had come to passe according to His eternal purpose. 4. As it is but small comfort unto a Minister, that he is intrusted to carry unto others an excellent message and glad tydings of the plot and draught of mans salvation surely grounded upon Gods purpose, and infallibly executed by Christ in all its steps; except he make application, and take a share of those glad tydings unto himself; So the way for either Pastor or People to apply the Gospel, and all those rich treasures of spiritual blessings contained in it unto themselves, is, by taking hold upon Christ, and pleading a well-grounded interest in Him as theirs: for, if Christ be ours, all things are ours, Rom, 8. 32. Hence is it that Paul, having magnified his Ministery and Message, doth make application of those precious things which he was intrusted with, unto himself, by pleading an interest in Christ, as his, while he calleth Him Jesus Christ our Lord.