Election Always Unto Holiness

Extract

Election Always Unto Holiness – Ichabod Spencer

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” Ephesians 1:3-4.
Four ideas are peculiarly prominent in these words. The first is the ascription of praise and blessing to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle, just commencing his Epistle to the Ephesian converts has barely announced to them who it is that addresses them, and wished them grace, mercy and peace, before he breaks out into a kind of rapturous exclamation.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:3.
He could not proceed, it would seem, to impart to them those counsels and consolations of which his heart was so full before he had lifted up his heart in holy devout thanksgiving and praise to God.

He loved the Ephesian converts. He rejoiced in all their spiritual good. He delighted to unfold to them the riches of the Redeemer’s grace, and furnish them through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; with such principles and promises and timely admonitions and warnings as should aid their advancement in the divine life. But all that he could do, or they anticipate, flowed from the wonders of grace. There was nothing in all his enrapturing theme but Christ and pardon and heaven, which would let him, for a moment, forget that praise and blessing for it all was due to God. He seems to have felt that he could not enter into the consideration of Christian subjects, could not unfold or enjoy the rich provisions of Christian grace without remembering at every step that it all came from the bounty of Heaven, the wonderful overflowings of the grace of God.
The very first thought of the Gospel brought the Apostle directly to the grand and the glorious and the delightful sovereignty of God. …