The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-03-26
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Ephesus make his letter to the Ephe
slams Tor perhaps to a circle of churches
of which Ephesus was the center) of
exceeding interest. He contrasts their
former heather condition with their
inestimable privileges as disciples of
Christ. The apostle first shows that
through divine love they were called
to God, and then that it is their duty
to walk worthily of their calling (I:D.
Our lesson falls in the first part, where
he is dwelling upon the fact that they
were saved, not by works, but by grace
were in fact Gods workmanship.
The letter of Paul to the Ephcsians
has been spoken Of as "a legacy of
peace left to the church by Paul the
aged Though the letter is short. it
is one of the greatest of the New TeSta-
ment writings. Paul is not far from
the end of his life; the controversial
tone is gone, and he speaks of peace
and unity in Christ. The letter was
written from Rome, where Pau WE, a
prisoner. 1t was not written sC'''v
to the church at Ephesus, but aS kiG#
of circular letter to the churches Of
the region, perhaps to all those in the
province of which Ephesus was cap
ital. This accounts for the absence.
very unusual in Paul's letters, of per-
sonal greetings and illusions. The let
ter is divided into two main parts, GD
doctrinal Q-3), and (2) practical (4-6).
1pSSnn hA fst.St
'''-rg',ssd is eDsthes ssfectsaft. Christ in
the heart. The lesson should not be
studied simply as something said by
another person to other persons, but
should be at the same time serious
looking over of our own heart life.
Paul begins to the Gentiles, to whom
he was writing: "When We were dead
through your trespasses and sins"
but before the end of the sentence it
has changed to we. He speaks of him
self and his people, the Gentiles. all,
as having been in this condition of
deafness to the claims Of the life that
is high and good. They had been alive
to desires and lusts. but dead to obi-
cation and God. "The course of this
world" They had lived in a corrupt
and goddess world, and were like it;
they had drifted with the current.
"The prince of the powers of the air."
The idea was current in Pau's time
that the air was peopled with evil spir-
its. There seems to be reference
here to these "powers of the air" as a
mysterious and evil influence among
men. Whether Paul used the words
in their literal or figurative sense we
do not know. We say, somewhat sim
ilarly, of prevailing tendency, "It is
in the air." and we speak of "the spirit
of the age" children of wrath" A
common Hebrew expression meaning
deserving of wrath. Compare "a son of
stripes" that is, deserving of stripes
Yielding to the tendencies and tempta-
tions which we all have "by nature"
makes us observing of wrath" Even
as the rest:" The Gentiles.
In verse Paul shows us that God
loved us with an infinite love even
though we were deserving of wrath.
"Made us alive together with Christi"
As Christ was raised from the dead.
So does the Christian, whether Gentle
or Jew, when he is filled with the spirit
Of Christ, rise with him from the death
of sin to new, divine life. with HIM
in the heavenly places:' Union with
Christ in His exalted, spiritual life.
God made this provision for our saliva
tion because of His great love. and we
receive il not because we deserve. il
or have earned it, but us the free gift
of the loving Father
In union with Christ, all Christians.
Jews and Gentiles alike, have come to
union with each other. All artificial
barriers and distinctions have been
swept away, and the result is blessed
brotherhood in Christ, without Whom
il could not have been. When we are
filled with the spirit Of Christ. love to
God and love TO our fellow men become
the natural condition of our hearts.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1t is because God is rich in love and
mercy that He breathes upon men with
His quickening Spirit.
Those whom He raises up from spir-
itual death lie causes to sit together in
heavenly places.
Think what it is to be without God
in this world and to have no hope for
the next!
Think what il is to be fellow citizens
with the saints and members of the
household of God!
No one can save himself. for he can
not change his evil nature into one that
I. holv. aAl,