The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-19
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
March u.
Subject Psurs Message to the fpheslans,
Eph., H., l.l0-Golden Text, Epb. H., j.
Memory Verses, al Commentary
on the Days Lesson.


Memory Verses, 4.7-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
l. The children of wrath Tvs. l.3). l.
And you" As Christ fills the whole body
OF Christian believers with His fulness
lchap; /; 23), so had He dealt with the con,
alive spiritually. Dead" see' See Col. aEs 9:iS
Death is often used by all writers and in all
nations to express a state of extreme mis-.
cry. The Ephesians by trespassng and
SHINING had brought themselves into a
state oi deplorable wretchcdness,, as had
all the heather nations. and having thus
sinned against God they were condemned
by Him, and might be considered as dead
IN law" They were incapable of perform.
ing any legal act and were always liable to
the punishment of death which they had
deserved and which was ready to be in.
fiicted upon them. They were Incapable OF
the living cotfins in which their dead souls
were buried "Trespasses and sins"
Irespasses may signify the slightest devia.
tions from the right sins more habitual
and daring transgressions, but the terms
run together in meaning
2. "Ye walked They had sinned con
tinually, not merely occasionally. They
lived in sin and followed the evil practices
OF the heather world True Christians
separate themselves from the world (Rom
II: 2; Cor. @: l4-lS) and do not conform
to its sinful customs and practices Prince
air" This has reference to Satan. the
prince of devils. He is also "the god OF
this world" e Cor. 4 A.. The air is repre-.
sented as the seat OF his kingdom. The
devil seems to have some power in the
lower region of the air; he is at hand to
tempt men and to do as much mischief to
the world as he can. We live in an atmos.
phere poisonous and impregnated with
deadly elements. "Of the spirit" AS the
Holy Spirit works that which is good in
obedient souls SO Satan works that which
is evil in wicked hearts He is prince of
the spirit that. not only in Pauls day but
even now, "worketh in the sons OF dsobe.
dience.'
8. 1--WE Also" Paul here changes from
the second to the first person, putting him.
self in with those whom he has just de.
scrlbed. All" Jews and Gentlles alike
"Once lived" The r. V. brings out the
meaning. The word Conversation" is mis-.
leading. The whole course of the life was
wrong. They lived in sin and walked in
SIN. and sin was interviewer in their very
being. 1t tinged every temper. polluted
every faculty, and perverted every transac.
tion of life "Lusts" The evil irregular
and corrupt affections of the heart
Flesh" The carnal. corrupt nature
Fulfilling" etc. They lived in the actual
commission Of all those SINS which their
corrupt natures inclined them to commit
Mind" Thoughts; mental suggestions
and purposes as distinguished from the
blind impulses Of the flesh. "By nature"
Nature: in Greek, implies that which has
grown in us as the peculiarity of our being
as distinguished from that which has been
wrought in us by mere external inhu.
ences: Here is an incidental proof of the
doctrine of original sin. "0f wrath" The
child of ANYTHING is one connected with,
partaking OF, or exposed to anything The
children of wrath are those who live in
open disobedience ". - and are thus ex.
posed to the wrath OF God. See Rom.
2: So
II, Salvation an act of divine mercy Tvs
4.9). 4. 5. But God" The apostle now
wrought in them through the gospel
Three words are especiallv emphasized
God. mercy. grace. "Rich in mercy" God
is rich in manv things besides mercy He
is rich in worlds; He owns the gold and sill.
yer in a thousand hills. as well as the cat
tie on them; But while a knowledge of
these riches is not necessary to our saliva
ton, it is necessary that we know about
the riches Of His mercy. See Ex 3S: 10:
Psa. S5: 10; Isa. 50: and many other
Scriptures. God is rich in pity and com.
passion for the sinner. Great love" His
infinite love for us is the ground of our sal
vation. He loved us and dled for us while
we were vet sinners. Together with
Christ" God has given us as complete
resurrection from the death OF sin to
life OF righteousness as the BODY OF Christ
has had from the grave. See Rom s: II.
Grace" Unmerited favor. Their saliva
ton was not of themselves ". S)"not the
any merit of their own" neither was it by
works ". 81, but it was through the love,
mercy and grace of God. Saved" Not
merely saved from sin-iustifed and sane.
tifed-hut qloriously saved from death.
the devil and he'll: saved to resurrection.
Christ and glory, in the full view of the
endless ages to come. These people were
saved at this time and so we see there is
such thing as salvation from sin in this
life.
O. "Raised-sit." Believers are citizens
Of heaven and have their places assigned
there, which they will soon take possession
Of phil. 8: 90. 2D. But this may be un.
dcrstood as referring to sanctihed souls in
this life Having been raised from the
death OF sin. we enter into a heavenly
union with Christ, and the soul is indie
iscribably, happy in His love. 1t is heaven
begun below.
10. ages to come" etc. What God
had done for the sinners at Ephesus would
be proof OF His great goodness and mercy
and serve as an encouragement to sinners
in all ages of the world. Through faith"
Faith is. ]. The condition upon which we
are saved. 2. The instrument in Gods
hands by which we are saved 3. The
means by Which we continue saved. "Gift."
That is, salvation is the free gift of God.
Boast" We could not purchase saliva.
ton We did not merit It. and good works
could not save us; therefore it is not of
ourselves, and there is no room for hoast.
ing. $50 completely is salvation a divine
act that the man who refuses to accept It
on Gods terms must perish; there is no
other wav"
III. The Christian life divine creation
". 10Y. 10. "His workmanship" Instead
Of our being the workers, God is the work
er and we are the worlSmanship-the fact
accomplished. Created" The saved soul
s created anew--a new creation q Cor. 8:
II; Gal. 0: 10: Eph. 4: pa. Unto good
works" Though we are not saved for
our good works, yet we are saved that we
may perform good works to the glory of
God and the benefit Of man" Good works
are the fruit OF faith. "OrdaIned-pre.
pared" God has not only created us anew
ind given us a love for good works. but He
has actually "prepared" the works for us
to perform "Walk in them" To do good
works will be the established order OF our