Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-03-19
The SABBATH SCHOOL,.
International Lesson Comments s'r
March 22.
Subject Paurs Mcss:g, to the Eph:s'ans'
Eph, H., l.l0-Goden Text, Eph' H.. 3
Memory Verses, 4.7-- Commentary
on The Days Lesson.


on The Days Lesson.
= !. The children Of wrath Tvs. l3). |.
"And you" As Christ fills the whole body
OF Christian believers with HIS tuness
(chap. |: 49, so had He dealt with the con.
verteI Ephesians who Eeforc were dead in
trespasses and sins. "Quickencd." Made
alive spiritually. Dead" See Col 2:l3
Death is often used by all writers and III al
nations to express state Of extreme mis-
cry. The Ephcsians by trcspassing anc
SHINING had brought themselves into n
state of deplorabe 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 10
the punishment of death which they had
deserved and which was ready to be iii.
ficted upon them. They were incapable 0!
the living cotfins in which their dead souls
were buried "Trespasscs and sins
Trespasses may signify the slightest devia.
tions from the right; sins moro habituai
and daring transgressions, but the terms
. rye walked" They had sinncd 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.
l2: 2; 2 Cor. 6: l4-lSl aud do not conform
to its sinful customs and practices, Prince
air" This has reference to Satan, the
prince of devils. He is also "thc 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.
deadly elements. "Of the spirit As the
Holy Spirit works that which is good in
obelient souls so Satan works that which
is evil in wicked hearts. He Is prince OF
the spirit that, not only in PauI's day but
even now, "worketh in the sons of dlsobc.
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 AM Jews and Gentles alike
"Once lived" The Il. V. brings ont the
meaning. The word Conversation is mis-
leading. The whole course Of the life was
wrong. They lived in sin and walked III
sin. and sin was interviewer in their very
being "It tinged every temper. polluted
every faculty, and perverted every transac'
ton of life" ''Lusts." The evil, irregular
"Flesh." The carnal, corrupt nature
Fulfilling" etc They lived in the actual
commission Of all thosc slns which thcir
corrupt natures inclined them to commit.
Mind" Thoughts; mental suggestions
aud purposes as distinguished from the
blihd impulses OF the flesh "By nature
Nature in Greek, implies that which has
grown in us IA the popularity OF or being,
as distinguished from that which has bceu
wrought in lis by mere external ,nliH-
ences. Here is an incidental proof OF the
doctrine of original sin. "Of 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
9: 80.
II. Salvation an act Of divine mercy IVA.
4-9). 4, s. but Cod The apostle now
shows the glorious change that had been
wrought in them through the gospel
Three words are especially emphasized
God. mercy. grace. "Rich in mercy" God
is rich in many things besides mercy. He
is rich in worlds; He owns the gold and si',
yer in a thousand hills. as we'll as the cat.
tie on them But while a knowledge, OF
these richie. is not necessary to our saliva
ton, it is necessary that we know about
the riches of His mercy. See TX. %': 70:
ISn. %. III, lSd, ID. anu iihhN 't'''
Scriptures. God is rich in pity and com.
passion for the sinner "Great love" His
infinite love for lis is the ground of our sal
vation. He loved us and died for us white
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 ot CHRIST
has had from the grave. See Rom 3: II.
"Grace." Unmerited favor. Their saliva
4 of tbop,solro- (I- 81 ---''nOt thn
mere product of any natural abilities or
any merit of their owc,' neither was It by
works w. 81. but it was through the love.
mercy and grace Of God. "Savcd." Not
merely saved from sin-iustiiied and san".
tifed-but gloriously saved from death.
the devil and hell. saved to resurrection,
Christ and glory. in the full view oil the
endless ages to come These people were
saved at this time. and so we see there, -
such a thing as salvation from sin in this
life.
g. "Raised-st." Believers arc citizens
ot heaven and have their places assigned
there. which they will soon take possession
OF phil. S: 90. 2l). But this may he, IN.
dcrstood as referring to sanctit,ed souls IN
this life Having been raised from the
death e-Sir- w. entc% into a-.heaVe0-N
union with Christ, and the soul is indG'
scribahly, happy in His love 1t is heaven
begun below.
10. cages 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. >. The instrument in Gods
hands by which we are saved. ;. 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 sare us; therefore it is not of
ourselves. and there is no room for boast
ING. $50 completely is salvation a divine
act that the man who refuses to accept 1t
on Gods terms must perish there is no
other wav."
TIT. The Christian life divine creation
". 10Y. TO- 'IIis workmanship" Instead
of our being the workers. God is the work
er and we are the worl,manshp-thc fact
accomplished Created" The saved soul
is created anew-a new creation f2 Cor. :.
II; Gal. G: Is; Eph 4: 24). "Unto good
works" Though we are not saved for
our good works. vet we, are saved that W,
NAV perform good works to the glory of
God and the benefit OF man. Good works
are the fruit of faith. "Ordalned-pre-
pared" God has not only created lis anew
and given us love for good works, but He
has actually "nrepared' the works for ne
to perform. "Walk in them" To do good
works will be the established order of our
lives.