Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-03-18
GOLDEN rENT.-By grace y-
saved through fnith.-Eph. 3;S.

saved through fnith.-Eph. .:S.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION
Children OF wrath...............E ph. Ella
Saved by NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ph a.s-l1
Reconciied unto God ............. Eph 2:ll-lS
Fellow-citizens with saints. Eph. 2.l9- -
IlME-A. II. 6l or O..
PLACE-Rome
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The experiences which Paul had in
Ephesus make his letter to the Ephe-
slams Tor perhaps q Il circle of churches
of which EpheSus was the center) of
exceeding interest. He contrasts their
Rmer heather condition with their
inestimahle privileges as disciples of
Christ. The apostle first shows that
through divine love they were called
10 God. and then that it is their duty
10 walk worthily of their calling (4:D.
Our lesson falls in the first part where
he is dwelling upon the fact that they
were saved. not 10y works. hut bvgrace
were in fact Gods workmanship.
The letter of Paul TO the Ephesians
has been spoken Of as "a legacy OF
peace left 10 the church by Paul the
aged" Though The letter is short. il
IS one OF the greatest of the New TcSta-
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 Paul was a
prisoner. IL was not written solely
10 the church at Ephcsus. but rs a kind
of circular letter to the churches Of
fhe region. perhaps to all those in the
province Of which Ephcsus 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. az
doctrinai G-3). and CD practical 4-6).
Our lesson comes from the first sec
ton. and is on the effect Of Christ IN
the heart. The lesson should not b.
studied simply as something said by
another person 70 other persons. but
should bc at the same time q serious
looking over OF our own heart life.
Paul begins to the GCniilcs to whom
he was writing: when We were dead
through your trespasSeS and sins
but before the end Of the sentence il
has changed To we. He speaks of him
self and his people. the Gentiles. all.
ms 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 iusts. but dead to obi
cation and God The course 81 This
world They had lived in a corrupt
and goddess world. and were like IL;
they had driftcd with the current
"The prince Of the powers Of the air"
The idea was current in PauI's time
that the air was pcoplcd with evil spir-
its. There seems to be reference
here TO these powers OF the air as
81 10 - u
mcn. Whether Paul used the words
in their literal or figurative sense yvc
do not know. We say. somewhat sim
Harry. Of prevailing tendency "It -
IN The air. and We speal; OF the spirit
or the age. "thiidrcn of WRATH" \
common Hebrew Expression meaning
deserving of wrath Compare 20 son Of
stripes. that i, deserving Of stripes
Yielding Co the tendencies and icmpta-
lions which We an have 'by nature.
makes us deserving 81 wrath Even
a. the rest" The GcntiIes.
In verse 5 Paul shows u~ that God
loved us with an infinite love even
though we were deserving of wrath
made u- alive together with Christ
A. Christ was raised from the dead
So does the Christian. whether Gentle
or jew. when be o. filed with the spirit
81 Christ. rise with him from the death
81 sin go q new. divine life With Him
IN the heavenly places" Union with
Christ in His exalted. spiritual lie
God made this provision for our saliva.
tIon because of His great love. and ,,r
receive it not because We deserve. n
or have earned IS but as the free c'if-
Of tbc loving Father
IN anton with Christ. an Christians.
Jews and GcntiIes alike. have como IN
union with each other Nll artificial
barriers and distinctions have been
swept away. and he result is q blessed
brotherhood in Christ. without Whom
II could not have been When we are
filed with the spirit Of Christ. love 20
God and i6ve to our fellow men become
the natural condition of our hearts
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
1t is because God H. rich DID love and
mercy that lie breathes upon men w!th
His quickening Spirit
Those whom lie raises up from spir.
itdal death lie causes TO sit together in
heavenly places.
Think what it IS 10 be without God
- this world and 20 have no hope f,-
the next,
Think what IL is 10 he fellow citizens
with the saints and members Of the
household Of God,
No one can save himself. for he can
not chang his evil nature .nto one that
is holy.