Bible Commentary

Ephesians 1:18

Ephesians 1:18

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

The riches of the glory of God's inheritance.

How little we know of this inheritance! We desire to know more. There are five points included in our fuller study of this inheritance.

I. OUR TITLE TO IT. It is "a purchased possession" (), the price being the blood of Christ. The death of the Testator was necessary that "they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" ().

II. IT IS A RICH INHERITANCE. God is rich in mercy, rich in grace, rich in love, rich in power, rich in goodness and forbearance; but as to heaven, he is rich in glory. It is there emphatically he will make many rich. Both here and there it will be delightfully true: "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (). The rich glory of the New Jerusalem is described in the Revelation (.). Its riches lie essentially in the perpetuity of its blessedness—it is "an eternal inheritance."

III. IT IS A GLORIOUS INHERITANCE. "The righteous shall shine as the sun" (), because they are received to the glory of God (), and called to his kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). The glory of God himself is to be the light of heaven ().

IV. IT IS A FATHER'S INHERITANCE. And therefore he is here called "the Father of glory." We are heirs of God as we are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

V. IT IS FOR THE SAINTS. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God" (). We need to have "the eyes of our heart enlightened," that we may know all the fullness of glory and blessing involved in these five suggestive considerations.—T.C.

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