Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given… 1. Divine illumination (see Isaiah 9:2; Luke 1:78; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9). This Divine illumination implies unsearchable riches; for it includes the understanding the Scriptures in all essential points, the necessity and worth of which are great indeed; the knowledge of ourselves, which is the foundation of all religion; the knowledge of God and Christ, occasioning us peace and good unspeakable (Job 22:21), and even eternal life (John 17:3); the knowledge of the "truth as it is in Jesus," or the way of salvation (John 8:32; John 16:13, 14). And consider the vast importance of this (Romans 9:30, 31; Romans 10:2); the knowledge of God's will (Colossians 1:9); the necessity and usefulness of which appears from hence, that we cannot enter heaven without "doing the will" of God (Matthew 7:21); and cannot do it unless we know it. 2. Justification. This is the same with the remission of sins, or imputed righteousness (Romans 4:2-8). This is enjoined to be preached by Christ (Luke 24:47), and was preached by His evangelists and apostles (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:38). The value of this appears — from our great want of it: we are guilty and condemned, and have need to be acquitted (Romans 3:23): — from a consideration of the great and eternal misery from which it rescues us: a condemned malefactor knows the worth of a pardon; it is as valuable to him as his life, because it saves him from death: — from a consideration of the blessed and eternal life, to which it entitles us (Titus 3:7). It is as valuable, and contains riches as unsearchably great, as that everlasting felicity which is the consequence of it. How immense a treasure is a free and full justification! 3. The peculiar favour and friendship of God. This is the never-failing fruit of justification (Romans 5:1), and was continually preached by the apostle (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 2:13-19). Think of the infinite and eternal riches, honour, and felicity, implied in the favour and friendship of an all-wise, all-mighty, and all-gracious, infinite, and everlasting Being. 4. Adoption into His family. This is insisted on by the apostles as one important end of the incarnation, life, and death of Christ (Galatians 4:4), and the never-failing fruit of faith in Him (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26). Adoption is an unspeakable honour and happiness. To be so nearly related to God, so peculiarly dear to Him, as children to a father; to be under His peculiar direction, protection, and care, having liberty of access to Him as children to a father, and intercourse with Him, being provided with everything needful and useful (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 84:11); to be chastised when and as far as necessary, and to have this, with every other dispensation, made to work for our good (Hebrews 12:10, 11; Romans 8:28); to be His heirs, heirs of all He is, and of all He hath: in each of these particulars is comprehended unsearchable riches. 5. The Holy Spirit. This is the fruit of Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension (John 16:7; Psalm 68:18), given only through Him (Titus 3:6; John 1:16), and by Him (Matthew 3:11; John 4:10, 14; John 7:37, 38); and is therefore a branch of His unsearchable riches. Hereby our minds are enlightened, we are enabled to understand and relish Divine things; we are prepared, by conviction of sin and of righteousness (John 16:8-10), by repentance and faith, for justification; we are assured of it, as also of God's favour and of our adoption (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:15, 16); we are regenerated (John 1:13; John 3:5, 6); are led, assisted in prayer and every duty, and comforted (Jude 1:20; Romans 8:14, 26; Romans 15:13; John 14:16-20); we are sanctified, viz., delivered from the power and being of sin, and consecrated to God in heart and life (Romans 8:2; Titus 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2); we are enriched with all gifts and graces (Galatians 5:22). How unspeakable then the necessity and worth of this blessing! how unsearchable the riches contained in it! 6. This leads me to notice another unspeakable benefit, implied indeed in the last mentioned, but, because of its magnitude, deserving of more particular notice, viz., the restoration of God's image to the soul. Man having been created in this (Genesis 1:27), lost it by the Fall; so that he is naturally earthly, sensual, and devilish. The restoration of it is one principal end of our redemption (Ephesians 5:25-27; Romans 8:3, 4; Ephesians 4:20-24; 2 Peter 1:4). (J. Benson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; |
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