Ephesians 1:12
Verse
Context
Sermons
John Piper
George Verwer
Jeff Noblit
David CliffordJames K. Boswell
T. Austin-Sparks
Oswald ChambersSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That we - Jews, now apostles and messengers of God, to whom the first offers of salvation were made, and who were the first that believed in Christ. Should be to the praise of his glory - By being the means of preaching Christ crucified to the Gentiles, and spreading the Gospel throughout the world.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
(Eph 1:6, Eph 1:14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Act 26:6-7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Act 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [ALFORD]. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4.
John Gill Bible Commentary
That we should be to the praise of his glory,.... This is the end of predestination to the inheritance; and the sense is, either that the praise of the glory of God, in his grace and goodness, might be discovered and made known unto the saints, as it is displayed in election, redemption, justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, and eternal salvation; or that they should praise and glorify him on account of these things, by ascribing all to his grace, and nothing to themselves; by giving him thanks for all his benefits; by ordering their conversations aright as become the Gospel; and by doing all things with a view to his glory: who first trusted in Christ; the Jews, the apostle, and others of the Jewish nation; who before hoped in Christ, as the words may be rendered; who hoped in Christ before the Gentiles did; and indeed the people of Israel hoped for Christ before he came; the promises of the Messiah were made to them, and he was the peculiar hope and expectation of that people; and to them he first came, and to them the Gospel was first preached; and some of them first believed in Christ, and trusted in him, and not in their own righteousness, strength, wisdom, and riches, nor in their own hearts, nor in any mere creature, nor in their carnal privileges; all which they renounced confidence in, and dependence on, when they came to the knowledge of Christ; in whose person they trusted for acceptance, and in his righteousness for justification, and in his blood for pardon, and in his fulness for supply, and in his power for protection and perseverance: this supposes knowledge of him, and a sense of the frailty and vanity of all other objects; and was a betaking themselves to him, a leaning and staying on him, a committing all unto him, and an expectation of all good things from him.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:12-13 we Jews . . . you Gentiles: Literally we . . . you; the reference to Jews and Gentiles is implied.
Ephesians 1:12
Spiritual Blessings
11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Is God for Us or for Himself?
By John Piper1.0K26:34ISA 48:11JER 13:11EPH 1:5EPH 1:12EPH 1:14REV 5:11In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of praise and delight in our lives. He uses examples such as praising a baby's features, cheering for a sports team, and admiring the beauty of nature to illustrate the natural inclination to praise what brings us joy. The speaker then turns to the book of Psalms and quotes C.S. Lewis' Reflection on the Psalms to highlight the connection between joy and praise. Finally, the speaker references the book of Ephesians, specifically chapter 1, to show that Paul believed the goal of God in saving us is for the praise of His glory.
Attributes of God
By George Verwer84144:09Attributes of GodLEV 11:44ISA 6:3ISA 6:8EPH 1:12EPH 1:14In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a vision and praying big prayers. He warns against viewing missionary work as a game or a casual endeavor. The speaker emphasizes the need to seek God and go deeper into His heart and mind. He also highlights the importance of prayer, studying God's attributes, and having a strong relationship with Him. The sermon references biblical figures like Isaiah, Joseph, and Nehemiah to illustrate the challenges and rewards of following God's calling.
(Ephesians) the Riches of Grace
By Jeff Noblit7561:17:49GraceMAT 5:20MAT 16:18JHN 10:27ROM 3:23EPH 1:8EPH 1:12REV 5:13In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the concept of freedom through redemption in Christ Jesus. He explains that through Christ, believers are set free from the enslaving power of sin. The preacher highlights that sin brings condemnation from God, regardless of the number of sins committed. He also discusses the divine gift of insight and wisdom that God lavishes upon believers. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not by chance or human choice, but by God's sovereign will. The preacher references Ephesians 2:8-9 to support the message of salvation by grace through faith.
Eternity and Time 03 the Church Age
By David Clifford69052:45MAT 6:33MAT 22:37ROM 8:91CO 12:27EPH 1:12In this sermon, the speaker discusses the different roles and identities of David in the Bible. David starts as a captain, solving the problem of his people's debts and transforming discontentment into contentment and peace. Later, he becomes a bridegroom, symbolizing the union between Christ and the church through his death and resurrection. The speaker also highlights the role of the church in bringing many sons to glory and glorifying Christ on earth. The sermon concludes with a brief analysis of the Acts of the Apostles, emphasizing the birth of the church, its expansion through persecution, and Peter's role in leading Gentiles into the church.
What Is a Christian 09 Christian Is Redeemed
By James K. Boswell38644:16ISA 43:7EPH 1:5EPH 1:12EPH 2:101PE 2:9In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He encourages the audience to know Jesus not just theoretically, but as a living reality in their lives. The preacher also highlights the power and presence of God, using the story of the three young men in the fiery furnace as an example. He urges the listeners to let their lives reflect the indwelling Christ and to be a shining example of His glory. The sermon concludes with a reminder that we are created for God's glory and that our lives should be a testament to His work in us.
The Greatness of the Church
By T. Austin-Sparks0The Purpose of the ChurchDivine RevelationMAT 7:22MAT 11:27MAT 13:46MAT 16:17MAT 18:20EPH 1:4EPH 1:12EPH 2:7EPH 3:10EPH 3:21T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the profound purpose of the Church, urging Christians to recognize their high calling beyond mere salvation. He highlights that the Church, as the Body of Christ, is meant to embody His glory and greatness, serving as a vessel through which God's revelation is made known. Sparks laments the loss of vision among believers, who often remain bound by tradition and fail to grasp the Church's eternal significance and stability rooted in Christ. He calls for a divine revelation to understand the true nature of the Church, which is not merely a human institution but a living expression of Christ's presence. Ultimately, the Church is called to fulfill a great vocation, serving God throughout the ages in close relationship with His Throne.
Our God-Given Purpose
By Oswald Chambers0MAT 13:582CO 4:10GAL 2:20EPH 1:12PHP 2:14Oswald Chambers preaches about the purpose of believers in Christ, emphasizing that our primary aim is to bring praise to God's glory by trusting in Him. He warns against focusing solely on winning souls or doing good deeds, as our true passion should be for Christ Himself, not just for Christian work. Chambers highlights the importance of manifesting the life of Jesus in our daily struggles and challenges, showing that our response to disagreeable situations reveals whether we are truly reflecting Christ's character in our lives.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That we - Jews, now apostles and messengers of God, to whom the first offers of salvation were made, and who were the first that believed in Christ. Should be to the praise of his glory - By being the means of preaching Christ crucified to the Gentiles, and spreading the Gospel throughout the world.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
(Eph 1:6, Eph 1:14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Act 26:6-7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Act 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [ALFORD]. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4.
John Gill Bible Commentary
That we should be to the praise of his glory,.... This is the end of predestination to the inheritance; and the sense is, either that the praise of the glory of God, in his grace and goodness, might be discovered and made known unto the saints, as it is displayed in election, redemption, justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, and eternal salvation; or that they should praise and glorify him on account of these things, by ascribing all to his grace, and nothing to themselves; by giving him thanks for all his benefits; by ordering their conversations aright as become the Gospel; and by doing all things with a view to his glory: who first trusted in Christ; the Jews, the apostle, and others of the Jewish nation; who before hoped in Christ, as the words may be rendered; who hoped in Christ before the Gentiles did; and indeed the people of Israel hoped for Christ before he came; the promises of the Messiah were made to them, and he was the peculiar hope and expectation of that people; and to them he first came, and to them the Gospel was first preached; and some of them first believed in Christ, and trusted in him, and not in their own righteousness, strength, wisdom, and riches, nor in their own hearts, nor in any mere creature, nor in their carnal privileges; all which they renounced confidence in, and dependence on, when they came to the knowledge of Christ; in whose person they trusted for acceptance, and in his righteousness for justification, and in his blood for pardon, and in his fulness for supply, and in his power for protection and perseverance: this supposes knowledge of him, and a sense of the frailty and vanity of all other objects; and was a betaking themselves to him, a leaning and staying on him, a committing all unto him, and an expectation of all good things from him.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:12-13 we Jews . . . you Gentiles: Literally we . . . you; the reference to Jews and Gentiles is implied.