Charles Hodge on Ephesians 1:3-14

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4. according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5. having predestinated us; unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6. to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the, beloved. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8. wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence; 9. having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself; 10. that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; 11. even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; 12. that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14. which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The apostle blesses God for the spiritual gifts bestowed upon his people, v. 3. Of these the first in order and the source of all the others, is election, v. 4. This election is, 1st. Of individuals. 2d. In Christ; 3d. It is from eternity. 4th. It is to holiness, and to the dignity of sons of God. 5th. It is founded on the sovereign pleasure of God, vs. 4. 5. 6th. Its final object is the glory of God, or the manifestation of his grace, v. 6.

The second blessing here mentioned is actual redemption through the blood of Christ; the free remission of sins according to the riches of his grace, vs. 7. 8.

The third blessing is the revelation of the divine purpose in relation to the economy of redemption; which has for its object the reduction of all things to a harmonious whole under Jesus Christ, vs. 9. 10.

Through this Redeemer, the Jewish Christians who had long looked for the Messiah are, agreeably to the divine purpose, made the heirs of God, vs. 11. 12. The Gentile converts are partakers of the same inheritance; because, having believed in Christ, they are assured of their redemption by the possession of the Holy Spirit, the pledge of the inheritance until its actual and complete enjoyment, vs. 13. 14.