Titus 3:7; 2 Tim. 1:9—Eph. 1:7; 2:7; James 4:6—Colossians 2:9,10—John 1:16
Being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began—in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace—that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
But he giveth more grace—for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power—and of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): The terms “grace for grace” are variously interpreted; nor is it easy to ascertain which of the different senses is the true one.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): When Jesus became incarnate, the only begotten of the Father was beheld by His own as “full of grace and truth,” and as the apostle added, “and of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace,” John 1:14,16…Therefore we are exhorted to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 3:18.
CHARLES BRIDGES (1794-1869): Think of the riches of His grace.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN (1826-1910): That word “riches,” occurs twice in Ephesians in connection with God’s grace, “the riches of His grace;” once in connection with Jesus, “the unsearchable riches of Christ;” and once in a similar connection, though with a different application, “the riches of His glory.” Always, it is applied not to the abundance of any creatural good, however exuberant and inexhaustible the store of it may be, but solely to that unwearying energy, that self-feeding and ever-burning and never-decaying light, which is God…The guarantee for eternal blessedness is the “riches” of the eternal God, and so we may be sure that no time can exhaust, nor any expenditure empty, either His storehouse or our wealth. God is King, and the kingly thing in God is infinite grace.
WILLIAM JAY (1769-1853): It means abundance. “Grace for grace” means much grace. Christians not only have strength, but they “wax stronger and stronger;” they are not only renewed, but are “renewed from day to day”—The expression includes variety. “Grace for grace” means, not grace of one kind only, but grace of all kinds. Believers are not only pardoned, but sanctified; and in vain would they receive the remission of sins, if left without renovation. Without this we could not have been happy nor able to serve God and hold communion with Him. Hence it would be vain to have the grace of knowledge without the grace of obedience…We need therefore not only the grace of commencement, but the grace of perseverance; “and He giveth more grace.” Where He hath “begun the good work, he will perform it to the day of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:6.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): This is what Paul calls, “the exceeding riches of His grace;” and fully proves that all salvation is of grace, and the gift of God. Not of works, for the very idea wholly sets aside free grace; but it is wholly of God. Yea, saith Paul, we are His workmanship.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): One grace is a pledge of more grace.
WILLIAM JAY: The expression includes substitution. Thus “grace for grace” means grace of one kind for grace of another…Take Paul for example. Paul prayed for deliverance from the thorn in the flesh. This was denied; but God assured him that His grace was sufficient for him. Here was “grace for grace”—the grace of consolation for the grace of deliverance—the grace of support instead of exemption. Christians pray that their trials may be diminished; but instead, their strength is increased, while their trials remain.
CHARLES BRIDGES: Expect a richer blessing from sustaining grace, than from the removal of the affliction.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): Bear in mind that if God were to withdraw His sustaining grace, for one moment, there is no depth of iniquity into which we are not capable of plunging—it is His own gracious hand that preserves us, each moment.
MATTHEW HENRY: David prays for sustaining grace; for this grace he besought the Lord twice: “Uphold me” and again, “Hold thou me up,” Psalm 119:116,117. He sees himself not only unable to go on in his duty by any strength of his own, but in danger of falling into sin unless he was prevented by divine grace.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): “Preventing” grace is enjoyed by all the people of God—What shall I say, beside this, of the Providential circumstances which have kept us from sin?
THOMAS MANTON (1620-1677): “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” Matthew 6:13. The first part doth more concern preventing grace, that we may not fall into evil; and the second, recovering grace, that if we fall into evil we may not be overcome of it, nor overwhelmed by it, but may find deliverance from the Lord.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN: That, very superficially and inadequately set forth, is at least a glimpse into the fulness and greatness of meaning that lies in that profound New Testament word, “grace.” But the Apostle puts emphasis on the variety of forms which the one divine gift assumes: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work,” 2 Corinthians 9:8. It is “all grace” which God is able to make abound toward you…The grace is many-sided to us, but one in its source and character. For that which God in His grace gives to us as His grace is what? Himself; or to put it in another form—new life through Jesus Christ. That is the encyclopædiacal gift, which contains within itself “all grace.”
WILLIAM JAY: We are here taught to view the Saviour as “The God of all Grace.” We are encouraged to open our mouth wide, and He will fill it; to ask and receive, that our joy may be full.
THE EDITOR: This Moses did—“I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight,” Exodus 33:13.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:16. Now, here is a very remarkable and beautiful expression—“the throne of grace.” Look at the temper and disposition with which we come to this throne. “Let us come boldly”…The word literally means, “speaking everything,” descriptive of the temper and disposition with which men are to go to God—with cheerful and unembarrassed confidence, which expresses itself in full trust, as Psalm 62:8 says, “Ye people, pour out your heart before Him.”
A. W. PINK: At the throne of grace we “find grace to help in time of need.” The heart is “established with grace,” Hebrews 13:9; and by that grace we are enabled to “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear,” Hebrews 12:28. It is in “the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 2:1, that we find our strength, and He assures us of its competency to support us under all afflictions and persecutions by the promise “My grace is sufficient for thee, and my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
THOMAS GOODWIN (1600-1679): This answer thus coming in, this promise thus seasonably suggested, stayed and quieted Paul’s heart. In like manner, thou hast, it may be, been long praying against poverty or the like distress, and God lets this or the like promise fall into thy heart, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,” Hebrews 13:5, which quiets and contents thy mind. This is an answer—and observe such answers, for they are precious.
THE EDITOR: “In everything ye are enriched in Him,” 1 Corinthians 1:5.
