Ephesians 2:4-6
‘God…in mercy…when we were dead in sins, quickened us together with Christ. And raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus!’ Ephesians 2:4-6.
Calvin comments: “Death and resurrection are opposed to one another. To be made partakers of the life of the Son of God so that we are animated by the same Spirit, is an incomparable benefit…. Paul…is never satisfied with proclaiming the richness of grace…. Everything in our salvation, must be ascribed to God….
“‘(God) made us sit in the heavenly places! What he (Paul) declares of the resurrection and the session (of Christ) in Heaven, is not yet seen with the eyes. Yet, as if those blessings were already in our possession, he states they have been conferred on us — so that he may declare the change in our condition when we were led from Adam to Christ.
“It is as if he said that we had been transferred from the deepest Hell, to Heaven itself. And certainly, although as respects ourselves, our salvation is still hidden in hope — yet in Christ, we possess blessed immortality and glory!
“He adds ‘in Christ.’ Because what he speaks of, does not yet appear in the members. But only in the Head. Yet, because of the secret union, it belongs truly to the members…. ‘In Christ’ fits the context…. From this we should gather the richest consolation — that of everything which we now lack, we have a sure pledge and firstfruits in the Person of Christ!…
“God should be glorified…. It was the will of the Lord to hallow in all ages the remembrance of so great goodness…. The mercy of God, Who was pleased to admit our fathers into His people, deserves to be held in everlasting remembrance. The calling of the Gentiles is an astonishing work of divine goodness which ought to be handed down from parents to children and to grandchildren, so that it may never be blotted out of men’s minds!”
Calvin also says in his Institutes II:5:19: “Paul, when he speaks of our redemption, says not that the half-dead are cured (Ephesians 2:5)…. But that those who were dead, are raised up! He does not call upon the half-dead to receive the illumination of Christ, but upon those who are…buried!…. ‘God,’ says he (Paul), ‘Who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in sins — has quickened us together with Christ’ (Ephesians 2:4)…. Whoso(ever) believes in Him, ‘has passed from death to life’…. God ‘has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ!’…. Ephesians 2:6.”
Calvin further says in his Treatises III:195: “Man…crowns the original sin which he drew from his parents, with actual sins. He is…(Ephesians 2), a child of wrath…. If he dies in this his most wretched condition, being at length thrown into Hell by the just judgment of God — he there suffers eternal punishments!” But God raised us believers from sin, so that we can rule in Heaven!
