God’s Grace through Faith

Ephesians 2:7 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
⁷so that in the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

This verse refers to God’s grace, which is his unmerited favor and love toward us. It says that God’s grace is expressed through his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. The phrase “in the coming ages” suggests that God’s grace will continue to be shown for all time.

This verse highlights the depth and abundance of God’s love for us. It reminds us that we have not earned or deserved this love, but rather, it is a gift from God. It also encourages us to remember that God’s grace is not limited to the present but will continue to be shown in the future.

The expression “so that in the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” suggests that God has a purpose or plan in raising the believers up and seating them in the heavenly places. The word “so” suggests that this is the reason or purpose for the believers’ new spiritual position, and the phrase “in the ages to come” suggests that this purpose will be accomplished or revealed in the future.

The phrase “the surpassing riches of his grace” suggests that God’s grace towards the believers is abundant and beyond measure. The word “riches” suggests that God’s grace is abundant and plentiful, and the word “surpassing” suggests that it is beyond measure or calculation.

The phrase “in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” suggests that God’s grace towards the believers is motivated by his kindness or goodwill towards us and is extended to us through our union with Jesus. The word “kindness” refers to a disposition to be kind or helpful, and the phrase “toward us in Christ Jesus” suggests that God’s kindness towards us is extended to us through our union with Jesus.

Overall, this verse reminds us that God has raised the believers up to a new spiritual position in Christ and seated them in the heavenly places with a purpose or plan in mind. This purpose is to reveal the immeasurable riches of his grace towards us in the coming ages, and this grace is motivated by his kindness towards us and extended to us through our union with Jesus. It is a reminder of the purpose and plan of God in our salvation and the fact that his grace towards us is motivated by his kindness and extended to us through our union with Jesus.

Here is a phrase-by-phrase exegetical commentary on Ephesians 2:7:

In order that – This phrase introduces the purpose or reason for what follows.
In the ages to come – This phrase refers to the time period following the current age. The Greek word translated as “coming” can also be translated as “future” or “following.”
He might show – The subject of this clause is “he,” which could refer to God or to Christ. In the context of Ephesians, it is likely referring to God. “Show” is a verb that means to make visible or manifest.
The surpassing riches of his grace – “Surpassing riches” suggests that the grace of God is extremely valuable and beyond compare. “Grace” refers to God’s unmerited favor and love toward us.
In his kindness – “In his” means to make known or manifest. “Kindness” refers to God’s benevolent attitude towards us.
Toward us in Christ Jesus – The prepositional phrase “in Christ Jesus” specifies the context in which God’s grace and kindness towards us is shown. This phrase refers to the fact that God’s grace is available to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

Historical and Cultural Context

In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul is writing to a group of believers who are mostly Gentiles (non-Jews). In the ancient world, Jews and Gentiles were often in conflict, and there was a longstanding divide between them. However, Paul emphasizes in his letter to the Ephesians that in Christ, this divide has been broken down, and both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God and to one another.

In Ephesians 2:7, Paul writes that God’s grace will be shown “in the ages to come.” This phrase suggests that God’s grace is not limited to the present but will continue to be shown for all time. This is significant because it implies that God’s grace is not just for Jews but for Gentiles as well. In the ancient world, it was commonly believed that God’s favor was only extended to the Jews, so this would have been a radical and revolutionary concept for the Gentile believers in Ephesus to hear.

Additionally, the phrase “the surpassing riches of his grace” suggests that God’s grace is extremely valuable and beyond compare. This emphasizes the magnitude and depth of God’s love for us. The phrase “expressed in his kindness” indicates that God’s grace is made known or manifest through his benevolent attitude towards us. Finally, the phrase “to us in Christ Jesus” specifies the context in which God’s grace and kindness are shown, namely through faith in Jesus Christ. This phrase also underscores the fact that God’s grace is available to all believers, regardless of their ethnic background.

Overall, Ephesians 2:7 is a powerful reminder of the depth and abundance of God’s love for us and the fact that his grace extends to all people, regardless of their background. It encourages believers to remember that God’s grace is not limited to the present but will continue to be shown in the future, and it encourages us to rely on God’s grace and be thankful for it.