Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 1:7-10

"in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, [I say,]" — Ephesians 1:7-10 (ASV)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; in which he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Oh, what a wonderful gathering that will be when all the things in Christ shall be gathered together, no division among the people of God, when the whole redeemed inheritance shall be one, and we shall as one body possess it forever. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance. Got it. God has given it to us, we have a right to it, we are the heirs of it in Christ.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of his grace; in which he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

The main purpose of the gospel is to exalt Christ and to glorify God. We forget God's great design if we look only to humanity. If we regard salvation as a means only of lifting up our race from its fall, and putting it among the princes, we have made a mistake.

We should remember that God's glory is a greater object even than man's salvation. Not so much to save us, did God give his Son, as to honor himself, and to glorify that Son of his; and we should always remember that the gospel has for its chief aim the glory of all the attributes of the Divine Being.

He has determined at last to gather together in Christ all things that are in heaven and on earth.

Some foolish persons have wrested this text to prove the absurd doctrine of the final restitution of the lost; they have said that even the fallen spirits in hell are to be restored. We do not find it in this text; it is particularly said, things in heaven and things on earth. But there is no mention made of those concerning whom it was long ago said, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. I have often thought that these words of the angel are conclusive with regard to the eternity of future punishment. Once dead, immutability is stamped upon our state; once we die, our destiny can never be changed.

There are no acts of pardon passed
In the cold grave to which we haste;
But darkness, death, and long despair,
Reign in eternal silence there.

But things which are in heaven, and which are on earth are, in the dispensation of the fullness of times, to be gathered together in one, even in him,