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and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God chose some to know the glory of heaven for eternity.<\/p>\n \u201cRiches<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word ploutos<\/em> <\/span>which refers to \u201cfullness or abundance.\u201d It is often associated with possessions or money and is thus often translated as \u201cwealth\u201d or \u201criches.\u201d<\/p>\n The expression \u201chad prepared beforehand<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word proetoimadz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is composed of pro<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cbefore, in time or place\u201d and hetoimadz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto prepare\u201d or \u201cto make ready.\u201d Hence, proetoimadz\u014d<\/em><\/span> means \u201cto prepare beforehand\u201d or \u201cto predestine.\u201d It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that was done at a point in time in the past (a single action, not a process).<\/p>\n In the previous verse we talked about one class of people, namely those who are sinners whom God has prepared for damnation. In the current verse Paul talks about the other class of people. This class of people also includes sinful people but God has chosen them and has declared them to be righteous.<\/p>\n According to Paul, the reason that God did this is so that He might make known \u201cthe riches of His glory.<\/span>\u201d This is a Hebrew expression meaning the abundance or fullness of His glory. But what does this term \u201cglory\u201d refer to? It often refers to the glorious manifestation of his presence (called the shekina glory). This use of the word, however, refers to the eternal state in the presence of Almighty God. This eternal state blends together everything that constitutes honor, dignity, purity, love, and happiness. All these attributes are in various places attached to the word \u201cglory,\u201d and all mingle in the eternal state of the righteous.<\/p>\n In the previous verse we noted that the \u201cvessels of wrath\u201d were \u201cprepared for destruction.\u201d The word \u201cprepared<\/span>\u201d is translated from a form of the Greek word katartidz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto establish, arrange, or prepare.\u201d In the current verse Paul says that the \u201cvessels of mercy\u201d (the saved elect) were \u201cprepared beforehand for glory.\u201d So we see that the Potter prepared the vessels of wrath for the damnation that they will receive as a result of God\u2019s righteous judgment, but the vessels of mercy were prepared beforehand (before time) to be recipients of His gracious gift of salvation. The opening verses of Ephesians also speak of this preparation before time began:<\/p>\n Blessed<\/span> be<\/em> the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly <\/span>places<\/em> in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,<\/strong> that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,<\/span> (Ephesians 1:3-5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n That should be enough to make any born again Christian fall to his or her knees and thank our heavenly Father for choosing us and granting us His salvation, not because we deserved it or earned it, but because He chose to do it!<\/p>\n Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you for choosing me in spite of the fact that I am an undeserving sinner. I don\u2019t know why you chose me of all people, but I praise you for it! You deserve all the praise and all the glory!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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