2:7Ephesians 2:7

God raised people dead in sin to life with Christ and seated them with him in heaven so that through endless ages ahead he could show the boundless wealth of his grace in his kindness to them through Christ Jesus.RH Jul 8, 1909+4 Out of rich mercy and great love reaching to the lowest depths of human misery, he made them alive, lifted them up, and chose them to be holy and blameless before him.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+4 That salvation comes wholly by grace through faith as God's gift, not from themselves or their works, with justification and access to the Father freely given through Christ's redeeming blood.RH Jul 8, 1909+4 Their exaltation will stand forever as the proof of his love, mercy and wisdom, revealing the ruin sin brought and the power of his recovery, and answering every charge against his government.ED 308.4+3 No mind can exhaust it, for redemption is a display of grace that will keep fresh with ever-increasing interest as new excellencies are still revealed.Lt 42, 1898, par. 15–18+1

God's purpose in making people dead in sin alive together with Christ, raising them up together and seating them together with him in heavenly places is that in the ages to come he might display the surpassing, immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness toward them through Christ Jesus.RH Jul 8, 1909+4 That raising and seating contrasts the former state of sin and death with new life and a future with Christ, and the coming display belongs to his saving work by grace.RH Jul 8, 1909+4 The kindness is God's gift to those dead in sin, and their salvation is by grace received through faith, not of themselves and not of works.RH Jul 8, 1909+4

The kindness is for those described as dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air.Ms 141, 1899, par. 5–6+4 They lived in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath.Ms 141, 1899, par. 5–6+4 Out of rich mercy and for his great love God quickened them together with Christ, saved them by grace, raised them up together and made them sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.Ms 141, 1899, par. 5–6+4 That salvation is wholly by grace through faith as the gift of God, not of works lest any should boast, so thoughts of self-exaltation must be subdued since all good works depend on power outside ourselves.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+4

Through Christ true believers are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints of the household of God.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+2 They are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ himself as chief cornerstone, fitly framed and growing into a holy temple in the Lord.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+2 As his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works ordained beforehand that they should walk in them, they are called away from the disloyalty of the world to work in obedience to his word.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+2

The ages to come are an eternity whose heights and depths unfold a history which the children of the world cannot endure to look into.Ms 50, 1898, par. 21–23 What can be known about them is learned by searching the Bible diligently as the textbook that meets the wants of the soul.Ms 50, 1898, par. 21–23 Making the Word the study, teacher and guide as the voice of God and the source of all wisdom, truth and higher education leads to this display, for its principles are the wisdom of God to make one wise unto salvation and must be received and obeyed as food must be eaten and digested to nourish the body.Ms 50, 1898, par. 21–23

The verse belongs to a chapter to be studied as a lesson about God's grace shown through Christ.Lt 63, 1895, par. 39–41 In that lesson Christ is the propitiation for sin whose blood redeems the sinner and makes return to obedience to God's commandments possible.Lt 63, 1895, par. 39–41 One treatment focuses on his kindness and grace toward people through Christ without detailing the ages to come.Lt 63, 1895, par. 39–41

Out of rich mercy and great love God made those dead in sins alive together with Christ, raised them up together and made them sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He would display the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward them through Christ Jesus.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+4 Through Christ true believers are thus saved by grace through faith as the gift of God and not of selves or of works lest any should boast, made as His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works ordained beforehand for them to walk in.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+4 They are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints of the household of God and of light, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as chief cornerstone growing fitly framed into a holy temple in the Lord.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+1 That kindness is for those who were dead in trespasses and sins and walked according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air, called away from the disloyalty of the world from which Adam fell and accepted as laborers together with God to work in His vineyard and build character in obedience to His word.ST May 14, 1902+1 The display rests on His desire after Adam's fall to reconcile man with His unchangeable holiness, justice, truth and law without the sinner perishing, by accepting Christ's offer to clothe divinity with humanity and give His life as a ransom so that sinners may gain everlasting life.ST May 14, 1902

His love reached to the very lowest depths of human woe and misery to quicken those dead in trespasses and sins, raise them up and make them sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and the blessing is found in Jesus Christ.Ms 18, 1894, par. 1–2 Christ took humanity so that fallen people, though dead in sin, could receive the privileges of God's children, being made alive with Christ, raised with Him and seated with Him in heavenly places.Lt 393, 1907, par. 3 God has a purpose for each person, and those quickened together with Christ and raised up to sit in heavenly places reveal what people may become as they strive to fulfill that purpose.ST May 14, 1902+1 Believers were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him in love, quickened together with Christ even when dead in sins, saved by grace, raised up and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.Ms 49, 1902, par. 1–3 This grace and exaltation in Christ requires exercising greater faith, believing His promises, trusting His living Word and keeping a firmer hold from above in order not to fail nor be discouraged while coping with the powers of darkness in missionary fields.Ms 49, 1902, par. 1–3

In the ages to come God will display the immeasurable, exceeding riches of His grace in the kindness He has shown toward people in Christ Jesus, and that display will continue through the endless, eternal ages of eternity.Lt 69, 1901, par. 19+4 It rests on His mercy and love bringing those dead in sin to life and raising them with Christ to a place with Him, with salvation as His gift received through faith rather than earned by works.Lt 69, 1901, par. 19+1 The exaltation of the redeemed, recovered and uplifted through Christ's grace, will stand forever as a testimony to His love and mercy.ED 308.4+3 That future display follows their being raised and seated with Christ in heavenly places, and through the church it makes God's wisdom known to the heavenly powers.ED 308.4

The working out of salvation in the history of this world is a revelation of the Father to men and to angels, showing on one side Satan's work in the degradation and ruin of the race by sin and on the other side God's work in man's recovery and uplifting through the grace of Christ.Ms 41, 1892, par. 28–30+1 Every soul who develops a righteous character and withstands the power of the wicked one is a testimony that Satan's charges against God's government are false.17MR 338.2 Through the endless ages God will redeem and glorify the sons and daughters of God and glorify His own name beyond their highest imagination.Lt 42, 1898, par. 15–18 Believers may be so identified with Christ the Son of God as to be wholly one with Him as He was one with the Father, which places great responsibility upon them, is the highest measure of character, and contains the richest blessings it is possible for any human being to enjoy.Lt 42, 1898, par. 15–18

Redemption through Christ is an exhibition of grace that even God Himself cannot surpass.Lt 106a, 1896, par. 33 Through the eternal ages He will keep displaying His love, unfolding its relations and glory with living freshness and ever-increasing interest, and human conceptions will be eternally exceeded by fresh excellencies still to be revealed.Lt 106a, 1896, par. 33 In giving Jesus to the world He gave the whole treasure of heaven, furnishing amply every power of grace and every efficiency needed for redemption so that people may be complete in Him.Lt 106a, 1896, par. 33 People from every nation, kindred, tongue and people are accepted in the Beloved as the gospel is proclaimed to all nations, and their salvation makes God's grace known and brings praise to its glory.PK 313.2–3+1 This future display is part of the revelation of God's glory — His character, mercy and tender love — to all mankind.RH Mar 18, 1915 Every sacrifice made in Christ's ministry will be repaid according to the exceeding riches of God's grace.DA 249.1

God's purpose in making those dead in sin alive with Christ and raising them with Him is to display in the coming ages the surpassing riches of His grace through His kindness in Christ Jesus, and that salvation comes by grace and not by human works.RH Jul 8, 1909+2 Though people were dead in sin, God in rich mercy and great love made them alive together with Christ, raised them up together and seated them together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He would display the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward them through Christ Jesus.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+2 Through Christ true believers are thus built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints of the household of God built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as chief cornerstone growing into a holy temple in the Lord.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+1 Salvation is God's gift of grace received through faith, not of selves and not of works, so no one can boast.RH Jul 8, 1909+4 The verse is given for instruction and comfort, full of instruction and comfort for a depressed spirit to be read carefully as never before, with kindness meaning Christ dwelling in hearts by faith, contemplating, beholding and ever cherishing Him as the very best and honored Friend so as not in any action to grieve and offend Him, and grace meaning holding salvation by grace through faith, not of ourselves but the gift of God, as promise for comfort and help.STMW9 75.1–2+1

Faith must not stagger but cleave through the hellish shadow of Satan cast athwart the pathway to obstruct faith and eclipse the light from the presence of Jesus the Sun of Righteousness, not be buried in darkness of doubt, because faith is not in feeling but in truth.Lt 40, 1896, par. 1–2 Being rooted and grounded in love gives ability to comprehend with all saints the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of God which passes knowledge, with precious possibilities and encouragement, so that in the human heart cleansed from all moral impurity the precious Saviour dwells, ennobling and sanctifying the whole nature and making the man a temple for the Holy Spirit.Lt 40, 1896, par. 1–2

Believers are justified freely by God's grace through redemption in Christ, with abundant provision made in Christ, giving inexhaustible riches and enabling spiritual growth.Ms 177, 1897, par. 97–101 Christ is the propitiation for sin, and His blood redeems the sinner, connecting Christ's sacrifice with the possibility of returning to obedience to God's commandments, while the verse's focus is God's kindness and grace toward people through Christ.Lt 63, 1895, par. 39–41

Salvation being wholly by grace through faith as the gift of God, not of works, means no one can boast and thoughts of self-exaltation must be subdued, for all good works depend on power outside ourselves.Ms 94, 1898, par. 8–10 No one can rely on a morally correct life or personal righteousness; all people depend on the exceeding riches of God's grace, and all must humble themselves, renounce their own righteousness, and depend wholly on Christ for strength and for the righteousness imputed to them.AAP 3.3 Self must die, and all glory belongs to God for His mercy and truth.AAP 3.3

Believers are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works ordained beforehand that they should walk in them.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+4 Those who were dead in sins but quickened together with Christ, raised up and made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus by God's rich mercy and great love, reveal what people may become by striving to fulfil God's purpose for each person.ST May 14, 1902 Called away from the disloyalty of the world, they are accepted as laborers together with God to work in His vineyard and build character in obedience to His word, no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of light, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone, fitly framed into a holy temple in the Lord for a habitation of God through the Spirit.Ms 142, 1899, par. 5–6+1 The ages to come are an eternity with heights and depths that unfold a history, learned by searching the Bible diligently as the textbook that meets the wants of the soul, received as teacher in higher education above all human productions with its principles obeyed because it is the wisdom of God to make one wise unto salvation, just as food must be eaten and digested to nourish the body.Ms 50, 1898, par. 21–23 This is the change that must take place in the heart, worked by the Scriptures as the great agency of transformation, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God and sanctification comes through the truth of the Word, and the true Christian shows sanctification and new birth by his works.ST Oct 13, 1898

Salvation by grace is salvation from sins, not in sins, and removes every excuse for staying away from God naked and trembling.Lt 106, 1896, par. 9–11 Every provision has been made for human infirmity and every encouragement given not to separate from Christ, in whom hope of eternal life is centered, and through Christ access by one Spirit to the Father, with hope, faith and peace through His merits, is within reach.Lt 106, 1896, par. 9–11

Grace is God's kindness to fallen human beings under condemnation of the law, whose meaning could only be learned because man fell and sinned.Lt 98b, 1896, par. 5 Sinless angels who serve and obey God are loved by God but are not given grace, because they have never sinned and never needed it.Lt 98b, 1896, par. 5 Grace is given only to undeserving, utterly unworthy people, not because they are worthy but because they need it and hunger for it, need itself qualifying a person to receive it.Lt 98b, 1896, par. 5 Grace was not sought by man but was sent to search for man, and God rejoices to bestow it on everyone who hungers for it.Lt 98b, 1896, par. 5

God provides a way for people dead in sin to be raised and seated with Christ in heavenly places, so that in the ages to come His abundant grace will be displayed through His kindness to them.Ms 16, 1895, par. 4–5 This kindness is a priceless blessing, and failing to value it means losing heaven's richest blessings.Ms 16, 1895, par. 4–5

After Adam's fall God desired to reconcile fallen humanity to His own unchangeable holiness, justice, truth and law without the sinner perishing, and He accepted Christ's offer to clothe divinity with humanity and give His life as a ransom so that sinners lying in sin and ignorance need not perish but may gain everlasting life.ST May 14, 1902+1 This promise flows from the plan devised in infinite love in counsel between the Father and the Son, where Christ pledged Himself to answer for man if he proved disloyal and to make an atonement uniting every believing soul to God.ST Feb 27, 1901+1 Whoever lays his sins upon Christ as Substitute and Surety becomes a partaker of the divine nature and can claim this promise as his own, asking the Father not to impute sins but to lay them on Christ, to be merciful and remember sins and iniquities no more, and to bless with all spiritual blessings with Christ's own righteousness through accepted merits and peace with Him.ST Feb 27, 1901+1

At the cross justice and mercy are reconciled, mercy and truth meeting together and righteousness and peace embracing each other, reaching out to cleanse man from unrighteousness in fulfillment of God's everlasting purpose.Ms 18, 1902, par. 7–8 This calls for adoration and magnifying God's name for the gift, and for accepting and cooperating with it by having the will conformed to God's will.Ms 18, 1902, par. 7–8 The same kindness is revealed in the plan of salvation in which Christ took responsibility for sinners, made atonement, and offers His merits and righteousness to those who trust Him, so their sins are not counted against them and through Him they are reconciled to God and receive spiritual blessings.RH May 28, 1908

The verse belongs to the grand work of redemption going forward, the reconciliation for iniquity and everlasting righteousness brought in by the Messiah through His sacrifice, with the cross of Calvary as the great center that becomes effectual when acted upon.Lt 201, 1899, par. 12–14 That deliverance is everlasting for all who walk after Him separated from the world, and all who endure to the end will be saved, and all who hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will have eternal righteousness.Lt 201, 1899, par. 12–14 In giving Jesus to the world God gave the whole treasure of heaven, furnishing amply every power of grace and every efficiency needed for redemption so that people may be complete in Him.Lt 106a, 1896, par. 33

This grace expresses God's love and makes salvation possible through Christ, it is sufficient for everyone serving God, and it enables humanity to work in union with divinity.Lt 45, 1902, par. 3–4 It applies to Gentiles as well as Jews, showing that God's grace in Christ brings those once far from God near, making alive with Christ and raising with Him those who were dead in sin.Ms 116, 1903, par. 17–20 The heart of the great mystery of redemption in the verse is love, shown in Christ throwing open the gates of Paradise by dying for sinners.Ms 129b, 1901, par. 14

Those raised to new life are to make the worth of Christ's righteousness visible, revealing Christ himself to both angels and people by helpful speech, pure conduct, and noble principle, living the truth exactly as it is in Jesus.Ms 36, 1904, par. 3–4+1 Sitting together in heavenly places in Christ even now is meant to show the world what that future display means, by carrying that same kindness into everyday dealings with one another.Ms 38, 1901, par. 1–3 The verse is full of instruction and comfort for a depressed spirit and is to be read carefully as never before, with kindness meaning Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, contemplated, beheld, and cherished as the very best and honored Friend whom no action should grieve or offend, and grace meaning salvation by grace through faith, not of self but God's gift, held fast as promise for comfort and help.STMW9 75.1–2+1

Faith must not stagger when the hellish shadow of Satan is cast athwart the pathway to obstruct faith and eclipse light from the presence of Jesus the Sun of Righteousness, but must cleave straight through that shadow and refuse burial in darkness and doubt, because faith rests not in feeling but in truth.Lt 40, 1896, par. 1–2 Being rooted and grounded in love gives ability to comprehend with all saints the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love that passes knowledge, with precious possibilities and encouragement, so that the human heart cleansed from all moral impurity becomes the dwelling place of the Saviour who ennobles and sanctifies the whole nature and makes the person a temple for the Holy Spirit, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ himself as chief cornerstone for a habitation of God through the Spirit.Lt 40, 1896, par. 1–2 The verse means the inward new-birth change, the same formation of character presented in Ye must be born again, like leaven hidden in meal working invisibly until the whole is converted, by which the spiritually dead are quickened, renewed, delivered from bondage to self, saved and ennobled with widened and altogether different thoughts and the divine image wrought in them.Ms 12, 1897, par. 30–32+1 In that radical work no new faculties are supplied and identity is not lost, but every faculty is regenerated and its employment thoroughly changed, natural inclinations softened and subdued, new thoughts and feelings and motives implanted, the heart cleansed from all impurity and fitted with traits of character for service to God.Ms 82, 1898, par. 7–9

That change is worked by the Scriptures as the great agency of transformation, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God and sanctification comes through the truth of the Word, and the true Christian shows sanctification and new birth by works.ST Oct 13, 1898 It tests whether a person possesses spiritual life or remains destitute of it, still following human maxims and the footsteps of transgressors, not loving God supremely and neighbor as self, and it warns against supposing salvation secure from merely having begun the Christian course without persevering to the end by enshrining truth in the heart and doing Christ's will.Ms 12, 1897, par. 30–32 It calls for learning from Christ what he is to those he has ransomed and believing on him so as to become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust, escaping every sin and defect of character and retaining no sinful propensity, because he is the Sin-bearer who takes away the sin of the world.Ms 11, 1899, par. 9–10

The converted soul who has received this grace has the same work to do with Christ for other souls still dead in trespasses and sins, bearing the burden for souls and making personal effort in the name of Jesus to bring them to knowledge of the truth.Ms 56, 1898, par. 34–36 Presenting Jesus' love and the sacrifice made at Calvary to those in spiritual poverty and darkness allows the grace of Christ to impress hearts.Ms 122, 1899, par. 65–69 When that grace abides in the soul it gives the mind of Christ, and appreciating his great mercy and love makes believers peacemakers who practice his lessons, work in harmony with God as laborers together with Christ, and become a wellspring of life refreshing all who come in contact with them.ST Oct 10, 1895 The verse therefore belongs to instruction for divided workers, calling them to unity and harmonious labor, calling all Christians to lay aside strife and malice and hatred and to love one another as Christ loved them so that all will know they are Christians by living in unity and love.Ms 59, 1902, par. 10–11+1

The gift of Christ brings a moral change by which sinners become God's children and heirs of heaven joined as heirs with Christ, with faith in Jesus cleansing the soul and receiving his righteousness, while grateful service uses God-given abilities for his glory and leads to growth in Christian character.Lt 158, 1896, par. 5–9 This future display calls shepherds to seek God earnestly and prayerfully and to travail for souls as a shepherd goes after lost sheep, with earnest heart-searching, so that knowing him and the power of his grace becomes present privilege and their work and religious history are marked not as tame and commonplace but by grace and the decided working of God's power with human effort.Lt 8, 1895, par. 36–38+1 God's rich grace and kindness through Christ is the power by which he weighs characters, actions, motives, purposes and thoughts, so that nothing is hidden and every deed and its outcome is seen.11MR 102.1–3 That grace calls for new birth and surrender of the soul to God so that the light given becomes a living principle of action, since increase of light alone is not enough, while one who had great light yet turns aside in self-confidence makes false paths leading thousands into false steps, and those whose unfair dealings, misappropriation of funds and blocking of the advancement of the work hedge up the way of salvation are weighed in the balances and found wanting.11MR 102.1–3

The exceeding riches are deep enough to be known and experienced now by those who reach up high and fasten hold upon the Infinite One, hide self in Jesus and live in close communion with God, becoming channels through whom his grace and power flow so others feel the weight of truth.7MR 38.1–3 To experience that depth is to become acquainted with the mystery of godliness, to have the taper kindled at the sacred altar and shed light through moral darkness, for heaven is full of weighty blessings waiting to flow down and God is ready and willing and anxious to bestow far more than half of what is expected, so his workers should expect great things, expect anything and everything in God, and bestow upon others what they receive.7MR 38.1–3 Looking into that love, whose heart is love throwing open the gates of Paradise by dying for sinners, binds the believer's life up with Christ's life and takes possession of every part of the being with desire to serve him with the same spirit that led Christ to die.Ms 129b, 1901, par. 14 This grace and exaltation in Christ requires exercising greater faith, believing his promises, trusting his living Word and keeping a firmer hold from above in order not to fail nor be discouraged while coping with the powers of darkness in missionary fields, having been chosen in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before him in love.Ms 49, 1902, par. 1–3