2 Chronicles, Chapter 36, verses 14-16, 19-23
14 Jerusalem, for the sins of the priests and people, is wholly destroyed, 22 The proclamation of CyrusEphesians, Chapter 2, verses 4-10
3 by nature, 5 with what we are by grace, 10 he declareth, that we are made for good works2
2:4 Mercy removes misery: love confers salvation.
2:5 He hath quickened us together with Christ - In conformity to him, and by virtue of our union with him. By grace ye are saved - Grace is both the beginning and end. The apostle speaks indifferently either in the first or second person; the Jews and gentiles being in the same circumstance, both by nature and by grace. This text lays the axe to the very root of spiritual pride, and all glorying in ourselves.Therefore St. Paul, foreseeing the backwardness of mankind to receive it, yet knowing the absolute necessity of its being received, again asserts the very same truth, Eph 2:8, in the very same words.
2:6 And hath raised us up together - Both Jews and gentiles already in spirit; and ere long our bodies too will be raised. And made us all sit together in heavenly places - This is spoken by way of anticipation.Believers are not yet possessed of their seats in heaven; but each of them has a place prepared for him.
2:7 The ages to come - That is, all succeeding ages.
2:8 By grace ye are saved through faith - Grace, without any respect to human worthiness, confers the glorious gift. Faith, with an empty hand, and without any pretence to personal desert, receives the heavenly blessing.And this is not of yourselves - This refers to the whole preceding clause, That ye are saved through faith, is the gift of God.
2:9 Not by works - Neither this faith nor this salvation is owing to any works you ever did, will, or can do.
2:10 For we are his workmanship - Which proves both that salvation is by faith, and that faith is the gift of God.Created unto good works - That afterwards we might give ourselves to them.Which God had before preprepared - The occasions of them: so we must still ascribe the whole to God. That we might walk in them - Though not be justified by them.
John, Chapter 3, verses 14-21
14 of faith in his death, 16 the great love of God towards the world, 18 condemnation for unbelief3
3:14 And as Moses - And even this single witness will soon be taken from you; yea, and in a most ignominious manner. Num 21:8-9.
3:15 That whosoever - He must be lifted up, that hereby he may purchase salvation for all believers: all those who look to him by faith recover spiritual health, even as all that looked at that serpent recovered bodily health.
3:16 Yea, and this was the very design of God's love in sending him into the world. Whosoever believeth on him - With that faith which worketh by love, and hold fast the beginning of his confidence steadfast to the end. God so loved the world - That is, all men under heaven; even those that despise his love, and will for that cause finally perish. Otherwise not to believe would be no sin to them. For what should they believe? Ought they to believe that Christ was given for them? Then he was given for them. He gave his only Son - Truly and seriously.And the Son of God gave himself, Gal 4:4, truly and seriously.
3:17 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world - Although many accuse him of it.
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned - Is acquitted, is justified before God. The name of the only - begotten Son of God - The name of a person is often put for the person himself. Butperhaps it is farther intimated in that expression, that the person spoken of is great and magnificent. And therefore it is generally used to express either God the Father or the Son.
3:19 This is the condemnation - That is, the cause of it.So God is clear.
3:21 He that practiseth the truth (that is, true religion) cometh to the light - So even Nicodemus, afterward did. Are wrought in God - That is, in the light, power, and love of God.
36 The wicked reign of Jehoahaz, Ch2 36:1-4.
Jehoiakim, Ch2 36:5-8.
Jehoiachin and Zedekiah, Ch2 36:9-13.
The wickedness of the people, Ch2 36:14-16.
Jerusalem destroyed, Judah laid waste, the people slain or led away captive, according to God's word, Ch2 36:17-21.
The proclamation of Cyrus, Ch2 36:22-23.
36:15 Rising - Sending them early and diligently, as a careful house - holder, who rises betimes about his business. God sent them many prophets and messages, some at the very beginning of their apostacy, and others afterward, 'till the very day of their captivity.
36:16 No remedy - Because the people would not repent, and God would not pardon them.