Ephesians 2:17—“And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh”

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh (Ephesians 2:17 KJV).

(I)

Rev. Herman Hoeksema

[Source: The Gospel, Or, The Most Recent Attack Against the Truth of Sovereign Grace, p. 131]

I understand very well that [some want] to read ‘offered’ for ‘preached’ here, but in conflict with the text and very much at the cost of the meaning of the words. In fact, the whole meaning is violated by this. If God has peace preached, then this means that He has made peace. The peace is an accomplished fact in the blood of the cross. That that peace shall come into existence does not depend on man. If, however, God offers peace, then the peace first comes into existence if the offer is accepted. Then the realization of that peace depends in last instance upon man. Besides, the text here also does not speak to and about all men, but about “them that were nigh” and to “you which were afar off”; hence, it speaks of and to the Church from Jew and Gentile.

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(II)

More to come! (DV)