It is typical to hear divine grace defined as "God's undeserved favor," but this does not capture the idea communicated here in Eph 2 or in other places in Paul. As this whole passage shows, God's grace, which is emphasized here by putting it first in the colon* (v. 8a), is actually God's favor granted to those who deserve his wrath (v. 3). It is not just undeserved, as if the people whom God befriends were neutral. It is act of immense favor bestowed on those who lie under God's just condemnation as transgressors and sinners. Hence, a better quick definition is: "God's favor despite human demerit."Ephesians, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 159–160.
God is love. But the supreme object of that love is himself. And because he loves himself supremely he cannot suffer what belongs to the integrity of his character and glory to be compromised or curtailed. That is the reason for the propitiation.Redemption Accomplished and Applied, 28
We think our distaste for imprecatory prayers and statements in the Bible is an improvement in us, that it shows that we're more loving than men like Knox. I wonder. It may rather indicate how enervated we have become by capitulating to a tolerant age that no longer believes in the teeth-gnashing reality of the final judgement of God.The Mighty Weakness of John Knox (46)
The petition is "let this cup pass away from me." In the Old Testament the "cup" has associations of suffering and of the wrath of God (e.g., Ps. 11:6; Isa. 51:17; Ezek. 23:33), and we should observe the same kind of symbolism here (GNB reads "this cup of suffering"). Jesus' death meant suffering, and because it was a death for sin, there are associations of the wrath of God connected to it. We are not to think of Jesus facing death with the passionate longing for martyrdom that has characterized fanatics throughout history. The death he faced was a horrible death, and he experienced the natural human shrinking from undergoing such an ordeal. So he prayed that if it were possible it might be avoided.Pillar, Matthew,
propitiation does not detract from the love and mercy of God; it rather enhances the marvel of his love. For it shows the cost that redemptive love entails.Redemption Accomplished and Applied, 28
propitiation is not a turning of the wrath of God into love. The propitiation of the divine wrath, effected in the expiatory work of Christ, is the provision of God's eternal and unchangeable love, so that through the propitiation of his own wrath that love may realize its purpose in a way that is consonant with and to the glory of the dictates of his holiness.Redemption Accomplished & Applied, 27
This is the way to avert wrath; like John sometimes Bishop of Magdenburge, against whom the Duke of Saxony raised an army; one coming from thence, the Duke asked him, what preparation the Bishop made? he told him, that he saw none; Why, but (says the Duke) what does he then? The other replied, That he reformed his Church, his house, his City; Which when the Duke heard he disbanded his army, saying, He would never venture upon him that engaged such a course God to assist him. Thus this course will make you too hard for your enemies: it will hold up the hands and hearts of your friends.https://www.google.ca/books/edition/A_Glimpse_of_Gods_Glory/FDg3AAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Who may endure in his indignation? alas, none may behold him, his wrath is so high, ore-topping the creatures weakness, that it is all one whether it be against a man or against a Nation.A Glimpse of God\'s Glory
Propitiation presupposes the wrath of God and displeasure of God, and the purpose of propitiation is the removal of this displeasure. Very simply stated the doctrine of propitiation means that Christ propitiated the wrath of God and rendered God propitious to his people
Propitiation presupposed the wrath and displeasure of God, and the purpose of propitiation is the removal of this displeasure.Redemption Accomplished & Applied, 26
Scripture speaks often of the wrath of God as his response to sin. Wrath differs from jealousy and hatred, in that (1)Â jealousy is more focused on the specific sin of idolatry; wrath opposes our sin in general; (2)Â jealousy and hatred are motives for wrath; wrath actually executes punishments.Systematic Theology
Not all the vials of judgement, that have, or shall be poured out on this wicked world, nor the flaming furnace of a sinner's conscience, nor the irreversible sentance pronounced against the rebellious devils, nor the screams of the damned creatures give such a demonstration of God's hatred of sin, as the wrath of God let loose upon his Son. Never did Divine holiness appear more beautiful and lovely, than at the time our saviour's countenance was most marred in the midst of his dying groans. This himself acknowledges in that prophetical psalm (22:1-2), when God had turned his smiling face from him, and thrust his sharp knife into his heart, which forced that terrible cry from him, "My God, my God, why hast though forsaken me?" He adores this perfection of holiness (psalms 22:3), "but thou art Holy;"