Sermon Tone Analysis

Call to Worship

Prayer

Adoration: Rock of our Salvation = Power; Made us into a temple = grace and wisdom

Confession: We follow other gods… we desecrate

Thanksgiving: The blood of your Son cleanses us and makes us fit for your presence

Supplication: that we might live out our identity as Your holy temple; against divisions/prejudice in the church; against racism + CRT; health for members (Brian?);

Laurelwood Baptist

Family Matters: Christmas Eve service 6:30 pm; Christmas service 11:00 (no SS, shorter, simplified service)

Benediction

Sermon

(read 3:1-13)

Intro

Are you discouraged about the way things are going?

As believers, we’re living through a strange time in our nation’s history => Christianity used to be dominant force in our culture.

That’s the history we are used to.

Now, say that Bible is true/gospel is only way/biblical ethics are the right way to live = you will probably be labeled a bigot (if said in public)

We, believers, now relegated to the margins of society—at least, if we dare to speak the truth.

=> And we must speak the truth—especially the truth that salvation can be found in no one but Christ.

At first glance, it is kind of logical for us to be discouraged.

And in this area, we have our own discouragement: (don’t want to exaggerate—could be much worse) Portland has recently taken a step closer to being hell on earth.

Don’t think for a moment that we are the first believers to go through something like this!

Paul:

Wrote Ephesians from prison—probably in Rome

Owns it:

Paul was on margins of society // often unjustly silenced, i.e.

Thess.

But also, understands his imprisonment could => disappointment for the Ephesians:

Didn’t Paul tell us that all things are summed up in Christ?

Didn’t Paul say that Christ is enthroned in heaven, far above all powers?

If Jesus reigns, why is Paul in prison?

Paul senses difficulty => rabbit trail 2-13 to address their discouragement

Servant of a Great Revelation

Paul: Grace + Revelation => Apostle to the Gentiles

Saying: “Why a prisoner?

=> Remember my origin story?

meant by “assuming that you have heard”

For Paul, conversion + road to Apostleship closely intertwined.

Had been a persecutor of the Church => brought suffering on them; when God called Paul to faith, said about him:

Acts 9:15-16 “…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.””

So: Paul went from persecutor/causing suffering/trying to stop gospel => suffering for the name/gospel

meant by “stewardship” (v. 2) => Paul a steward of the grace which God had given him

Grace given to Paul => salvation (enemy => son), but also

Grace given to Paul => transform him from persecutor to a missionary, eventually to Gentiles…

So Paul says:

Grace was given to for you (end v. 2)

I was saved so that I might bring the gospel to you

I was saved so that I might be a prisoner for your sakes

Not just grace // also revelation

Specifically: a mystery made known, i.e. revealed by God (v. 3)

Paul = a unique steward because this mystery was revealed to him by the Spirit.

BTW: Paul’s apostleship unique // witnessed ascended Christ vs. pre/post Resurrection, etc.]

Talking about the mystery, the gospel he preached:

Not received from other apostles, but direct revelation

Same gospel, but different channel of revelation

Talking about himself:

Conclusion: Paul had received saving grace and a unique revelation of the mystery of the gospel => in order to make him Apostle to Gentiles

What mystery? “as I have written briefly” (end v. 3) = what I just wrote above // everything we’ve been hearing from Eph., but especially the way it all leads to the fact that Gentiles have been included in God’s family as fellow inheritors

vs 4: “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ” => ‘my imprisonment does not mean that my apostleship has failed—just read what I wrote, and you will sense the glory of its truth’

[but still hasn’t answered question yet about how he can be the servant of the Christ who reigns from heaven, and yet get placed in prison… ]

Mystery of Christ: Hidden, Revealed, Glorious!

This Mystery—

Ephesians 3:5 “…was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

Point: …greatness of the mystery/revelation…

Not known to previous generations… hinted at, not known—

Says in the New Creation, ‘all flesh’ = all people, will worship… but does not say that all flesh will be fellow, equal heirs with Israel

Mystery of Christ/full+equal inclusion of Gentiles = not out of step w/ OT, but still new.

Now, revealed to NT apostles + prophets, by HS

=> BTW: HS source of Paul’s own revelation

So then, a mystery that => takes ‘glory of God’s saving grace’ => heights not yet known in OT—

Seen ‘fellow heirs’ and ‘one body’ before, but here also:

‘co-partakers of the promise’ = promise given to:

Eve (child to crush satan/evil)

Abraham (child to bless the nations)

Isaac, Jacob, Judah

To David (eternal king)

Echos in Balaam’s Oracles, Hannah’s Song

Proclaimed by Isaiah, Micah, Malachi

Received with joy by Simeon and Anna

The hope of the OT saints of Israel…

Now, the hope of the Gentiles!!!

Paul: a Servant of this Revelation by God’s Grace and Power

Minister = servant (lowly) =>> Paul’s identity: humble servant of a glorious gospel

Remember: Paul = former persecutor, politically powerful hater of the gospel =>> by God’s grace and power, became humble, imprisoned servant of gospel for the Gentiles

Application: much the same for us--

Not Apostles…

Still: all believers receive God’s grace as a gift by the working of God’s power.

Not imprisoned...

Still: all… lowly servants of gospel…

Unworthy Preacher of Unsearchable Glory

The Least Among the Saints Given Grace to Preach the Gospel…

Paul had not hinted at sins of his past to this point… now: “I am the very least of all the saints” = past containing wretched sin… (attacking Christ through attacking Christ’s people)

In spite of this sin “grace was given”

Result: preaching to Gentiles “unsearchable riches of Christ”

Immeasurable contrast: B.C. = evil hater of God’s people; A.C. = given the privilege to be a royal herald for Christ, proclaiming a gospel so glorious…

BTW: us, same pattern…

It’s as though Paul were saying: how can you even ask, “Why are you in prison if your Lord reigns from heaven?” Don’t you see?

I was blind to the glories of Christ—an enemy of God!

Then, by his power he opened my eyes to the wisdom of the cross, and made me his own royal herald to the nations!

But why suffering?