The Mystery of Unity

Introduction

Joys of a riddle / Something only once it is solved / revealed.

Riddles.

There is this mystery that has been referenced (1:9).

Paul is going to reveal the answer to the mystery of the Gospel.

A mystery that reveals how we can experience a life filled with the Gospel.

Be Ready to Pay

vv. 1-2

The stress of driving on a turnpike - exact change only!

You had to prepare for the cost of the road you were going to drive.

Contrary to many views of Christianity, not about receiving, but giving.

Begins with a distracted Paul… (v. 14).

Prisoner (prison epistle) why? The tale of Trophimus in Acts 21. “on behalf of you Gentiles.”

Paul is a steward. One who takes care of a house for another. God’s grace. Not an owner.

Your salvation is not just for you!

For worship. For evangelism.

But, living the Gospel cost Paul.

For some generation, the Christian life was easy. Majority.

The Christian life is going to get harder.

Especially as we become more of a minority.

A decision to blend in with the culture or live a pure Gospel.

Living a pure Gospel will cost you, but it is the right thing to do.

How do we find the guidance and strength to do that?

Be Confident in the Source

vv. 3-5

The mystery (1:9). Technical term. Something hidden, but now revealed.

Paul received the answer through a special revelation - a source outside himself.

V. 5 - The mystery was in other generations not made known to teh sons of men, but now...

This puts us where we can be recipients of the fulfilled faith!

Where we can learn about it through the Holy Apostles and Prophets. Teachings contained in Scripture.

A hard teaching requires trust. Learning something?? Something I disagreed with??

But, there is trust in the teacher as an external authority.

Paul’s acknowledgment that this hard teaching did not originate with him, but Christ.

“The mystery of Christ.”

When we acknowledge that Christ is the authority for our lives, your Lord, it gives us an external authority we can trust.

Stand firm in the Word of Christ.

Be Together

v. 6

Mystery defined: Gentiles are together heirs, members of one body, and partakers.

“What has now been revealed is the plan of God that human beings without distinction - Gentiles as well as Jews - should on teh common ground of faith be his sons and daughters in Christ.” — F.F. Bruce

All the walls that divide believers are destroyed in Christ.

Tornado destruction Wednesday night - power to tear down.

“That Gospel, therefore, is the means and the only means of deep spiritual unity between people, however diverse their racial, cultural, or political backgrounds.” - Francis Foulkes

What would you allow to divide? Let God destroy that wall.

Conclusion

Harmony in unity. Not unison.

This is the experience of fellowship.

Requires us to let God tear down those walls as we stop emphasizing our differences.

As a church we should emphasize that we are “in Christ.”