Ephesians: The Minister of the Mystery

Ephesians 3: 1-13

As we start the third chapter of Ephesians, we are confronted with another long paragraph.

In chapter 1 starting in verse 3 to 15, Paul did the same thing. This is called a digression. He broke his train of thought for a moment and started talking about something else, something that would stir the hearts and minds of his readers.

He digressed for a moment and laid out some great truths about the the blessings of God.

Well here in chapter three Paul does the same thing. Except this time Paul is going to reveal some deep truths about something called a mystery.

Now when I think of a mystery, I think of characters such as, Sherlock Holmes or Dick Tracey. But that is not the kind of mystery Paul is referring to.

In the New Testament, the Greek word musterion : means something which is beyond natural knowledge, but has been opened to us by divine revelation through the Holy Spirit.

In this paragraph, Paul explains his situation and, in doing so, also explains one of the greatest truths in this letter, the “mystery” of the gospel.

A mystery is a “sacred secret” that is unknown to unbelievers, but understood and treasured by the people of God.

Our text follows up on that which Paul had spoken of in the previous chapter.

There he had discussed the marvelous transformation of those who were dead in trespasses and sin, being made alive in Christ.

We are saved by grace through faith, not of our works,

Which leaves us nothing to boast in except the grace of God.

The saved are then placed within the body of Christ, as it has pleased the Lord, as a habitation for God through the Holy Spirit.

It is evident that Paul, having experienced salvation by grace through faith, is moved by such grace and is compelled to share this grace at every opportunity.

The gospel transformed his life and had become the basis and focal point of his ministry.

He is committed to sharing this great mystery with those who have yet to hear and respond to the gospel.

As believers, we share this same opportunity and obligation.

There can be no doubt that the transformation received by grace through faith in Christ is the single-most important event in our lives.

Like Paul, we ought to be moved by our salvation experience and committed to sharing the Good News with those who have yet to respond to the gospel.

As we take the next several weeks to examine this mystery, I first want to consider, The Minister of the Mystery.

I. The Ministers Testimony v.1

– Here Paul shares a testimony of his commitment to the gospel, being motivated to proclaim the Good News.

I am sure many of his readers might have begun to question why Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ was being imprisoned. Im sure the same question that is brought up to day was brought up then, “Why does bad things happen to good people?”

Paul is about to answer that question with his testimony.

He is about to tell them why he is in prison and who it is that he is imprisoned to.

Paul has a strong testimony and he begins to lay some of that out here in verse 1.

Notice:

A. His Imprisonment

– For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles…

He offers a reminder that he is imprisoned to Jesus Christ.

Now we know that at this time in Pauls ministry, he was in prison for his faith, and yet there is no hint of despair or regret in his voice.

He did not say “The prisoner for Jesus Christ” He said “the prisoner of!”

What a statement, of all the things he could have said, he lets them know that he is a prisoner, a servant and a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul does not complain about his situation or his circumstances.

He simply says I am imprisoned as a servant for my King.

One who once enjoyed great status among the Jewish elite is now writing to Gentiles within the church in Ephesus and he is content with life as it is.

2Tim.2:10

2 Timothy 2:10 KJV 1900

Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

This is probably what he said to himself:

If I were still the man I once was, if I were still Saul of Tarsus, if I were still that Pharisee, that blasphemous, injurious person that I once was, if I were still a teacher of the Jewish law and of all the comments of the scribes and the authorities upon it, if I were still what I once was as Saul of Tarsus, I would not be in this prison.

That is an absolute fact. I would still be at liberty. There is no question at all about that.

Well, why am I here then?

I am here because of what happened to me that noonday on my way to Damascus.

It is that event which has brought me to Rome and to this prison!

Once you begin to think like that in this you forget prison-bars and cells and discomforts and everything else.

Paul was reminding himself of that amazing event in his life when he saw the face of Christ looking down upon him and heard the voice.

The prison sends him back to think of his conversion and the amazing grace of God and the love of Christ.

He reflects on the fact that, though he had been that blasphemous, injurious, persecuting person, Christ had nevertheless loved him and had died for him on the Cross to take his sins away, to reconcile him to God and to make him a child of God.

All that came back to him.

He is a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

He was not a prisoner of Rome or Nero He was a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ.

All that has happened to him as a Christian starts there.

We live in a world that is becoming less tolerant of our faith and yet, like Paul, we need to remain content in Christ.

Why does bad things happen to good people? I dont know. But I can tell you why certain things happen to God’s children. So others might come to know Christ.

He has called the church to proclaim the Good News to those who have yet to respond. While situations in life may be less than desirable, the Lord offers contentment that is not available in the world.

Regardless of the struggles we endure in life for the faith, we can rest in the grace and provision of Christ.

To Be a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ is the best freedom a man can have.

B. His Encouragement

– For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles…

Paul reminds the church at Ephesus of his commitment to them.

Clearly, life would have been much simpler and more prosperous had he continued the path he was on prior to meeting the Lord on the Damascus Road.

However, his life had been transformed at that moment.

The old man of sin had died and he had been resurrected a new creature in Christ.

His life was no longer his to live as he pleased; Paul had been saved with purpose and he was committed to fulfilling the call he had received.

There were no other options; he was committed to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

While this may appear a subtle detail within the text, it offers a great challenge to us.

Paul had been imprisoned for his commitment to the gospel, and yet he refused to abandon the call regardless of personal cost.

The Lord will likely ask us to move beyond our comfort zone as we serve Him, and like Paul, we must be willing to embrace the task and serve the Lord faithfully regardless of the difficulties and perceived personal cost.

Paul wanted his readers know that he was doing what he was doing because Christ had called him to them and that he loved them.

Paul is showing his true pastoral heart here. He wants them to be aware that what is happening to him is for their souls and God’s glory.

Now in verse 2 we begin to see....

II. The Ministers Ministry v.2

– If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.

Paul speaks of the “dispensation of the grace of God”. The word dispensation here carries with it a sense of administration or stewardship.

When I looked up that word administration, one of the first words that stuck out to me that can be used in place of it, is “Ministry”.

Paul lays it out ....

A. Its a Ministry of Grace

Paul had a ministry, a duty, a responsibility, an accountability to God, to preach the grace of God.

The Lord had revealed the mystery of the gospel to Paul and he had been entrusted with sharing the gospel with the world.

He had not received such grace to hold merely as a personal possession,

but as a steward to faithfully administer this grace to others.

Paul realized the significance of grace and he was aware of his responsibility to be a faithful steward.

That is very compelling and convicting.

I realize that we have not received the specific call that Paul received, but every believer is called to be a steward of the grace of God.

We have not received such abundant grace to keep it solely for ourselves.

With the reception of grace comes the responsibility to faithfully steward grace.

If we are to be faithful to the Lord and the grace we have received, we must learn to be good stewards of His grace.

Matthew 25:20 KJV 1900

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

We have been given the cure for sin, we should not be keeping it for ourselves.

We have been intrusted with the ministry of grace just like Paul. Do not neglect your responsibility.

B. Its a Ministry to the Godless

he had received it so that he might share it with the Gentiles.

You know the children of disobedience and wrath

the ones dead in trespasses and sins

the ones that were strangers to the commonwealth of Isreal

the ones that were aliens outside the family of God

You know those that are sinners in need of the Savior.

God did not give us the ministry of grace to give it to those that already have it, God gave it to us so that we will be ministers of His grace to a people that will not hear it unless we tell it.

Just because we live in the so called “Bible Belt” does not mean that everyone knows God. Matter of fact there are many that think just because their grandma prayed for them or they went to Sunday school as a 5 or 8 year old, that they are going to heaven.

To many will go to hell believing a lie. To many will go to hell because to many of us have neglected our calling as ministers of Gods grace to the godless.

We are all Ministers of God’s grace. Lets take it to the godless!!

Conclusion

Paul wanted his readers to understand that he was were he was because he was doing what God wanted him to do and he did not consider himself to be a prisoner of anyone but Christ and as long as he kept that mentality anything he went through would be all for the cause of Christ.

He also wanted them to know that it was for them and their salvation that God has sent him to them.

We need to stop being worried about what will happen to us if we go in His name.

We need to be content with Christ and Christ alone.

We need to remember that whatever takes place in our lives that may seem like a bad thing, is really in opportuity to let God’s grace shine.

Lets be Paul. Lets be prisoners of Christ!!!