Ephesians: The Mystery pt.2

Eph.3:1-13

Eph.3:3-7

– After offering a brief testimony of his commitment to the gospel because of the Grace of God, Paul begins speaking of the mystery of the gospel.

Like we said the other week when we looked at the Minister of the Mystery, Mystery in the Bible is not some suspense movie or tv series.

Mystery in the Bible means something which is beyond natural knowledge, but has been opened to us by divine revelation through the Holy Spirit.

Paul is about to lay out for the Ephesian believers what this Mystery is and why it so important.

Consider first...

I. The Mystery of the Gospel (3b-4)

Paul speaks of how the Lord revealed the mystery of the gospel unto him.

Bear in mind, Paul was an educated man, having sat under the greatest scholars of the age.

He also had become a scholar of the Word.

However, the Word they had at that time was limited to the Old Testament.

Paul and the other apostles were actively writing the New Testament. God was revealing this mystery in real time.

The great mystery of the gospel is that it would be offered unto the Gentiles as well as the Jews.

There would be no difference in the redeemed;

all of the saved are one in Christ.

As Gentiles, we rejoice in the mystery of the gospel.

I am thankful the Lord has provided grace through which all can be saved by believing the gospel.

This serves as a challenge for us today, just as it did in Paul’s day.

Many of the Jews rejected the idea that God would show favor to the Gentiles.

We must remember that the gospel is available to all people and we have been called to reach the uttermost parts of the earth with the gospel.

So what do we see about this Mystery. First we see...

A. The Proclamation of the Mystery

(3) – How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words

Paul had been faithful to proclaim the mystery of the gospel and the Gentiles had received letters written by Paul through which the mystery of the gospel could be read and understood.

▪ Again, we are reminded of the emphasis and great need to share the gospel with those who have yet to believe.

We cannot expect one to receive that which they have not been exposed to or rightly understood it

The gospel is simple enough for a child to receive, but it must be shared.

Paul said in 1Cor.9:16

1 Corinthians 9:16 KJV 1900

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

We have a message that needs to be told.

B. The Comprehension of the Mystery(4)

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.

Paul is referring back to Eph. 1 and 2.

He is saying, “ Those things that I wrote to you in the previous paragraphs, what I am about to say, will make all that more clear.

The Gospel may be confusing for some, that is when we must take our time and explain it in a way that makes things more clear.

A mystery is just that a mystery, but once it is explained and we see how things came to be, it is no longer strange and unfamiliar.

I sure am glad that the gospel was made clear to me so that I could comprehended it.

The second mystery that Paul is referring to is

II. The Mystery of the Gentile (5-6)

Just so everyone understands, it was a big deal that God, the Father of Jacob and Issac and Abraham, would see something in a gentile.

For Paul to be explaining this was unheard of by a Pharisee.

This Mystery was a game changer

Notice:

A. The Generation (5)

– Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Referring back to the time of the Old Testament, the gospel had been hidden in a mystery.

Following Pentecost and the indwelling of the Spirit, the gospel had been revealed to the apostles, through the Holy Spirit.

The age of grace of had come into the world and the Lord was preparing the apostles to share the Good News with the world.

These men were divinely equipped to share the gospel with the world.

Christ had come, redemption had been provided, salvation was available, and the Good News was being shared.

B. The Good News (6)

– That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

Paul proclaims the universal nature and provision of the gospel.

Christ had not died to redeem Israel alone;

He had died to redeem fallen humanity – Jew and Gentile alike.

Paul now defines the mystery.

(a) Our Inheritance is the same

Jews and gentiles both get to enjoy the same treasures.

What is theirs is ours.

We are children of God just like the Jews are children of God.

They may be blood related naturally, we are related spiritually, but our inheritance is the same. We have been adopted into the family.

(b) Our Identity is the same

There are no longer two classes, we are all part of the same body

1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV 1900

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:28 KJV 1900

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

There is not going to be a jewish church in heaven or a black church in heaven there is not going to be a white church or American church, there is going to be The Church.

Thats it. no more and no less. We are all one in Christ.

(c) Our Insurance is the same

partakers of His promise

(the messianic promise; cf. 2:12; Gal. 3:29) in Christ Jesus.

There was a promise given to Abraham that all his seed should be blessed and inherit a kingdom.

Galatians 3:16 KJV 1900

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Now that we are fellow-heirs with Christ we to are part of the promise.

Paul talked about it in great detail in Gal. chapter 3 and 4.

Galatians 3:29 KJV 1900

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 4:28 KJV 1900

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Thank God that we are included in His promise.

Thus the mystery is not something mysterious, but is a sacred secret hidden in Ages past but now revealed.

This is made possible through the gospel: believing Jews and Gentiles are in one body.

The mystery is not that Gentiles would be saved, for the Old Testament gave evidence of that, but rather that believing Jews and Gentiles are joined together.

He is the hope of the world, offering salvation for all who respond by faith. (Look back at Ephesians 2:19-22

Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

III. The Mystery of Grace (7)

– Paul affirms the grace of God in the midst of his life, salvation, and calling.

We too can rejoice in His Grace in our lives.

Consider:

A. His Gracious Calling

(7a) – Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God

Following his becoming a partaker of the promise of Christ through the gospel, Paul was called to minister unto the Gentiles.

As one reads the writings of Paul, it is evident that he never got over the grace he had received.

The Lord had shown grace to one who was undeserving, placing him within the body of Christ, and calling him to serve as an apostle to the Gentiles.

Like Paul, our lives, salvation, and service unto the Lord, in any capacity, are all of His grace.

I too was undeserving and yet the Lord chose to save me by His grace and call me into gospel ministry.

What a privilege believers have to serve the Lord and rest in His grace.

We have received far more than we deserved and much more than we can comprehend.

B. His Effectual Working

(7b) – Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Paul realized he had not chosen the ministry, but God had graciously chosen him for ministry.

He did not serve under his own power or through his own ability;

it was the effectual power of God working through him that allowed Paul to engage in ministry and enjoy the fruit his ministry had produced.

1 Corinthians 2:2–4 KJV 1900

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

We need to be continually reminded of our dependence upon the Lord.

Anything that is accomplished through our lives of eternal value rests in the power and provision of the Lord.

Apart from His grace and power, we would accomplish nothing of lasting value.

Everything that is accomplished in your life or mine, and all that is accomplished corporately within the church is a gift of God’s grace as He effectually works through His people.

We have nothing to boast in but Christ and His grace!

Conclusion:

What a beautiful reminder of the grace of God in our lives.

It is by grace that we have been saved;

we are kept and equipped through His grace.

I pray that we will recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of the grace we have received.

Have you responded to the gospel and received His grace?

If not, I urge you to respond today!