Mystery Revealed

Not everyone likes an unsolved mystery. Some people can’t bear to leave riddles unsolved. They can’t walk away from an unfinished puzzle. They can’t put the book down until they discovered who-done-it. Mysteries, riddles, and enigmas drive them wild.

If you’re that type of person, Ephesians 3 will make your heart sing. Paul says that the mystery of Christ has been revealed, laid bare, and made known by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets, incl. Paul.

Paul doesn’t leave anyone guessing what this mystery is. He reveals it freely:

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 (NIV)

Perhaps you know how mysterious this was in the OT.

When God called Abraham to a special role in his plan of salvation, the Lord told Abram that

All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3b (NIV)

Abraham’s grandson Jacob, received the same promise,

All peoples on earth

will be blessed through you and your offspring. Genesis 28:14b (NIV)

Jacob’s descendants, the Israelites, would provide a blessing for all peoples on earth. The Q was “How?”

The mystery of how the descendants of Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, and Jacob, Leah and Rachel, would bless all peoples on earth was left unanswered in the OT. That meant Paul had an exciting calling from God.

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Ephesians 3:8–9 (NIV)

The gospel of Jesus Christ unpacks this mystery.

Earlier, in Eph. 2, Paul explains that all of us were disobedient. We all followed the ways of this world. This calls for honesty – the kind of facing up to the truth that Alcoholics Anonymous is known for. I’ve attended enough AA meetings as a guest to know the common introduction:

My name is Bob and I’m an alcoholic.

AA borrowed that level of truth-telling from the church.

As the church, we could introduce ourselves in a similar way,

“My name is Harold and I disobeyed God’s instructions.”

That admission gets to the heart of the human problem: Even when I try hard, I can’t love God 100% and I don’t love my neighbour as myself; not all of them and not all the time.

Paul explains that, b/c we follow the desires and thoughts of our sinful nature and b/c God is holy and just, we deserve God’s judgement. That means we’re dead in our transgressions and sins. Cut off from God. Even our best efforts can’t fix it.

In the OT, the Israelites had the assurance of God’s great love. Abraham’s descendants are God’s holy people. But Gentiles – anyone who is not descended from Abraham – are kept at an arm’s length: literally on the outskirts of the camp, not allowed in the temple. The gospel reveals what the OT only hints at:

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16–17 (NIV)

“God made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions . . . it’s the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:5, 8 (NIV)

This gift comes b/c Jesus, who is both 100% God and 100% human died on the cross and rose again 3 days later. Jesus defeated sin and death so that we can life, eternal life, w/ him.

God offers an invitation to the whole world:

Jews and people of every nation, language or tribe,

male or female or unsure,

long-time church attender of 1st time guest

This is God’s invitation to you: by faith in Jesus, you are made alive and find your true identity as a dearly loved child of God.

Can you believe it?

Faith in Christ gives us hope, gives us purpose, and great joy.

Renewal of joy in Jesus Christ is what brought Scott forward today to publicly reaffirm his faith in Jesus.

This gospel is why I echo the prayer that Paul records in Eph. 3.

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17b–19 (NIV)

How will you learn God’s love?

Look at God’s creation; marvel at God’s care for the world. Jesus pointed to the beautifully-dressed flowers and the well-fed birds as evidence of God’s love for his creation – and YOU are more valuable to God than birds.

Dig into the mysteries revealed in the Bible.

I know, it’s a big book. Too big to read in one sitting.

It’s like the secret to eating 12 course meal: one bite at time.

As we launch into Sept., is it time for you to commit to reading from the Bible every day?

The ultimate goal is for all of us to give glory to God. That’s the doxology Paul records to finish this chapter:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NIV)