The Mystery of Christ

Good morning, welcome to New Horizon Christian Church! Please open your Bibles to Ephesians 3.

Ephesians 3:1–6- “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which 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. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Pray.

This morning, we begin to study Paul’s diversion in his train of thought.

How does Paul see himself, and thus, how should we understand who he is and what he does.

Over these first 13 verses, Paul will describe his ministry. What drives him, to where he has been driven, and to whom he has been driven.

We follow Paul inasmuch as Paul points us on toward Jesus.

This is the nature of discipleship. Lathey and Z. Not teaching them to follow the lives of sinful people, instead, teaching them to follow the pointing of others.

Three themes that show up in these verses.

1. Stewardship and Mystery.

We begin with the way in which Paul sees himself.

Ephesians 3:2–3- “…assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.”

Let’s notice a few points of interest.

First, notice that Paul’s ministry has been received.

Stewardship of God’s grace.

Given to me

Made known to me by revelation.

This is not a message of invention, it’s not a message for which Paul relies on himself and his own faculties.

This solves the problem of evangelism for us. It is not invention, it is proclamation.

You mustn’t rely on yourself, but instead trust the Word of God and the Giver of the Word.

Next, notice that Paul’s ministry is for the benefit of the gentiles.

Given to me for you.

Remember that Paul has just said that he was imprisoned for their sake.

Then, notice that Paul’s message is one of mystery.

The mystery was made known.

What mystery is not.

God works in mysterious ways.

Isaiah 55:8–9- “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is how we often think of the mysteries of faith. That God is so far beyond us that there is no hope for us understanding.

Isaiah 55:1- “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Command to draw near to that which provides life- namely, draw near to God.

Isaiah 55:10–11- “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

In a text that questions our ability to understand the mysteries of God, God commands us to draw near to Him and to pay attention to what He has revealed in His Word.

This, however, is not the nature of mystery in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Instead, we ought to think of it like a mystery novel or movie. Murder mystery game for Ali.

2. The status of the gentiles.

Ephesians 3:4–6- “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which 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. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

The mystery that Paul speaks of here is referenced in v. 6- Gentiles have received the covenant promises of God’s people.

Was this so unknown? No. But how this would take place was absolutely unknown.

How would the gentiles be brought into the fold of God’s people? How would God make it possible?

This is the mystery that is revealed in the gospel of Jesus.

Somehow, the gentiles are able to be fellow heirs of God’s Kingdom, members of the body of Christ with the Jews, and partakers of the promise of the gospel, namely that they can possess eternal life..

Take a moment to realize the nature of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles here.

He is preaching to those he has already called in chapter 2 once far off.

Interesting language. Who might it describe today?

We love to proclaim the gospel to those who are near.

In fact, we often consider it isn’t our place to share the gospel until it has been asked of us.

Paul had a love for the outsider, for those who seemed most distant from Jesus.

Again, we follow the example of Paul inasmuch as he points us in the direction of Jesus.

So once more we ask, does Paul’s love for the outsider point us toward the character and ministry of Jesus?

Absolutely.

Mark 2:16–17- “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

Here is the mystery- How could those who were so far off be brought so near? How can God accomplish such a feat?

So what is the answer to the mystery? What must be revealed? What must be proclaimed?

3. In Christ Jesus though the gospel.

Ephesians 3:6- “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Paul points everything to Jesus. Constantly.

What is the answer to this mystery that was not made known to other generations, but has now been witnessed firsthand by the apostles?

The perfect life of Jesus, the Son of God and the Messiah, along with His sacrificial death on the cross and the empty tomb three days later.

Nothing about performance. Nothing about morality. Nothing about becoming Jewish.

Ever and only Jesus Christ and the gospel of His death and resurrection.

Again, does Paul point us to the character and ministry of Jesus?

I am statements. What is Jesus accomplishing in all of these statements?

You need bread? I am the bread of life. You need protection? I am the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.

John 11:25–27- “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’”

Where does Jesus point for the greatest of needs? Entirely to Himself. He quenches the thirst, He mends what is broken, He feeds what is hungry, He raises what has died, He protects what is vulnerable.

4. What difference does this all make?

No desire to call us to do more.

Matthew 23:4- “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”

Different call entirely.

See the beauty of what we have and are able to share.

If I can press you in a particular direction, it would be to immerse yourself more and more in Jesus.

Nudge you not toward work that is toilsome, but instead toward work that is lovely.

Lathey asking Papa questions at the dining room table. It is something that she is doing, but getting to know her grandpa is a delight for her because she loves him.

Paul in the beginning of Romans- What Jesus has done for him. Then how he feels toward the Christians at Rome.

Romans 1:14–15- “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

His understanding of the gospel of Jesus necessarily presses him into a world of evangelism and discipleship.

Even makes this plain in the following verse- Romans 1:16- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

I wonder how many of us falter in various areas of eternal life because we have neglected the vine to which we are to be attached.

John 15:5- “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Re-immerse ourselves in Jesus- time spent with Him in His Word, time spent with His people.

Bind yourself completely to Jesus in faith, learn of His heart and see where He will take you.