Discovering the mystery of Christ
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Who doesn’t like a good mystery… Sherlock Holmes to Scooby Doo… The mystery gets solved at the end of the show and it’s usually the person that nobody expected.
Erin and I we love to watch the crime shows on tv… at the end of the end of the hour long show the mystery was solved. The twists and turns to the storyline just keep us guessing.
If mysteries were always predictable then nobody would watch. Nobody wants to read a bad, easy to follow, straight laced mystery.
It’s the mystery that keeps us engaged.
As we continue our Recalibrate series on the Book of Ephesians, in chapter 3 Paul addresses the greatest of all mysteries… the most complicated, engaging, the deepest, richest of all… this mystery requires our lifetime plus eternity to solve life’s greatest mysteries… the Gospel of Jesus.
Paul is telling us that when it comes to knowing God, we are still only on the shoreline of the deep and vast ocean of God. We are invited to know HIM and to discover the mystery of the Gospel revealed to all humanity.
We can know for ourselves God’s great plan, God’s great promise, and God’s great power so let us dive in together. Let us receive what God has in store as we begin to solve this wonderful mystery.
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 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. 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.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
PRAY
This mystery requires our lifetime and will carry us into eternity.
Jesus isn’t some distant, hard to reach, way above deity, who is too busy for us. Bet Midler had it wrong, God is not watching us from a distance… No, God is as close as a whisper, God is a very present help in times of trouble, HE is a comfort to the brokenhearted, HE is the Way for the lost.
God reveals HIMSELF to us in such a way that HE is very approachable and personable. God never had to approach us but HE did because HE loves us and HE knows that without Jesus, we would still remain in our lost and hopeless state.
Discovering the mystery of Christ is a lifelong and costly endeavor.
Discovering the mystery of Christ is worth everything
Discovering the mystery of Christ is worth everything
Paul starts off by introducing himself as the prisoner of Christ Jesus.
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
Paul saw Jesus on the Damascus road and HE called him to the Gentiles. That moment when Paul said yes to Jesus, Paul became a target and he was no stranger to prisons and persecution.
Paul’s ministry was controversial. His stand for the equality of Jew and Gentiles as believers in Christ was not at all accepted by the religious leaders in Jerusalem.
Yet Paul was confident and accepted the reality that his imprisonment was by God’s will.
He never called himself a prisoner of the Jews or of Rome but a prisoner of Christ Jesus Himself.
He also stated that it was on behalf of his Gentile audience, the Ephesian Church.
2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
Paul considered himself a steward of God’s grace. As a steward of HIS grace, we are to live in God’s grace, drawing closer to Jesus everyday.
The gospel was not only for us to receive so that we could only be saved from hell.
If that was the only reason God would simply take us to heaven as soon as we believed and give us the greatest blessing of all, eternity with HIM.
But that’s not the only reason why we are saved, we are also stewards or administrators of God’s grace. We are now God’s agents, HIS representatives to others.
The more we discover how wonderful this mystery is, the more we realize that this will cost me everything… and it’s totally worth it.
Discovering the mystery of Christ now includes everyone
Discovering the mystery of Christ now includes everyone
4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 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.
The Old Testament prophets did not clearly understand this mystery. God’s plan was hidden from previous generations, not because God wanted to keep something from HIS people, but because HE would reveal it to everyone in HIS perfect timing.
God’s plan was always to have Jews and Gentiles be made into one body and that is now the church.
“By the Spirit”, through divine revelation and inspiration, this was revealed to us, through these Apostles and “prophets”.
In Acts 10 Peter received a dream making clear to him that the gospel message was meant not for only the Jews but also for Gentiles.
Peter’s obedience resulted in Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and his household believing in Jesus, being baptized in water, and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles are now one body under Christ’s headship. This was never even considered by the religious experts in Jewish law. No one ever knew this until God revealed it to Paul and the other New Testament apostles and prophets but this was all God’s plan from the very beginning.
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.
We are now… Heirs together, Members together, and Sharers together.
Heirs together—As “heirs” together, Jews and Gentiles are adopted into the same family, thus becoming brothers and sisters. Gentiles are fellow heirs of salvation and share equally with the Jews.
Members together—As “members … of one body,” they are united into one unit under Christ, the Head.
Sharers together—As “sharers … in the promise,” they will be fellow partakers and copartners in receiving the coming blessings promised in God’s kingdom.
We are now One Body
You have heard that opposites attract. That can be true, but often our churches are exceptions. It is a sad truth that the church remains one of the most segregated entities left in our culture.
God had used Paul more than anyone else to proclaim the unified nature of the body of Christ. Bringing together Jews and Gentiles. No groups then or now had any greater animosity toward one another.
If God could bring them together, he can unite anyone. Paul calls us to take an honest look at our relationships with Christians of other races and ethnic backgrounds.
Because as we discover the mystery of Christ, we see that it now includes everyone.
Discovering the mystery of Christ shows us that NONE of us are WORTHY.
Discovering the mystery of Christ shows us that NONE of us are WORTHY.
Think about our lives before and after Christ…
Dead in transgressions but now were are Made alive with Christ
Objects of wrath but through Christ we are shown mercy and given salvation
Before Jesus we Followed the ways of the world but now we Stand for Christ and for truth
Before Jesus we were God’s enemies but now through Christ we are God’s children
We were Enslaved to Satan but now we are Free in Christ to love and serve HIM
Jesus changed everything for us but none of us are worthy to receive any of it.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
Paul explained that his servanthood was by the gift of God’s grace given … through the working of his power.
Paul had actually been working for the “other side” when God called him—Paul had rejected Jesus as the Messiah and had actively persecuted Christians.
Obviously God had not called Paul on the basis of his goodness! God made Paul a key messenger of the gospel in the early days of the church. Yet Paul realized that he could not have fulfilled this mission without God’s grace and power within him.
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Paul made is very clear that he is completely unworthy to be used by God. God used Paul’s ability, not based on his merit or past but it was only because of God’s grace.
We all have a story but don’t let your past discourage you. Let God’s plan for you inspire you to know the mystery of God’s grace. That’s when those opportunities that are right in front of you will come calling your name. God will give you opportunities to tell others about Christ.
With those opportunities HE will provide you with the ability, courage, and power to accomplish those things.
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Our battle is not personal, our war is not against flesh and blood but this fight is spiritual.
In this verse, “rulers and authorities in heavenly places” refers to both good and evil angels.
All powers in the heavenlies, whether evil or good, will receive their understanding of God’s great mystery from humans.
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
The words referred to angelic as well as demonic powers.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
God builds his church through God’s great power, grace and mercy paid for through Jesus Christ sacrificial death on the cross.
No angel or demon can comprehend what God has done but God has revealed it to us, HIS church.
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Even though we are not worthy, God gave us access into the mystery.
Listen… God’s plan did not arise as an emergency measure when Adam sinned; it did not occur because God somehow lost control.
God has always been in control, and his eternal purposes will always be accomplished.
The mystery is God’s great work of joining Jews and Gentiles together in a unified body—the church.
God could only accept sinful people through a sacrifice that would cover their sins. Jesus Christ gave that sacrifice—himself—through his death on the cross.
In Christ Jesus our Lord, God accomplished the plan he had prepared before the world began.
Only through faith in Christ are people able to approach the holy God. This is the most awesome privilege any mere human could have—to be able to approach God with freedom and confidence.
The Greek word translated “approach” implies a formal introduction into the presence of a king.
Through Christ, we are given access not to any earthly king or head of state but to God Almighty.
And we have full access, not just occasional access, when things are heavy on our minds. Instead, we have total, constant access to approach God “with freedom and confidence.”
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Since we now have access in pursuing that lifelong discovery into this beautiful mystery now open to us through faith in Jesus… Paul tells the church that it’s worth the suffering.
Discovering the mystery of Christ will require suffering.
Discovering the mystery of Christ will require suffering.
Just as a mother endures the pain of childbirth in order to bring new life into the world, Paul endured the pain of persecution in order to bring new believers to Christ.
13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Paul says, don’t feel bad for my sufferings… yes, it was because of your benefit that I suffer.
It would have been easier for Paul to keep things separated, but it was for your sake and for the churches sake, it was totally worth the suffering.
Paul did not look back in regret. The physical pain, the rejection, his reputation being in and out of jail… He says to the church, it was for your glory.
The mystery of the gospel would have never been revealed to the church… the Gentiles would still be in darkness, hopeless and hell bound, outcast, and unclean.
BUT God used a man, willing to go through hell so God’s promise could now be available for everyone.
We should feel honored that others have suffered and sacrificed for our benefit.
Paul understood that the Creator God was in complete control, Paul also understood that God was working HIS will even through imprisonment and suffering.
Jesus was no stranger to suffering. Jesus often mentioned that following Christ will require suffering.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
We might loose friends, we might be cut off from family, we might not be able to partake in certain activities we once enjoyed but Paul says that it’s worth it.
Take Away
Discovering the mystery of Christ is worth everything
Discovering the mystery of Christ now includes everyone
Discovering the mystery of Christ shows us that none of us are worthy.
Discovering the mystery of Christ will require suffering