Ephesians 3:1-13

The Mystery of Christ

Introduction

God has revealed himself to us through his word. This revelation is amazing because it has to do with gentiles. Gentiles are all who are non-jews. God previously had a plan a promise for the people of Israel, but the mystery revealed is that God has extended his grace and love to the gentiles. Most of us here today are gentiles. Today we will go over this mystery and dive into how its been revealed.

This section mentions mystery many times. Remember that during Pauls time gnosticism was rampant and these people believed in the doctrines of christ for the most part, but they also believed that this hidden knowledge shouldn’t be shared. Paul here is showing that we have been given grace to share with everyone!

“the mystery was made to me by Revelation”v3

“Mystery of Christ” v4

“known to men” “mystery” “Now been Revealed” v5

“Mystery” v6

“unsearchable” v8

“Mystery hidden for ages” v9

“made known to the rulers” v10

“God’s grace” v2

Gift of God’s grace v7

“This grace was given” v8

Heirs of Christ

Ephesians 2:6–7 ESV

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Sitting in heavenly places with Christ means we have been changed in status. Sitting at the table of someone meant you have a similar status. Sitting at a King’s table meant you were family or close friends. In Christ we are his children and we are heirs of his eternal riches.

Ephesians 2:19 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Again, we are in God’s household and we pertain to his status. Not by our own works but by the grace of God. This is the great mystery being unveiled. That we did not deserve his grace but we are now heirs of his riches.

This is why Paul can say this in the following verse.

Ephesians 3:8 ESV

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,

Members of the Same Body

Ephesians 2:18 ESV

18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

It is because we have been bought by the blood of Jesus that we are now of one Spirit through him. He has brought us near to him. He is the head and we are his body.

Ephesians 2:12–14 ESV

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Ephesians 1:23 ESV

23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 2:14–16 ESV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Partakers of the Promise of Christ Jesus through the Gospel

What is the gospel?

Ephesians 2:1 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Dead in our trespasses and sins.

Ephesians 2:3 ESV

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Under God’s wrath

Ephesians 2:4 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

God saved us because of his love and mercy

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

This has been God’s plan eternity past. This is the mystery revealed to us now.

Ephesians 3:11 ESV

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Paul says this is the reason he serves God.

Ephesians 3:8 ESV

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,

But God is using the church to reveal the gospel to the world.

Ephesians 3:9–10 ESV

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.

This is why Paul can suffer for the gospel.

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

Ephesians 3:13 ESV

13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.