The Mystery Revealed

Ephesians 1:1–2 (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The Mystery Revealed: God's Grace for All"

I. The Mystery of Hidden Messages

Many of of have at times been captivated by the concept of hidden messages or secret treasures? Perhaps as a child, you fantasized about discovering a treasure map that would lead you to hidden gold, or you were attracted by legends about ancient codes that, when cracked, would reveal some long-lost secret. There's something alluring about the prospect of discovering something hidden, something of enormous value that others have overlooked. In fact I found in my studies that it is this idea that almost drives the academic world. The desire to find out something new, or come up with a new idea never presented before. Today, we'll look at a text in which the Apostle Paul discusses a mystery—something that had been hidden for decades but is now disclosed. This isn't just any enigma; it's a divine secret that will alter everything. Let's investigate this mystery together to see how it affects our lives.

II. The Mystery Revealed Ephesians 3:1-6

Ephesians 3:1–3 ESV

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.

For those who attend the Thursday morning Bible study, you know that Jim and I point out frequently that it seems so clear from the Old Testament that it was all pointing to Jesus. However the problem is that for us looking backwards in time it is easy for us to see, but from the world of Jesus, or even Paul’s day, everything seems sort of vague and almost a mystery left that didn’t become fully obvious until Jesus came. Then for some they were so wrapped up what they thought they should expect that they missed Jesus, and how he fulfilled the Law and the Prophets.

Paul working this side of the cross, sees this and is explaining to the Ephesians and to us even today how we as Gentile are brought into this mystery, how to us it has been revealed.

Ephesians 3:4 ESV

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Ephesians 3:5–6 ESV

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.

As has been emphasized over the past couple of weeks that we are made alive, we are revealed the truth, we are brought into the body of Christ, that is the church, when the gospel, the good-news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and then resurrected three days later. How when we died with Christ in baptism we were raised to new life in Jesus Christ, making us members of one Holy Christian church.

Saving us by grace through faith in knowing and understanding this and trusting in this promise that is given that if we are baptized and believe we will be saved.

III. The Grace Given to Paul Ephesians 3:7-9

Ephesians 3:7 ESV

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.

This is the pure simple gospel message, that it is by grace we have been saved. Coming back to Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

It is this grace that through its working power, through the Holy Spirit, that it does what it says. Martin Luther seen this in his calling as we all should in our callings and he said this:

“I simply taught, preached, wrote God’s Word: otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.” ~Martin Luther

Ephesians 3:8–9 ESV

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, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

Again there was the mystery that seems to be ever present from the beginning of the world, since Genesis 3 when mankind fell into temptation. Where we recognize that something isn’t as it should be in this world, that things do not work out, that illness come, things do not go as planned, we loose a job, a spouse leaves or dies unexpectedly, the world around us is in chaos and we almost want to be like Adam and blame God. After all why do these things happen, why do good people suffer? Well I always pose the opposing question why do good things happen to bad people? If bad things happen to good people, and that is disturbing, but more so why do good things happen to bad people? Even more troubling, yet if we truly get down to it, the worst happened to the best person, Jesus innocent in everything took on the weight of the worlds sins and died in our place, so that we who had sinned, the bad, get what we do not deserve.

In that the mystery has been revealed, and it is simply that grace abounds, Christ died in our place and therefore we do not have to pay the penalty of our sins.

IV. The Purpose of the Mystery Ephesians 3:10-13

Ephesians 3:10–11 ESV

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

Even as we see all of this play out in the world around us, the good getting privilege, the innocent suffering, it is God’s way of turning everything upside down. That is the beauty of the gospel is that even though we do not see it fully yet, we have hope that goes beyond it all, our sufferings in this life are nothing compared to what awaits us. The church becomes this witness to this truth, by the fact that after well over 2000 years we are still here, the faithful witnesses to it all, no matter how hard the world has tried, no matter what is thrown at us, there is one thing they cannot take away, and that is hope.

Hope that proceeds from knowing Christ Jesus and the promise to come.

Ephesians 3:12–13 ESV

in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Again this suffering is nothing to what awaits us in glory.

V. Living Out the Mystery

Now we as the church only have the responsibility to keep on faithfully sharing this good news. We have been saved by grace through faith in Christ. All the mysteries of the world are revealed in the one truth, that through him we have an eternal promise of hope waiting for us in glory, for God loved us so much that he gave his only son to die in our place, taking away our sins, washing us clean, making us whole and placing us in his body the church, until that day he calls us home or he returns in glory. Until then we just keep on the good work, sharing the journey together, comforting each other with these words, He is risen, He is risen indeed. Amen