The Mystery Revealed

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Glad to be back! How were everyone’s holidays?

Girls’ bible study. Going over the parables of Jesus.

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Introduction

Tell me some of your favorite mysteries.

I love a good mystery movie. Spy movies are awesome. The Bourne movies are at the top of my list. Investigative journalism movies like All the President’s men, or State of play are great. They might be my overall favorite since “the truth is all that matters” in those stories. I also love detective movies and stories or shows like Monk, Endeavor, Sherlock, or Father Brown.

One year for Christmas, Catie got me a copy of G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown stories. It’s about a Roman Catholic Monk named Father Brown, who kindly and gently solved murders in England almost by happenstance. They are the antithesis of the drug using Sherlock Holmes which was the point at the time.

List some traits about mysteries.

Not knowing the ending.

The excitement of discovering the end.

Clues!

The motivation or intention of someone.

Discovery.

In our passage we’re going to go through next, Paul talks about a mystery that wasn’t revealed until “now” meaning until Paul’s time. A mystery of God’s salvation through the work of Christ. This passage is absolutely critical to understanding this letter and Paul’s ministry too. Let’s read it together.

Ephesians 3:1–13 ESV

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.

Revealed, not Evolving

I want to touch on something because you’re going to get into conversations with people in your life that talks about how God changes his mind, or how His teachings have changed over time.

The idea is that since God changed his mind about the Gentiles, he can change his mind about other kinds of people or sins. Homosexuality is now seen as a people group instead of a kind of sin. That’s just an example. Greedy people don’t actually need to repent, they are just born into their circumstances and we should affirm them.

We need to be very clear about this: God’s purposes and intentions, His character and heart, and His consistency has never ever changed and never will.

What this text teaches is that something hidden has now been revealed. Not that it has evolved or changed. We will never plumb the depths of God. But God’s eternal purposes have been “accomplished in Christ Jesus (v.11). All of the mysteries of how God will save His people are now revealed in Jesus! The mystery of how God will save His people is no longer a question like it was for so many generations.

That is a huge privilege for us today. We don’t need to invent new kinds of evolving mysteries, but we get to proclaim the climax of the story: Sinners are saved by God through Jesus Christ! All mysteries about salvation are revealed in Him, and we don’t have to guess how God will do it. That is something worth celebrating.

Paul’s Prison Ministry

Let’s talk about Paul being a prisoner for a minute (v.1). We’ve talked a little bit about how he is a prisoner, but this section begins with “for this reason.” Paul is saying that he is a prisoner for the sake of the Gentiles.

See Paul is committed to the Gentiles. He is committed to their salvation, and his imprisonment eliminates all doubt that he is “in it” for them. We aren’t discouraged because of his sufferings because he knows his sufferings are for the sake of the Gentiles. For us!

He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. He knows he is a part of revealing this great mystery of salvation. That salvation is for not only the Jews, but for everyone!

Revealing the Mystery

The readers of this letter had likely heard about the incredible reports of Jesus meeting Saul on the road to damascus while he was persecuting Christians. God administered his grace to Saul (v.2), now Paul. He did that so a persecutor of Christians would be a persecuted preacher for Christ! Paul’s message got himself in trouble. Belief in Christ, not being a Jew, is what is required for salvation.

The mystery (v.3) was revealed directly to Paul by Christ as to the other apostles who followed Jesus. This came from divine revelation, not human invention. The main point is this:

Ephesians 3:4–5 ESV

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.

Paul, by the Spirit, has been given special insight into the mystery of Christ by God.

Romans 1:2 reads:

Romans 1:2 ESV

2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

The gospel of blessing for all nations was given to Abraham and promised by the prophets. What wasn’t known was HOW GOD WOULD ACCOMPLISH THIS. That was the mystery!

The answer to this mystery was revealed to the apostles. This means that the apostles were more than preachers. Their ministry was unique since this unique mystery was revealed to them.

As you grow and meet other Christians and church leaders. If you meet a church leader who calls themselves an apostle or that they have apostolic gifts such as special prophecy, revelation, kingly gifting, then be aware. This is offensive to God. Korah’s rebels in Numbers 16 tells the story of similar men and what God thinks of their deception. By the way, God opens up a giant chasm and they all die.

Conclusion – Gentiles Included

The mystery is this

Ephesians 3:6 ESV

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.

The law wasn’t given to Israel to save people. None of them could fulfill it. The law was to expose the need for God to intervene, to be our savior. It’s not for Gentiles to keep the law to be saved either. Salvation is available without observing the law given to Israel.

It’s through the gospel, the good news that Christ, the Son of God, came to save sinners, that people are saved. If anyone repents of their sin and trusts in this good news: that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah and Lord of all, one can be saved. We don’t need to become Jewish to be saved.

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