Ephesians 6

The Mystery Revealed

Ephesians 3:1–13 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Intro: The word mystery. In Webster something not understood or beyond understanding.

The mystery Paul speaks of was unknown to those in the Old Testament. It is beyond human understanding, unless revealed by the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament there things spoke of that even the Prophets did not understand. It would not be revealed until it was made known to Paul and the apostles.

Short answer to the mystery, is the Church. The is not the building, but the body of Christ. Both Jews and Gentiles.

The person of the mystery. VS 1-4

Ephesians 3:1 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

For this reason: This was a letter, it was not written in chapters. What Paul is writing here is a connection to what he had just talked about.

Last week (Chapter 2) Paul had told them that at one time they were not apart of what the Jews had. Now were they were part of what the Jews had, only through the cross, the blood of Jesus.

He told them, you didn’t have the blessing that the Jews had, there was a wall of separation. But through Jesus, the wall has been broken down and we have become one on Christ. So for this reason..

Paul refers to himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. He was not a prison of Rome, not Caesar (Nero) but of Christ Jesus.

Paul was just where Jesus wanted him. (House arrest) He wrote Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Then in dungeon, he wrote II Timothy.

If Paul had not been arrested that in prison, we might not have these books of the Bible.

Paul made the best of a bad situation. Paul knew that his reason for living was to serve Jesus. Whatever hardships, whatever suffering, he was going to serve Jesus.

God allows situations to come into our lives for a reason. We have to remain faithful. It is our calling to serve Jesus.

So way was Paul there beside the fact that God wanted him there?

Ephesians 3:1 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

The Jews hated to fact that Paul preached to the Gentiles, and told them that they were apart of Gods family, equal to the Jews.

Even within the church, fellow believers felt like the Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved.

They hated his acceptance of Gentiles into the church, free from all Jewish laws, traditions, and customs.

Paul spoke it out load, and he spoke it boldly.

Paul was bringing more and more Gentiles into the church (Elab on what the church is) and this was threat to them.

Here is what Paul did not do, he did not criticize the Jews for opposing him. He knew where they were coming from; he had been there himself.

The way the Jews felt about the Gentiles was the same way Saul about the Gentiles before he was saved. That is why he wrote.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Paul isn’t complaining, he isn’t angry with the Jews, he is just stating a fact.

He was a prisoner because of the Gentiles.

Ephesians 3:2–4 NKJV

2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

Dispensation: “stewardship.” God had entrusted Paul with great truths. God trusted Paul to preach, to preach the gospel, to write and preach the mystery of Christ.

Think about this. Paul (Saul) was dragging out of their homes, putting in prison, having some of them put to death if they would not renounce their faith.

He was the great enemy to the faith of Jesus to the early church, now he is trusted to be the one the know the mystery of Christ to the Gentiles.

It was given to Paul, not to keep to himself, but to share it with others.

We as Christians have the love of Jesus, we have been saved. It is not for us to keep to ourselves, but to share with others.

Ephesians 3:2–4 NKJV

2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

What is this mystery? And how did he get it?

Galatians 1:16–18 NKJV

16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

After Paul’s conversion, he spent 3 years in Arabia. God revealed this things to Him. Not from man, but from God.

Mystery: Divine secret. Things that are unknown until they are divinely revealed.

It could not be known unless revealed by God.

In the Old Testament there were prophecies that were a mystery that spoke of the Church. Now they were made Known. And given to and entrusted to Paul.

God made Paul a steward of “the mystery” with the responsibility of sharing it with the Gentiles. It was not enough simply to win them to Christ and form them into local assemblies.

He was also to teach them their wonderful position in Christ as members of the body, sharing God’s grace equally with the Jews. This truth had not been revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures.

It was revealed to the New Testament Apostles and prophets (see Eph. 4:11) by the Holy Spirit. God revealed it personally to Paul, and it was his responsibility to share it with the Gentile Christians.

Ephesians 3:3–4 NKJV

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

Paul referring to letters he had written.

He wrote what was given to him, to them. So they would know. Then they would share it with others.

Ephesians 1:15 NKJV

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

Paul had preached and taught about this love, and showed it, and then they showed this same love.

Knowledge: Paul wants them to understand what they received.

The plan of the mystery VS 5-6

Ephesians 3:5–6 NKJV

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

There were things that were not revealed in the Old Testament that are revealed in the New Testament.

We have to completed Gods word. There is no more to be added to it.

Things of the Church hinted in the Old Testament, revealed in the New.

as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

Ephesians 2:20 NKJV

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

What was this mystery? The Church.

VS 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

We are all (Christians) members of the same family.

Ephesians 3:6 AMP

6 [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).

Paul is telling them (Gentiles) That what God has for you is the same, you are now equal to the Jews.

Its hard for us to totally understand this.

For us, we have expect all people into Gods family. Once they are saved, they apart of God’s family too. If their life style is sinful, God will change them.

Ephesians 3:5–6 NKJV

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

We are not Apostles, or Prophets. They laid the foundation. We are to build on that.

The Preaching of the mystery. VS 7-9

Ephesians 3:7–9 NKJV

7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

VS 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

It was the gift of God’s grace which had transformed him from Saul, the proud Pharisee who persecuted the church, to Paul, the apostle who was now a prisoner for Jesus Christ.

He had been taken out of one group and put into another.

He is now a member of the body of Christ. All that had been accomplished was through the working of the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul had both the gift and the power of an apostle.

Paul is not boasting, we see this in the statement.

VS 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

He says he is the less of the least.

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Pride is something that will kill a pastor, an Evangelist, or anyone who is called to preach Gods word. Paul guarded against the natural tendency to take pride in the extraordinary gifts God had given him.

Paul was given Paul the great gift to preach the gospel.

You will notice that Paul repeats himself, he wants to get his point across.

that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

unsearchable riches of Christ,

Amplified Bible Chapter 3

riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out

VS 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

The Propose of the Mystery. VS 10-11

Ephesians 3:10–11 NKJV

10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Speaking of angels.

The privilege of the mystery. VS 11-12

Ephesians 3:11–12 NKJV

11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Ephesians 3:13 NKJV

13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

eternal purpose

He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

VS 12 13

boldness

access

confidence

Because we are apart of the church we have these things.

Boldness to pray.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When you pray you into the presence of God. (Access)

confidence to do all things.

Ephesians 3:13 NKJV

13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul, don’t worry about me.

End: We are the church. We are the bride of Christ. One the rapture of the church will happen.

One day we will all be in heaven together.

Until that time happens, we are to serve Jesus, build on the foundation.

There will be times and things that we will go through that are difficult.

We can come before the Lord boldly.