The Mystery Made Known

Introduction

Interestingly, last week we had looked at the mystery of Christ dimly, but this week it is no holds barred. The mystery of Christ is wide open. I enjoy simple, give it to me straight, and in bite size chunks that are easy to understand. That is what Paul does in Ephesians 3:4-7.

There is a great deal in the Bible that is not the easiest to understand. Trying to work the context, the style of writing, the history and background that promoted the text all play a part in how difficult or easy a text is for us to understand. However, there is one thing that God does not pull any punches with simple explanation and that is, how a man is saved. In our text this morning, we are going to see the mystery made known as it pertains to the Gentiles being grafted into the family of God. As we have said for the last few weeks, there is no more separation between Jew and Gentile.

Paul, leaves nothing open for discussion or debate, Jews and Gentiles, all men are one in Jesus Christ. There is no argument against this, for this is the power of the gospel. I want us to look at the mystery made known in three parts.

The Preface to the Mystery (vv.4-5)

The Revelation of the Mystery (v.6)

The Servant of the Mystery (v.7)

The Preface of the Mystery (vv.4-5)

The mystery of Christ is still the major theme in verses 4-7. What is most encouraging is that Paul begins with telling the Gentiles that the mystery of Christ is an easy thing to grasp. IOW, there is no secret code to unlock the mystery. The mystery is comprehensible by anyone who is able to read it. Or it could be said that the Scripture is simple enough to understand that a child could “get it.”

To have insight in the way that Paul does is to have “a mental putting together” (Strong’s). This insight is a full knowledge (pertaining to the will of God) that Paul prays the Colossians would have (Colossians 1:9). This implies to us that, as Christians, we must use the minds that God has given to us as we come to His Word. As this truth of the mystery will be explained clearly in verse 6, how do we think upon the matter? What do we take from it? These are questions we must ask.

This mystery is what Deacons are to hold to as expressed in 1 Timothy 3:9. Why? Because holding fast to the mystery of Christ allows deacons to think in an impartial way. All believers, regardless of where they come from or national origin are deserving of the same care from the deacons of the church.

A Specified Preface

The preface shifts to a specific group of people who were first given insight into the mystery of Christ. This is not because God hates anyone or that He plays favorites. If God does not play favorites, then why does a specific people find out first? Answer, because without the Jews not knowing the truth, Jesus came and articulated the truth clearly to them.

The disciples of Jesus needed to heed, obey, and know the truth. For it was their calling to spread the gospel to the most far away lands that they could. Jesus’ disciples had the amazing privilege to preach and teach the gospel everywhere they went.

There are specific reasons as to why Jesus must have come to the Jews first as he explains to the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15. The most important reason that Jesus came to the Jews first is because that was part of the fulfillment of His mission. Coming to the Jews and preaching the gospel to them and being rejected by them, ultimately, leads them to coming to Christ after His ascension to heaven. As recipients of the gospel years later, it is truly a privilege that the mystery of Christ is not concealed (Matthew 13:17, Luke 10:24). Further, we can look back to the long line of history that proves the addition to more and more Gentiles into the family of God.

Was every Gentile left out? The Scripture is clear that this is not the case. For example, Matthew 15:22-28, Jesus speaks to a Canaanite woman after her persistent cries to Jesus about her need of help and healing. And there is Rahab in the OT that was clearly a believer in Yahweh God.

A Preface of Contrast

There is a contrast in verse 5. It includes the sons of men and the holy apostles and prophets. This contrast fleshes out multiple truths. They are, 1. It was God’s sovereign choice whom He would reveal the message to, 2. The apostles and prophets that God chose were set apart as “holy,” and 3. The pledge of the Holy Spirit upon believers is seen in the dignified title as “God’s holy ones.”

Typically, the sons of men in Scripture denotes the sinful condition that plagues man (Babel in Genesis 11:5, Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:28). Of course there were some that were holy and righteous in God’s sight while the vast majority of people were living in open sin and hatred toward God. However, what brings forth the greatest contrast is the divine appointment of the apostles and prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”) Paul emphasizes in verse 5 implicitly, that these men were appointed by God and taught by the Holy Spirit for the sake of the church (John 14:26).

The Revelation of the Mystery (v.6)

If there was any doubt about what the mystery is, verse 6 clears that right up. The most concise and clear description of the mystery is given in verse 6. Verse 6 is not only descriptive, but there are four truths/realities that Paul gives. One of those goes implicitly unspoken and the other 3 are clearly explained.

Four Critical Realities

The implicit and unspoken reality is that a multitude of people are redeemed/saved. For how can any of what is said in verse 6 be applicable to anyone who is not saved? The three realities that follow for the Gentile are that they are heirs of the King and heirs with Christ, they are members of the family of God alongside the Jews (hence the Scripture reading in Galatians 3:26-29), and they are fellow partakers or participants of the promise of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will look at the 3 that are written in verse 6.

A Fellow Heir

With the Gentiles now being fellow heirs of the promise, they are now entitled to all the blessings listed afterward in verse 6. What does it mean for the Gentile to be an heir? Simply, that his identity is in Christ. God the Father sees Christ and not the Gentile any longer. This is essential because God can only accept such a one with this distinction (Romans 8:17 ). Broadly speaking, EVERY believer is an heir of Christ regardless of background. Being a fellow heir holds the same significance today as it did when this was originally penned.

An heir of God has the Spirit testify on his behalf (Romans 8:16) and he is one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:29). An heir of God is of the promised seed of Abraham (Genesis 15:4-5). Who is such an heir? Specifically, a husband, wife, brother, sister, cousin, or friend that has put his/her trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Fellow Members

Providing great clarity of the mystery is seen in that the Gentiles are fellow members of the body. Knowing that one body part is as necessary as another (1 Corinthians 12:12), Paul is essentially saying that the Gentiles are a critical piece in the body. No longer is the Gentile seen as an outcast or insignificant, but essential. Now, the question can be asked today, do you see your brother or sister as a critical piece of the body of Christ? How about the one that you may disagree with on particular issue? Or someone that seems so different from you? Paul, in so many words, is saying to dive deeper than all those other things and see your brother/sister for who he/she really is, a fellow member of the body.

The Greek word for members is an emphatic denotation of Christian unity. IOW, there is no way in getting around Christian unity in this text. And the Jews and Gentiles were as far apart culturally as you could get. One Greek writer defines the Gentiles as fellow members as “members of the same church” (Thayer). Thus it must be said that this verse NEVER promotes division. God is a God of unity. In following His example of unity, Christians have no excuse to not live the same way. One final note, membership according to this verse is definitive. It is a mark of being adopted into the family of God.

Fellow Partakers/Participants

The last reality that is in plain sight is the Gentiles being fellow partakers or participants in the promise. Under the promise of God, the Gentiles are not only adopted into the family of God (1:5), but they have joint access to the Father through one Spirit as Ephesians 2:18 says. The Gentiles are active partakers of the inheritance that was set forth for the Jews as was told to Abraham many years before.

The Greek definition for partake always refers to “joint” participation. For example, every partaker is of the promise of Christ Jesus. And every partaker of the promise has heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and submitted under it as the Spirit directs. The promise of unity is bestowed upon every person who is in Christ Jesus because unity is found in the gospel (the Triune Godhead were all in on the mission that Christ was sent on). John’s first epistle showcases unified participation in fellowship as slaves of Christ (1 John 1:3) and that this unity is not just for this life, but for the one to come (1 John 2:25).

The Servant of the Mystery (v.7)

The final verse that will be examined this morning, points us back to Paul’s declaration of himself in verse 2, that is his appointment as a minister.

A Minister, like a Pastor?

Before, we go any further it must be noted that what you may be thinking of in the word minister is not what you may be thinking. The CSB rightly defines minister to mean “servant.” The word ‘servant’ is the same word that we get deacon from. Now, this does not mean that the word for servant can only mean deacon. There are many definitions for it. The context bears that Paul the minister of the gospel is Paul the servant of the gospel. IOW, he is in complete subjection to the gospel.

There are 2 distinctions that highlight Paul being a servant. They are, 1. Paul is a minister/servant according to the gift of God’s grace, and 2. This is all done in accordance to the power of God. Notice, that the emphasis/highlight is not on the office of servant, but on the title. Paul is known as a servant, it is not an office that he holds for a certain duration of time. This all being said, there is no way that this refers to only pastors and teachers. This does not mean that we should not expect pastors and leaders to hold to these 2 distinctions. Of course they must! But the same must also be true for EVERY Christian.

Tying in, Lord willing, where we are headed next Lord’s Day, that is verse 8, you could say that Paul is a “servant-evangelist.” Again, this we will see more clearly next week, Lord willing.

The Duty of being a Servant of God

I want to be clear that the word for servant here is different from the word slave. Being a slave of Christ is our rightful identity. Being a servant of God in this context is to be under the gospel. This is why it is servants of God who share the gospel and that servants of God share the gospel according to the grace of God. How so? Because it is the servant of God who is empowered by the Holy Spirit for the task. Consider Paul’s words in Colossians 1:29 “For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His working, which He works in me in power.” Paul is able to serve in such a way because it is God who empowers him to do so.

This is emphasized greater when it is a weak and powerless person who is doing such things. From 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “And for this reason we also thank God without ceasing that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.” You can see that the Thessalonians did not receive man’s words that hold no weight, but they received/held onto every word that came from God.

Therefore, the question must be asked. Can we say with Paul, as he did in Romans 15:18-19, that to the places we have been, we have fully shared the gospel? This question is not to discourage you, but to honestly ask and answer the question. In so doing, may it challenge us to go forth to our neighbors in the divine power that is within us via the Holy Spirit. This is best encapsulated in Paul’s words recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:9–11. You will notice that it is not because of his greatness, but because of the gospel that he preached that men were saved. He writes, “For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

Conclusion

Brothers, therefore, it such a privilege to be fellow heirs of God as we have heard the gospel, turned from our sins and trusted in Christ for salvation. And it is my great delight to declare to every unbelieving person that it is possible for you to be a part of this wonderful family. How so? As we have said this morning, everyone who is a part of the family of God has turned away from sin, followed Christ, and believed in Him. That is what He requires of you today, might you come to Him and He welcome you unto Himself.

Brothers, we are a result of the gospel proving itself and the power it holds. For once we were once an unregenerate sinner, but now in Christ is who we are as fellow partakers of this glorious promise in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Benediction

Psalm 103:17–18 “The lovingkindness of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them.”