Strengthened by the Mystery of the Gospel

Introduction

·

Context

· Ephesians 3:1 (ESV)

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

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

· Paul is about to offer another prayer for the Ephesians, when he seems to realize that more explanation is necessary.

· A digression. Paul is writing a letter to people he knows. This is very conversational.

o It seems as if the thought strikes him mid-sentence.

· For this reason: Paul is drawing a conclusion from his previous statements about how the Gentile Ephesians have been made a part the Church of Jesus Christ.

· Ephesians 2:22 (ESV)

Ephesians 2:22 ESV

22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

· Paul intends to pray that the Ephesians would be strengthened by the knowledge of their inclusion.

· Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus:

o Paul’s conception of himself is shown here.

o He is undoubtedly a prisoner of the Roman state at this time, and under lock and key.

o However, he sees things differently. For he is in prison according to the will of his Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul demonstrates how the way we look at our circumstances often dictates how we will be able to endure them.

· On behalf of you Gentiles:

o Paul realizes that he is in prison because of the particular ministry that he has as the apostle to the Gentiles.

o So, whatever sufferings Paul endures for this ministry, he views them as serving a greater purpose in God’s providence.

o His imprisonment isn’t for any disqualifying reason but for his faithfulness.

· It is this the source of the digression…Paul is compelled to pause and explain his ministry to the Ephesians so that they, too, will understand Paul’s circumstances in light of God’s providence and plan instead of growing discouraged by the apostle’s imprisonment.

It is possible that the Ephesians, seeing their apostle in prison, would become discouraged in their faith. After all, if the Apostle to the Gentiles is imprisoned, what hope is there for his churches?

Pastors have many important roles in the life of the church: to expose the Scriptures and explain them; to call people to repentance and obedience; to give godly counsel about how to lead a godly life.

But one thing we are also called to do is to provide context for the events of people’s lives; to help them see the bigger picture about what God might be doing.

Paul will give them a divine perspective on his imprisonment and suffering and he will explain the nature of both the divine “mystery” and his role as a steward of it.

Paul’s purpose is to try and get the Ephesians to see things his way (or better yet, God’s way).

Such a Wonderous Mystery (Eph. 3:2-6)

· Ephesians 3:2–6 (ESV)

Ephesians 3:2–6 ESV

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.

· The beginning of the digression, Paul wants to first clarify his role as an apostle to the Gentiles.

· Stewardship: A privilege and a responsibility.

o Paul is responsible for bringing the gospel to the Gentiles.

o Why is Paul telling them about his ministry when they had borne witness to it themselves?

Because we often forget what is true when circumstances don’t work out the way we think they will. Paul wants them to remember what has always been true…God’s grace.

· God’s grace: What is Paul responsible for?

o Paul’s ministry is to convey the good news of God’s saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, who were once alienated from the promises of God.

· Paul didn’t appoint himself to this ministry because he was super excited to reach this unreached people group.

o He received the revelation of the mystery of God at the moment of his conversion, as he testifies in Acts 26:16–18 (ESV) before Herod Agrippa:

Acts 26:16–18 ESV

16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

o His ministry was to make this great mystery known to the Gentiles.

· He will go on to give his insight into this mystery to the Ephesians so that they can come to know what has been revealed to and through Paul.

· First, the mystery of Christ is something that was previously hidden.

o A secret from all other people in history.

§ You can’t reason your way to salvation.

§ It belongs to God alone, in the counsel of His will.

§ For us to know salvation, it must be revealed by Him.

o This hidden salvation was revealed by God through His apostles and prophets.

§ The Idea that Jews and Gentiles would become one new people (the church) was not known either to Gentiles or to the Old Testament Jews.

· But the OT spoke of the blessing of God that would ultimately come to the Gentiles through Abraham and Israel.

· It even speaks of Gentile inclusion within Israel as sojourners, foreigners, and God-fearers.

· In the apostles, Jesus made known the fullness and wonder of God’s plan, that Israel and the Gentiles would become something new and better, the Church.

o Under this revealed mystery, Gentiles come to enjoy all the promises that Israel once possessed together with them.

§ Fellow heirs—inheritance in the kingdom

§ Fellow members—participation in the church

§ Fellow partakers—possession of the promises and the blessings of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, this is a radical change.

No one could have conceived of the unity between Jew and Gentile, and their unity with God.

This was scandalous to the Jews. It had landed Paul in prison.

All of this had been revealed through the message of Jesus and His apostles, which had kicked off the greatest movement in the history of the world, because now God was making known His intention to unite all things in Jesus Christ.

· You see, the gospel is so much greater than we often communicate it, both to others and to ourselves.

o We often view the gospel in an atomistic sense.

§ As in, salvation is about me coming into a saving relationship with Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.

· To be sure, this is true of what the gospel does in my life.

o But God’s purpose in sending His Son is far greater:

· Ephesians 1:10 (ESV)

Ephesians 1:10 ESV

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Jesus Christ is after transforming the entire world (universal). We need to expand our scope of vision and see that the gospel is much greater than my context. There is a manifold wonder to God’s mystery.

The Manifold Wonder of God’s Mystery (Eph. 3:7-10)

· Ephesians 3:7–10 (ESV)

Ephesians 3:7–10 ESV

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.

· Paul transitions from describing the nature of his ministry to the nature and content of the amazing mystery he had been entrusted with.

· Paul was made a minister/servant (diakonos) of the gospel, which is the revelation that salvation is available to all people through faith in Jesus Christ.

· He reinforces that this ministry is not a creation of Paul, according to his ambitions or desires, but rather the ministry that Paul was called to and equipped for was the powerful work of the Holy Spirit of God.

o Paul is saying that he is nothing, as he powerfully explains to the Corinthians.

· 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

· 1 Corinthians 3:7 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 3:7 ESV

7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

· Paul’s thankfulness and amazement overflow as he reflects upon the weighty and glorious ministry that He has been given by God, and what occurs to him is that he is unworthy.

o God’s grace is shown in even in the person whom He raised up to deliver the message.

· “The very least of all the saints”

o Paul bends the Greek language to try and express how lowly a person he is.

§ Less than the least/Most least (mostest leastest-est).

o This is consistent with the way Paul describes himself elsewhere: “the least of all the apostles”, the “chief of sinners,” and “one untimely born.”

· Grace is not just a concept to Paul, but an experiential reality of God’s undeserved kindness and mercy, shown to him at his very lowest point.

o The grace of God is a key part of Paul’s message and the fuel that drives his ministry forward.

When we recognize God’s grace, it naturally produces surrender to Him. It is the soil in which humility and service grow.

· The grace of God was given even to someone like Paul to accomplish what God had set forth for him to do, and to walk in it obediently.

o Paul was called to preach to the Gentiles, and that is what he is doing.

§ Being in prison only means that he has a captive audience for his message.

God’s provision for Paul speaks to the way He also provides for us. He provides everything we need to walk in obedience before Him and to accomplish the good works He has laid down for us.

· Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

· Paul’s mission was to extol the “unsearchable riches of Christ” to these people who were alienated from God.

o The riches of grace that were revealed in Jesus Christ are so far beyond human comprehension as to be inscrutable/incomprehensible/impossible to understand based on careful examination/investigation.

o This is the grace that makes rebel sinners, dead in their trespasses, under the wrath of God; those who are aliens, hopeless, and godless alive and reconciled to God.

§ Such a wonderful salvation escapes our understanding and leaves us in awe.

The gospel is a bottomless deep for us. It never grows tired for us, because as we see our God and our sin more clearly, we become all the more thankful for His grace toward us in Jesus Christ. Christ always enriches our lives.

· Uncovering the riches of Christ meant shedding light on the wondrous mystery that had been hidden for so long.

o This mystery was hidden—It was planned and purposed, not accidental or improvised.

o This mystery was hidden for ages—It was hidden in previous stages of history.

o This mystery was hidden in God—It was hidden according to the eternal purpose and plan of God.

o A grand plan that the sovereign God is carrying out in time to unite all things to himself in Christ.

· Now a new era has dawned (the church age) and in it all heaven and earth will see what God has planned in his wisdom (called here “manifold”)

o God’s wisdom is described this way to display the way that it surpasses all human knowledge.

§ God’s wisdom is displayed through saving sinners through a church through a ministry of universal reconciliation.

· A multiethnic, multiracial, multicultural church made one in its Savior and Head.

The gospel brings all of human history into focus, so that God’s amazing plan of salvation from before the foundation of the earth becomes known in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

In light of such wonderful wisdom, what is Paul’s imprisonment? What is our suffering and trials?

They are like paving stones that lead the way to God’s new creation.

· The manifold wisdom of God is made known through the church, not only to the flesh and blood powers of this world; it is put on display for all the cosmic powers.

· This church stands as a witness to the heavenly hosts as a revelation of what the creator had planned.

o The new creation demonstrates the wisdom of God to the angelic hosts as the old creation demonstrates God’s glory to us.

· 1 Peter 1:10–12 (ESV)

1 Peter 1:10–12 ESV

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

o The angelic hosts rejoice to see God’s wisdom revealed in the Church, the agent of cosmic/universal reconciliation.

· A witness against the evil spiritual powers that oppose God of their foolishness and defeat. Satan and his servants come face to face with the transformative power of the gospel.

o Through the church, he sees the certainty of his defeat and judgment in the world that is yet to come.

o God’s glorious mystery proclaims to the great serpent that redemption in Christ Jesus has always been God’s “Plan A.”

Finding Reassurance in God’s Mystery (Eph. 3:11-13)

· Ephesians 3:11–13 (ESV)

Ephesians 3:11–13 ESV

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.

· Paul gives a reason for the confidence that is available to the Ephesian church to help them endure.

· This amazing mystery, being no improvised salvation, but the eternal purpose of God, means that God’s ultimate victory is assured.

o The mystery is realized in Jesus Christ…his life, death, resurrection, and ascension are the full realization of the plan of salvation that God has been working out throughout all the ages…from the fall to the cross.

§ Now, from the empty tomb to the New Jerusalem, we live in the age of the kingdom come in part. (Already-but-not-yet).

· Through Jesus Christ, we have assurance of fellowship with God and free access to Him.

o Paul’s faithful ministry among the Ephesians has resulted in their inclusion in the life and blessings of Jesus Christ.

· And so Paul concludes by bringing his digression back around.

o The Ephesians should not be discouraged because of Paul’s imprisonment.

§ It’s easy to lose heart when we feel like God’s work is being thwarted.

· Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, is in prison. Does that mean the Gentile church is defeated?

o Paul has just given powerful reasons against discouragement.

§ Just because Paul is in prison doesn’t mean that God isn’t still at work.

o Our circumstances are not as important as our perspective.

Romans 5:1–5 (ESV)

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

· Suffering for Christ is not meaningless, but meaningful, and a critical part of God’s working in us.

The lesson from Paul’s testimony is that we need to cultivate a bigger perspective of God’s work in the world and in our lives. To learn to see our lives in the perspective of Romans 8:18-30.

· Romans 8:18 (ESV)

Romans 8:18 ESV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

· 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

Conclusion

· Paul’s ministry reflects Jesus’s ministry.

o Jesus’s sufferings were for our salvation.

§ What He suffered in life and in death brought present and eternal glory to every believer (including us).

o Paul, too, endured many tribulations up to and including his imprisonment in Rome.

§ Yet these too resulted in the salvation of many, including the Ephesians (and us).

God uses our tribulations to conform us more to the likeness of our Savior.

Tribulation causes us to lean on the Lord and not on our own strength and understanding.

In Christ, we find grace in the suffering. Both to endure and to serve.

There is a close relationship between suffering and glory.

If we try and live our lives to avoid suffering for Christ’s sake, we deny with our actions that we are co-heirs with Him.

John 15:18–20 (ESV)

John 15:18–20 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

So we should see our sufferings as Christians as an indispensable part of what Jesus is doing in us, and what He would do through us.

· When we hear of believers in prison/suffering as Christians (for the gospel) our instinct is to cry out to God for relief/justice/rescue.

· Perhaps our prayers should be a little more radical.

o That we express thanks that our brothers and sisters have been counted worthy to suffer for His name.

o That we proclaim anew that we believe what God said through Paul,

· Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

o That we come to see that their suffering has been ordained by God for our glory.

· Philippians 1:12–14 (ESV)

Philippians 1:12–14 ESV

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

To all that believe they can never be used of God, remember what God has worked through someone like Paul.

· Finally, we must come to see the Church for what it is, God’s plan to bring the salvation of Jesus Christ to a lost and broken world.

o Only the Church is built as a bulwark against the waves of man-made philosophies, idolatries, and debaucheries.

o The church is central to the message of the gospel—being a part of Christ’s body is central to our message and our practice.

§ We preach Christ crucified and we live as His church.

o This church is worth giving our lives for.

· Church is not optional but essential for believers. It is the nature of our new lives in Christ.

o The visible church is imperfect, yet we are called to be committed to a local manifestation of it.

§ Committed to worshiping together (being united with the life of God).

§ Committed to fellowship (sharing our lives with one another).

§ Committed to evangelism (ushering new members into this body).