Ephesians 3:1-6 - Mystery revealed: The gospel is for everyone

Prank on Nate

He pranked me in 2022

For 3 years, I’ve been dropping keys in places he’d go.

The key tag just said, “N. Millican” on it.

He randomly received keys that he had no idea where they came from and went to absolutely nothing.

At the Campus Gathering, I revealed that it was my the whole time.

Everyone loves a mystery until it’s solved.

Revelation brings clarity.

The his letter to the Ephesians, Paul reveals a mystery that was hidden for ages.

Big Idea: Mystery Revealed! The Gospel is for Everyone!

Context

Paul’s goal is to show us a greater picture of God.

The depth of our worship is determined by our love for Him.

Our love for Him only grows with what we know about Him.

Stand to read

Ephesians 3:1–5 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.

Leader: This is God’s Word

Everyone: Thanks be to God

Explanation

Paul writes from Prison in Rome.

The reason he’s there—Preaching the gospel in public to Gentiles.

He received God’s grace when he was actively murdering Christians.

Jesus said that Paul “is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

God called Paul specifically to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, so now he sits in prison saying, “And I’d do it again-I’m bound by Jesus.”

He assumes the Ephesians have heard of his ministry.

His ministry and authority had been in question everywhere else he’s gone.

False teachers would come in and confuse a church Paul planted by questioning his authority.

He writes this to assure them that his imprisonment shouldn’t make them question his ministry because it was authorized by Jesus.’

Jesus revealed to him God’s plan to save His people through Christ.

This revelation was given to Paul for the Ephesians .

His authority is true because it’s God’s authority.

They can perceive his insight based on everything else he’s written so far (v. 4)

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have accomplished salvation (1:3-14)

He prayed for them to grow in their knowledge of His power.

He laid out the gospel specifically (2:1-10)

Then he mentioned how the power of the gospel brings us together as God’s family (2:11-22)

This was not always revealed by God (v. 5)

Throughout the Old testament, they had small tastes of God’s plan, but they never knew how He would accomplish it.

He revealed little pieces at a time.

Abraham was promised to bless the nations

But how God was going to do that was a mystery.

Moses had given Israel the Law

But it wasn’t fulfilled in their day.

David was a great king who ruled and reigned

But he was imperfect—God promised His throne would be forever.

The people knew God was going to save all nations, but how He was going to do it was a complete mystery.

It was completely unknown and inaccessible to human understanding.

But now the mystery has been revealed to the apostles to the world.

God has made the good news clear, comprehensible, and available!

Church, Paul wants to convey to us that:

The gospel is from God (vv. 1-5)

This is not a matter of philosophy or guess work.

You don’t have to wonder how to get to heaven/have a relationship with God.

It is clearly revealed by God in the pages of Scripture.

It warns us of our sin and the judgement to come.

It gives us a clear path back to God.

Let’s take a second to appreciate road signs and GPS’s for a moment.

I’m not talking speed limit signs.

I like to drive entirely too fast.

Road signs tell us of the dangers up ahead so we can prepare for what’s coming up.

Earlier this week I was on Huseman Rd. just off 50.

Hilary can tell you that my worst enemy is sharp curves.

My best friends are road signs that tell me that one is coming.

There’s a sign that tells me that and warns me of a SHARP curve. 15mph.

“I should probably not go 75 through here because of the gigantic cliff I could be yeeted off into someone’s driveway.

The road signs aren’t up for interpretation.

The road signs clearly prepare us for what is coming and what needs to happen.

Salvation is not up to interpretation—Salvation has been revealed.

God has made the secret know.

His plan is to save the world from sin and death through faith.

How?

Gospel presentation

By His divine grace through Jesus Christ!

Being a good person does not get you to heaven.

You were a sinner in need of a Savior.

At one time, you were without God and without hope.

No one in here “has always been a Christian.”

You may have grown up in the church, but you’re not saved based on your religious activity.

At one time, you were dead in your sins (2:1)

You possessed no righteousness.

You were as guilty as it gets.

No contest.

God sent His Son on a rescue mission to save those who can’t redeem themselves.

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who took to Himself a human body and lived a human life as God had intended it.

Jesus never broke the law of God/never an enemy of God.

He was always at the center of God’s will.

Jesus was fully alive.

Then He laid down His life on a cross.

He took all of your sins onto Himself as if He had done them. He made Himself a curse on your behalf.

Three nails wasn’t the worst part of the cross.

The righteous wrath of God was.

What happened on the cross was the full weight of God’s hatred for sin was poured out onto Jesus.

Jesus took everything you deserved.

You don’t deserve grace, mercy, or love.

You deserved justice. punishment. and death.

There was nothing you’ve done or ever will do to deserve God’s favor.

God’s favor is poured out onto you because His wrath was poured out onto Him.

We can be forgiven of our sins because Jesus was condemned for it!

But in the most amazing event in history, Jesus raised from the dead three days later!

Now sin and death no longer have hold on Him nor anyone who trusts in Him for salvation!

This good news is from God:

If you turn from your sins and trust in Jesus alone to save you, you will be forgiven and brought into His family!

Regardless of your background, your past, or who your momma is.

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for your sins and rose again from the dead, you can have a relationship with God!

This is the gospel from God.

Not only to the religious elite, but to the most broken sinner.

Not only to the person who has gone to church for years and knows how to play the church games, but to the farthest person away from God.

This is what Paul communicates: There is no longer Jew or Gentile—Now, they are both God’s people.

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 mystery of the gospel is that God would save any of us.

Now He promises not only to save a particular race or kind of human.

Those who trust in Jesus Christ and believe the gospel are fellow heirs, members of the same body (the Church) and partakers of the promise!

Perhaps for years you’ve been wondering how God could truly love you.

“I’m not a churchy person—I don’t have my act together.

After the week I’ve had, it took all I had to come here today.”

“I come here and I don’t feel the songs we sing. How could God love me? Does He know my past?”

The Gentiles were in the same boat.

They were told repeatedly that they had no hope and without God.

But Paul leans in with you the same as he does with them…

When you read this letter, imagine it’s as if Paul puts his arm around your shoulders and whispers a revealed secret…

Church,

The gospel is for you (v. 6)

If you surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and receive the good news, you have just as much right to the presence, the promise, and the power of God as Jesus does.

The eternal God of the universe has given you this message with an invitation.

“Won’t you lay down your false ideas of who I am and believe the gospel that I’ve given you? You must be tired of trying to be good enough. Jesus Christ was “good enough” for you.”

You can have a new identity given from God specifically for you.

The gospel is for every aspect of your life.

When you truly surrender everything to Jesus, there is nothing that isn’t impacted by the gospel.

Your relationships (marriage, parenting, friends) begin being shaped around your relationship with God.

The way you work is influenced on your hope in Jesus.

The way you spend your money

Your alone time is different.

Your affections and interests begin to change.

Overtime and daily, the Holy Spirit helps you to take the next step toward Jesus.

The gospel is from God for you.

Just take a step toward Him and receive it.

Take the Next Step

Receive God’s good news for you.

You can be forgiven because Jesus died on the cross for you.

If you repent and turn to Jesus, you can be saved and changed.

Will you receive this good news?

Answer the question what part of my life has not been changed by the gospel?

Live as someone who knows the mystery.

Summary:

The gospel is from God—not man

The gospel is for everyone—Not just a particular type of person

The gospel is for you—The eternal God of the universe is saying “You don’t have to be good enough. Jesus was good enough for you.”