The Mystery of Christ Understood
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today, we will learn about the mystery of Christ. This is not riddle to be figured out, but a truth that God has revealed. It was planned in eternity before time, it was hidden in the Old Testament by types and shadows, but has now been disclosed by the light of Christ in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. In this we have our true identity, in this we have meaningful relationships and in this we know our mission in the world. Today, may we experience the fullness of the mystery of Christ.
PRAY
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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. 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.
Entrusted with a Calling
Entrusted with a Calling
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles - As you might recall, Paul is in a Roman prison as he writes this letter to the Ephesians. He is one who is bound. He connects his physical imprisonment with his spiritual bondage to Christ. He is jailed because of his apostleship to the Gentiles.
Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you - Paul declares that his calling to minister the Gospel to the Gentiles is a stewardship of God’s grace. For Paul, it was a great act of God’s favor and blessing to be set apart for ministry to the non-Jews of the Roman Empire.
For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.
Paul was granted the stewardship or responsibility of sharing God’s favor to the Gentiles. He was called to manage the message and its ministry for God. Paul adds a personal touch to the church of Ephesus when he writes that it “was given to me for you”.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
Enlightened by the Spirit
Enlightened by the Spirit
How the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I written briefly - When Paul writes of a mystery here, he is not speaking of something mysterious or spooky in the way we tend to think. The simplest way to understand it is as a secret or something that was kept hidden or concealed. Paul has written shortly about to this point.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
God had hidden this reality and it was to learned by revelation. Paul says the Ephesians, he was taught about this by revelation. This is means to be revealed, uncovered or unveiled.
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ - Paul argues that the reality of his insight would be validated by what he would write concerning the mystery of Christ.
One writer commented concerning the mystery of Christ, “His place with the Father, his commission, his coming, his death, his preaching, his work, his exaltation, and his headship over the church, the world, the powers, and all things—this is “This Secret” in person. The one mystery is the mystery of Christ the pre-existent, the revealer, the savior, the regent of church and world, the one to unite Jews and Gentiles, and the high priest leading the church to the Father.”
Which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations - It is obvious that the mystery was previously hidden. Other generations of men had not understood the mystery. God had not planned for them to know it or understand it. However, it was not meant to be hidden forever as we see in the next phrase.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 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.
As it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit - Paul states that there has been a great uncovering, an unveiling. The mystery which was hidden is not revealed. How? The ministry of God-called servants like him. The foundation of the church that we saw in verse 20 of chapter 2. These men were set apart to speak the Word of God. How? They did so by the Spirit of God. The Spirit illuminated their hearts and minds. The Spirit loosened their lips. The Spirit emboldened their wills to proclaim the Word of Christ.
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
Embraced in Full Belonging
Embraced in Full Belonging
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs - Once again, we see the content of the mystery is that the believing Gentiles are no longer far off from Yahweh. They are no longer alienated from God. They are equal in right and standing with believing Jews. Their inheritance is the same as all true children of Abraham.
Members of the same body - The saints in Ephesus are members of Christ body, the church. They are in the exact body with the believing Jews. Though Jews were first to believe, inclusion into the body of Christ is identical when a Gentile believes. There is no secondary body of Christ, only one and all who trust Jesus belong equally.
And partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel - Paul continues the thought to add that the Gentile believers share in the commitment of God to save a people through the good news of Jesus Christ. They are fellow beneficiaries of what God has declared to be given in his Son, Jesus Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Practical Application
Practical Application
Are you spiritual? Are the things of Christ folly to you?
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
God’s revelation of himself and his salvation is progressive in the Scriptures, but final in his Son. Jesus Christ is the final, perfect revelation of God. In order to understand our salvation, we must listen to him and understand him.
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Though we are not apostles like Paul, we have a stewardship related to the Gospel. We have responsibilities as it relates to the church.
John MacArthur writes, “Every believer is a steward of the calling, spiritual gifts, opportunities, skills, knowledge, and every other blessing he has from the Lord. Everything we have belongs to the Lord, and we are therefore entrusted as stewards to manage our lives and everything we possess in behalf of the One to whom they belong. We are faithful stewards when we use what we have to minister to those within the family of God and witness to those who are without.”
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
We should enjoy the present favor of God as fellow heirs, members and partaker of the grace of God. What does this mean? Acting as equals, sharing among ourselves and trusting the promises of God.
