The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed

Ephesians 3:1-13

Ephesians 3 opens up saying “For this reason”

The same opening during the transition in Ephesians 1:15 in discussing thanksgiving and prayer. The transition statement of “for this reason” was a statement looking in the past at a theological implication Paul unpacked in the prior verses.

Here, it is no different.

Chapter 3 is set upon a magnificent stage of identity, grace, and unity in Christ.

To understand this mystery of the gospel, Paul told the Ephesians in Chapter 1

They are Blessed in Christ, Holy and Blameless, Chosen by God, Forgiven, Unified, and Sealed by the blood of Jesus on the cross.

Then Paul unpacks that you were dead in your sins.

You were headed to hell.

You were living in an ungodly manner.

Paul says both God and I know your past. And guess what. No one cares.

Because “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:11

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”

Therefore, remember where you came from. Not for yourself to be condemned. But to give grace to new Christians, have a heart for the unbeliever, and recognize. It’s not your status God is looking for. It’s your heart.

And you can’t accomplish the Will of the Father alone. You must be unified.

#1. But, to be unified, you must be equally yoked. A non-Christian & a Christian cannot be in unity

#2. To be unified, you must be in 1 Spirit. Not just “claiming Christ” you have to be “in Christ.”

#3. We must not divide that which creates unifies.

But as much as we are called to maintain unity, good intentions don’t excuse bad theology. You can’t maintain unity with those like Don Lemon who claim Christ but their fruit is to march into a church on Sunday to protest ICE during a church service.

But for those who are one in Christ. Those of us who serve Christ faithfully.

We can’t forget our identity as a builder of the kingdom.

When the Christian’s identity changes from consumer to builder. From consumer to priest I no longer come to the house of God from a mindset of judgement but one of service.

We are no longer strangers. We are all members of God’s household. We are all trying to build the building together. And that foundation is in Jesus Christ.

So…

Ephesians 3:1–2 “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,”

He’s proving his authority to speak on the topic of God’s grace

Ephesians 3:3–5 “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.”

God revealed the mystery of the gospel to Paul. And he’s about to share that mystery with us right now.

Ephesians 3:6 “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.”

Wow! Sounds pretty basic to us now.

But really there is a profound depth to this idea.

Fellow heirs = in GRK: summetochos

co-participant

conveys the idea of joint participation—sharing fully with another person or group in some reality or privilege.

It’s a union.

Ephesus was a cosmopolitan hub where Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Asians mingled. Converts brought various backgrounds, creating tension about who truly belonged to God’s people. Paul answers by declaring Gentiles equal “fellow partakers.”

But he set the stage prior by emphasizing you can also be in unity with the devil. Your previous backgrounds you came with? Yeah those are your previous backgrounds.

Not your present identity.

Just because your family tradition does a certain thing doesn’t make it right.

Your primary identity isn’t your family.

Your primary identity isn’t your culture.

Your primary identity isn’t your sexuality.

Your primary identity isn’t your political association.

Your primary identity is in Christ and Christ alone. And every other culture, tradition, sexual identification and political association must bow its knee to Christ because you are made a co-participant in Christ.

You are made one in Christ. You are an heir of the promise in Christ Jesus.

You are an heir to the fact that God in flesh came down to earth. And his name is Jesus Christ. And this Jesus lived a perfect life. He came as the perfect substitute for all the atonement I deserve. All the punishment I deserve for my horrible sins.

He came and sacrificed himself and took our eternal jail sentence in hell and he paid the sentence for us when he died on the cross. And because he’s epic and he’s God he beat death and the grave and 3 days later he rose from the dead. It is that grace from God that was given to us as fellow heirs of the gospel.

And…

Ephesians 3:7 “Of this gospel I (Paul) was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.”

Do you know one of the key indicators of if someone is called to be a minister?

By God’s grace they have been given authority in the Spirit by the working of the power of God. Not just any power.

This is the Greek word “Dunamis” power.

Dunamis is where we get the word dynamic, or dynamite.

It’s the explosive supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s a force that signifies something beyond human capabilities

It’s the supernatural ability to unpack the Bible

It’s the supernatural ability to encourage

It’s the supernatural ability to prophecy, to heal, to lead, to evangelize, to pastor

It’s also the supernatural ability to save you from that past life you did not think you could be saved from.

In Paul’s words, it’s the supernatural ability to take the very least to preach the gospel.

Ephesians 3:8–9 “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, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,”

The supernatural ability to take someone like Paul, a terrorist who murdered Christians, to one of the greatest ministers of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace.

The supernatural ability to take someone like you, a prior drug addict, a prior compulsive liar, a prior man overtaken by lust and sex out of wedlock.

The supernatural ability to take not just someone… but take anyone willing

from a past life without Christ to ministers for Christ according to the gift of God’s grace.

Because the Bible says the Lord saves to the uttermost.

In other translations, instead of minister, it says the word servant.

You think this power, this calling only applies to the American definition of minister?

A biblical servant spans from ordinary table-service to the highest expressions of Gospel ministry. In every setting the term underscores humble, task-oriented devotion rather than status or rank.

That implies every Christian is called to be a servant of Christ.

Every Christian is defined by their present identity in Christ not their past actions in sin.

Paul brought this miraculous truth to us: Ephesians 3:10 “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

those rulers and authorities are not on earth. It clearly says “in the heavenly places”

So, that implies Paul is speaking of angels and fallen angels.

Through the church! Through you. The wisdom of God is made known to angels and fallen angels. Why? And why does that matter?

The implication is profound:

The church is not a backup plan. The gospel isn’t a backup.

Seeing the first humans Adam and Eve sin in the Garden of Eden.

Seeing Abraham father many nations.

Seeing the Israelites constantly rebelling against God.

Ephesians 3:11 “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,”

This plan was realized in Christ Jesus.

But God saw them reject Jesus Christ, God in flesh.

And now, Paul is bringing this inheritance to the non-Jews. Also called “the Gentiles.” It was always apart of God’s master plan.

1 Peter 1:12 “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, things into which angels long to look.”

That which angels though they were servants of the gospel don’t have the grace to see. Through the church, God reveals his eternal wisdom to the angels.

Nothing slips him. Because all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 3:12 “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”

God knows the end from the beginning. And I have boldness in that.

Isaiah 46:9–10 “I am God, and there is no other; declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”

Peace doesn't come from answers but from encountering God Himself.

Ephesians 3:13 “So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.”

God does not prevent all suffering—but He enters it, redeems it, and defeats it.

Romans 8:28 – “He works all things for good.”

Genesis 50:20 – “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”

Job 42:5 – “I had heard of you with my ears, but now my eyes see you.”

God’s justice is coming, but it’s not always seen in this life.

Paul by the Dunamis power of the Holy Spirit was called to be a minister of the gospel! God took the lowest and was given such high grace.

And the truth he brought to the Gentiles was so incredible we are still benefiting from it today. But here’s the key.

Paul WANTED PURPOSE AND he was WILLING to Suffer.

Are you willing to suffer for the gospel? Are you willing to suffer so one more can find the unsearchable riches of Christ?

We are going to pray for one another here. And I want us to ponder What is God asking of you today? Is God asking you to spend 30mins/day in the word?

The question is: What is God asking of you today?