Loving Christ Sincerely

Scripture Reading | Ephesians 6:19-24

Introduction

The armor of God - good soldier of Jesus Christ - concerned about the battle

Paul’s Request for Prayer (v19-20)

Tychicus - Comfort of Hearts (v21-22)

Love Christ Sincerely (v23-24)

Sermon

Ephesians 6:19–20 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Paul’s Request for Prayer (v19-20)

On the heels of discussing prayer & instruction to pray for all saints - he now requests prayer be made for him.

Notice his request

not to be released from prison - not freedom

yet, a freedom, a different freedom - he wouldn’t be tongue tied

Why would he not pray for his release? - Notice other prison letters - only one does he really speak of his release in the context of prayer

Php. 1:12-21

Php. 4:10-13, 22

Col. 4:2-4, 18

Philemon 1:22

Paul’s request

1. “That utterance may be given unto me”

not enticing words

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

Opportunity and occasion

2. “That I may open my mouth boldly”

not shame, not fear (Php. 1)

“the mystery of the gospel”

Contextually, Paul is up against “gnosticism” - secret knowledge hidden only known to a few - “gnosis”

This was counterfeit knowledge

Thus Paul, in view of the revelation given to him, uses the word mystery to describe something that once God did not reveal but now has revealed

In the Bible - lots of mysteries

In Ephesians we have a few stated

1. Mystery of God’s Will - Ephesians 1:9–10 “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

2. Mystery of Christ (Gentiles & Jews) - Ephesians 3:3 “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,”

3. Great Mystery - Christ & Church - Ephesians 5:32 “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

4. Mystery of the Gospel - Ephesians 6:19 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,”

mystery because it wasn’t revealed - now revealed

mystery because it became known by revelation

1. Christ

2. Death, burial, resurrection

3. Offered to Jews & Gentiles alike

4. Jews & Gentiles become part of one body

Ephesians 6:21–22 “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.”

2. Tychicus - Comfort of Hearts (v21-22)

Trusted brother in Christ to Paul

We see him in 5 places in scripture and 5 different places

1. Eph. 6 here

2. Colossians 4:7–9 “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.”

3. 2 Timothy 4:12 “And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.”

4. Titus 3:12 “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.”

5. Acts 20:4 “And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.”

Spiritually mature, faithful, responsible, and reliable

Emissary between Paul and the churches

1. To Ephesus to communicate Paul’s personal estate & encourage the church

2. To Colossae - very similar - alongside Onesimus

3. Later sent again to Ephesus

4. Traveled into Asia as Paul’s entourage

5. Potential replacement sent to Titus

Trusted with representing Paul’s apostolic presence, estate, and message

Ephesians 6:23–24 “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”

3. Love Christ Sincerely (v23-24)

“Sincerity”

Dictionary Definition - honesty, genuiness, purity, soundness, wholeness, unmixed - free from pretense or falsehood - in truth

Translated - (root word)

“immorality” - Rom. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:10

“incorruption” - 1 Cor. 15:42, 50, 53-54

Titus 2:7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”

Tied to “truth” and all that truth teaches

Tied to peace

Transformed reality

not pretense

cautious of darkness, sin, lusts

love of and for Christ that permeates one’s entire being and shapes how you relate with one another & the world around you.

Experiential Doctrine

Doctrine - theological truth and teaching + behavioral implications

Not merely abstract belief

Being “raised with Christ” establishes how one should live after the Spirit

Distinctions between “conduct” and “positions of belief” manifests a modern category foreign to Paul

To Paul doctrine was inherently powerful working in the believer a performance (flesh or Spirit)

Example 1 The. - the return of Christ taught to be imminent but not immediate therefore having implications upon whether they should work with their hands (1 The. 4:10-12)

Example - reconciliation, peace with God - is to transform relationships within the communion of believers

Nature of Paul’s writings - all doctrinal

Christ and what we have in Him to impact our walk to the Lord and relationships with others - both in the church and outside

Conclusion

Chapter 1

The counsel of God before the world began

His purpose set forth from that counsel - in Christ

He works all things after that counsel of His own will

His will is that all things be gathered together in one in Christ

Redemption has been provided for you in Christ

Redemption has been proclaimed to you in the gospel of your salvation

Redemption has been applied to you when you trust and believe - forgiveness of sins

You receive an inheritance - the heritage of God’s purpose in Christ - your destiny

Prayer for you to know the Fathers plan and power in Christ

Chapter 2

The knowledge of the Father’s power in Christ

That power wrought in you - His workmanship in Christ Jesus - new creation, a new creature

Quickened together with Christ

Raised together with Christ

Seated together in the heavenly places with Christ

Such heavenly estate exceeds the time past situation between Jew and Gentile and in Christ there is peace

Both have access by one Spirit

Building a temple of believers to dwell in - habitation of God through the Spirit - an holy temple in the Lord

Chapter 3

This knowledge of Jew and Gentile was given to Paul to reveal - the mystery of Christ

Wasn’t made known unto the sons of men in time past

Gentiles fellowheirs, Gentiles of same body, Gentiles partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel

These unsearchable riches, hid in God since the beginning of the world given to Paul to make all men see

The church given to make known this manifold wisdom to all men, but unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places to - the ones we are over in Christ as we have been seated together in heavenly places in Christ

Paul’s prayer that all would see and to be made known - not only in word, but deed, not simply in abstract belief, but in practice

Christ dwell in your hearts by faith - to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge

Chapter 4

The introduction of walking worthy of this vocation wherewith we are called

Unity - bond of peace - keep - based upon, one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God

Christ gave gifts early on to build His church - such gifts were for spiritual maturity leading to the work of the ministry that built up the church

Now the truth that those gifts gave is to be taught, spoken in love for the growing up of each believer in all things - the whole body engaged in this not just the gifted some

Such truth is the light for the believers walk and we are not to walk like the world walks

Christ effects what we speak - truth or lying

anger

stealing

communication that tears others down or does it build up

Christ is contrary to bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice and produces kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness

Chapter 5

We are to walk in love one toward another as Christ loved us and gave Himself

Thus we don’t want fornication, uncleanness or coveteousness to be named among us - neither filthiness, foolish talking, or jesting - but giving of thanks

Such things don’t please God, but deserve the wrath of God

We are light in the Lord and are to walk as children of light - thus we don’t have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness

Thus we watch and walk circumspectly - redeeming the time - doing the will of God and be filled with the Spirit

Such fulness impacts our life with one another, our marriages, our families, our job, and relationship to gov’t

Chapter 6

Therefore, seeing we are quickened, raised, and seated with Christ we have enemies - within and without

Principalities and powers that work in the children of disobedience

Our flesh and sin

The darkness of this world

We are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and access, believe, and utilize the whole armor of God given to us.

We are to love Christ in sincerity by living in accord with our identity in Him and His blessings, benefits, and provisions given to us while we wait the day of redemption and God further gathers all things together in Christ thus equipping and preparing us to live with Him for all eternity - an habitation of God and holy temple in the Lord.