Ephesians 3:1-13

The umbrella of chapters 1-3 is our position in Christ. Thus far, we have learned this position has good reasons to live for God’s glory. We learned our position in Christ guides us to pray for the immeasurable greatness of God’s power. We learned that our position in Christ has a TODAY purpose. We learned about our oneness in Christ with all believers throughout history.

While he wrote this letter, Paul leaned into God’s grace while he taught the deep significance of God’s grace for each person. This grace makes our position in Christ possible. “Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all my sin.”

Grace provides our position in Christ through the cross. Grace preserves our position in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught this important truth to his disciples.

John 16:7–14 says, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged…When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Four works of the Holy Spirit that seal and stabilize my position in Christ.

Ephesians 3:1–13 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. 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. 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. 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.

The work of the Holy Spirit strengthens me to advance the gospel

Look at verses 1-3. For this reason…the oneness in Christ we learned about last week…Paul was under house arrest in Rome. What does verse one say he was a prisoner of? Not Nero. Not Rome. He was a prisoner of Christ Jesus. It seems he paused mid-sentence.

You know who I am, right? You’ve heard my transformation story, haven’t you? You know the mystery of the gospel was revealed to me and changed my life forever. You know those things about me, right? Do I need to share my story with you again? Telling people how Jesus changed my life never gets old. I’m happy to remind you. I’m so grateful God has chosen me to be a grace-giver to as many Gentiles as possible. I even told the Christians in Colosse that I rejoice in my sufferings because the church is growing.

For those reasons, I’m a prisoner.

Paul was a seed that God planted to advance the gospel. He blossomed where he was planted and people came to know Jesus as their personal Savior. The result was house arrest and Paul continued the stewardship of God’s grace to as many people as possible.

Paul had all sorts of reasons to hit the brakes on his purpose and relax for a little while. He was chased out of towns. He was beaten and left for dead many times. He was prisoned. He was shipwrecked. He was bitten by a poisonous snake. He argued with one of his closest ministry partners. He was never redeemed of his “thorn in the flesh.” He admitted that “he did what he didn’t want to do and didn’t do things he wanted to do.” Paul was a normal guy who, at times, struggled through life. Repeatedly, he is honored because he advanced the gospel above all things and he leaned into the strength of the Holy Spirit to make it happen.

If our purpose in life can be accomplished without the Holy Spirit strengthening us, we might consider whose purpose we are prioritizing and how effectively the gospel is being advanced.

Let me illustrate. On Wednesday, I met with a volleyball coach that is interested in our gym. She face-timed her husband into the conversation and they love our facility and think it will work well for their teams. It will channel through the elders. Her comment at the end of our conversation grabbed my attention, “Pastor, this gym is Dundee’s best kept secret.” When I told Bridget, her response was, “We have to do it.”

Too often, the gospel is a Christian’s best kept secret. Church, we have to do it.

The work of the Holy Spirit reveals biblical clarity

Look at verses 4-6. In this context, mystery is a lack of information, a lack of understanding or a combination of both that prevents a person from having clarity about Christ and his purpose for mankind.

Paul is saying this about the mystery of Christ. We have revealed information that was not made available to previous generations, specifically generations that lived before Jesus walked the earth. Because we have the written Word of God, we should be very careful if somebody claims to have new revelation. Always measure what you hear against Scripture.

Gentiles are fellow heirs ~ that was new revelation we read throughout the book of Acts.

All believers are the collective body of Christ. All believers have a role. Oxygen is the reminder that we are a seed God has planted to advance the gospel. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 dives into that truth.

If I were a Jewish Christian in Ephesus reading Paul’s letter, I would get stuck at the end of verse 6. Paul, what do you mean that Gentiles are partakers of the promise? We’ve been waiting our whole life for the promise that has been passed down from generations and you want me to believe a Gentile baby Christian is eligible for the same promise? Paul, God will need to change my mind about that one. The work of the Holy Spirit revealed truth and brought clarity to those Jewish Christians. Some of us resonate with those Jewish Christians because you were raised being taught something at church, but God had to change your mind because it didn’t fully align with Scripture.

The work of the Holy Spirit cultivates ministry efforts that proclaim Jesus.

Look at verses 7-10. God empowered Paul to minister. Specifically, Paul was called to preach to the Gentiles and to make the gospel known to all people. God’s doesn’t call all to preach, but every believer is called to make the gospel known, to add value to the body of Christ and to deepen God’s kingdom. Be gospel-centered and mission-minded. The work of the Holy Spirit cultivates those things in our lives and in our church so that Jesus Christ is loudly proclaimed. We’ll unpack that more in the final three chapters.

Be part of the team that plans a fall party.

Be part of the team that utilizes the gym.

Be part of the greeting team.

Be part of the team that disciples children.

A closed umbrella isn’t super effective.

The work of the Holy Spirit develops my boldness and confidence for Jesus

Look at verses 11-13. Paul’s ministry efforts aligned with Christ’s purpose for his life. He told the Ephesians, don’t mope around on my behalf. My boldness and confidence in Christ may have landed me in prison, but you know Jesus and that makes prison worth it.

Chris, I’ve been waiting for God to reveal his purpose for my life. What can I do while I’m waiting? Three things.

Be the friend in your group that only says good things about other people.

Love your Bible more than anything

Jump into opportunities to talk about Jesus because we are seeds that God has planted to advance the gospel. Imagine with me ~ Our church embraces a goal to have 365 gospel conversations each year.

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The team is going to come and lead us. While we sing in response, if you’re so led ~ I invite you to come, kneel, pray, get some water for your seed, etc. If you would like prayer, I’ll be standing off to the side.

Lord Jesus,

Amen