Untitled Sermon

Mystery of Christ — Circumstances of the Promise

3 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[a] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Introduction

PNP: 3 Circumstances that Exalts the Mystery

1. Stewarded through Paul for the Gentiles

οἰκονομία (oikonomia, "stewardship/administration")

As necessity

1 Corinthians 9:16–17 — Paul speaks of a stewardship (οἰκονομίαν) entrusted to him; preaching is not a matter of choice but a necessity laid on him.

As a trust

Galatians 1:15–16; 2:7–9 — God set Paul apart before birth to preach among the Gentiles; the Jerusalem apostles recognized he had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, paralleling Peter's entrustment to the circumcised.

1 Timothy 1:11–12; Titus 1:1–3 — Paul as one judged faithful and entrusted with the gospel by God's own command.

Romans 1:5; 15:15–16 — Paul received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among the nations, describing his ministry in priestly terms so that the Gentiles' offering might be acceptable.

Acts 9:15 — the Lord's word to Ananias naming Paul a chosen instrument to carry Christ's name before Gentiles, kings, and Israel.

As love for the brethren

2 Corinthians 12:15 — Paul says he will most gladly spend and be spent for the Corinthians' souls, then adds a pointed question about whether loving them more means being loved less in return — service offered without expecting proportional return.

2 Corinthians 2:4 — Paul explains that his earlier severe letter came out of much affliction and anguish of heart, with many tears, written not to cause pain but so they would know the depth of love he has for them.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 — Paul says he and his companions were ready to share not only the gospel but their very lives, because the Thessalonians had become dear to them. The verb behind "affectionately desirous" is ὁμειρόμενοι (homeiromenoi) — a rare word (its only New Testament occurrence; some manuscripts read the related ἱμειρόμενοι) denoting a strong, longing attachment rather than mere goodwill.

Philippians 4:1 — Paul calls the Philippians his brothers, "whom I love and long for," his joy and crown.

Reflection: Do you treat something entrusted to you as if it were yours to control rather than something you'll give an account for?

2. Administered through Paul to the Gentiles

ongoing act of dispensing — διάκονος (minister/servant).

Reformed systematic connection worth naming here: the language of "administration" is the same term Reformed covenant theology uses for how the one covenant of grace unfolds across redemptive history. The Westminster Confession of Faith (7.5–6) states that the covenant of grace "was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel" — the same root idea of one grace dispensed through changing stewardships, which is worth drawing out if this point is meant to connect Paul's personal ministry to the larger covenantal shift toward Gentile inclusion.

Ephesians 3:7–9 — the verses immediately following: Paul "was made a minister" (διάκονος) according to the gift of God's grace, sent to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to bring to light the plan of the mystery.

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 — God has given Paul "the ministry of reconciliation"; Paul serves as Christ's ambassador.

2 Corinthians 3:6 — Paul as minister of a new covenant.

Romans 11:13 — Paul names himself "apostle to the Gentiles," magnifying that ministry.

Colossians 1:23, 25 — Paul became a minister of the gospel and of the church, with a stewardship given for the church's sake.

1 Corinthians 3:5–10 — Paul and Apollos as ministers through whom the Corinthians believed, each assigned a task by the Lord; Paul as "master builder" laying the foundation.

Acts 26:16–18 — Christ's commissioning language to Paul: sent to open Gentile eyes, turning them from darkness to light.

Reflection: Do you see the people you serve as the actual outcome and offering of your labor, or as means to some other outcome you're really after?

3. Uncovered by Paul unto the Gentiles

Root terms: ἀποκάλυψις / ἀποκαλύπτω (revelation/reveal — vv.3, 5), ἀποκεκρυμμένου (hidden, v.9), φωτίσαι (bring to light, v.9).

Specific reality that Jews and Gentiles are united as fellow members of one body without distinction, a mode of unity he holds was not clearly disclosed until the apostolic era

Common notion: God will liberate the Jews. Salvation only is in YHWH

Revealed truth: God liberates all whom He calls, just as He called Abraham to Himself

Romans 16:25–27 — the mystery kept secret for long ages, now disclosed and made known to all nations, leading to the obedience of faith.

Colossians 1:26–27 — "the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints," identified there as "Christ in you, the hope of glory" — a close doctrinal parallel to Ephesians 3:5, 9.

1 Corinthians 2:7–10 — a hidden wisdom of God decreed before the ages, now revealed through the Spirit.

Colossians 2:2–3 — God's mystery, Christ himself, in whom all treasures of wisdom are hidden.

Galatians 3:8, 14, 28–29 — the gospel preached beforehand to Abraham ("in you shall all the nations be blessed"), now fulfilled so Gentiles receive the promised Spirit and become Abraham's offspring — the Old Testament anticipation of what is now uncovered.

Isaiah 49:6 and Acts 13:46–47 — Paul and Barnabas cite Isaiah's "light for the nations" directly as their mandate for turning to the Gentiles.

Acts 15:14–18 — James cites Amos 9:11–12 at the Jerusalem council regarding God taking a people for his name among the Gentiles.

Ephesians 2:11–22 (immediate context) — the dividing wall broken down, Jew and Gentile made one new humanity; this is the actual content of the mystery Paul stewards.

Reflection: What does it mean for your own sense of purpose that what feels new and personal to you was, in fact, promised long before you existed?

Main Point: God in His time has made salvation universal in Christ by graciously giving, revealing, and delivering the truth through an apostle who could take credit for none of it.