The Mystery Revealed

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

At this stage in Ephesians Paul introduces himself, and explains his unique personal role in God’s purpose for the Gentiles. It’s not for nothing that he has come to be known as ‘the apostle to the Gentiles’.

In order to understand the scope of what is happening here we must digress by reminding ourselves of Paul’s background.

Paul was a Jewish scholar.

Studied under one of the most respected rabbi’s and was well respected by the Jewish people.

He at one time was known for his campaign of killing those who claimed Christ as their messiah. He felt this was blasphemy, and literally chased down anyone who claimed to be in Christ.

The Jews detested the Gentiles.

The Jewish people were God’s people, they had done a great job at staying away from all other people. The Gentiles (non-Jews) were the worst of the worst. Most Jews would not even associate with them.

They viewed Gentiles as unclean, and if you interacted with them you would also be considered defiled in God’s eyes.

This section of Ephesians was probably viewed by a Jew as one of the most radical sections of Ephesians.

Paul Experienced a Radical Transformation.

On the road to Damascus Paul experienced a direct revelation from Jesus Christ, who Paul claims appeared to him, telling Paul to go into the city and wait for instructions. Also making him blind. (Acts 9).

Through a man named Ananias, Paul was told what he was to do.

Acts 9:15–16 NIV

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

It is in this context that Paul writes from to the churches in Asia Minor.

1. The Second Half of Ephesians 2 gives the context for this next section.

Paul painted a vivid contrast between the double alienation the Gentiles endured before Christ (from God and Israel) and their double reconciliation through Christ.

Paul taught us that by Christ’s death Jesus demolished the Jew-Gentile and God-man barriers, and is now creating in relation to himself a single, new multi-cultural human society, which is both the family God loves and the temple he lives in.

The Gentile readers must have read this letter with Joyful amazement at the Gospel of peace.

It is at this point in Ephesians that Paul makes an abrupt change, he now turns the attention away from them and talks about himself.

Chapter 3 gives us a glimpse into who Paul is as a person and an apostle.

Paul the Prisoner (3:1)

Ephesians 3:1 NIV

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Paul likens himself as Christ’s prisoner.

Humanly speaking, Paul is actually the prisoner of Nero who was in the process when Paul wrote this letter of putting Paul on trial.

But Paul rarely speaks in human terms, so Paul who strongly believes in God’s sovereignty, calls himself a prisoner of Christ believing that God has a purpose in having him imprisoned in Rome. Paul isn’t frustrated by his imprisonment, he believes he is exactly where God wants him.

Paul adds a second descriptive phrase ‘for the sake of you Gentiles’.

This is an actual fact, Paul was imprisoned in Rome because of his work with the Gentiles.

What had led to his arrest in Jerusalem, his imprisonment there and in Caesarea, his successive trials and his subsequent appeal to Caesar which brought him to Rome, was fanatical Jewish opposition to Paul’s mission to the Gentiles.

Luke captures this drama in Acts 25:11-12.

There were many Jews who at the time could not accept this change that Paul was preaching. They couldn’t accept the Gentiles as children of God, that was for them, not anyone else.

Paul continues to explain more about himself, telling the readers he is the steward of a secret.

Paul the Steward of the Secret (3:2-7)

Ephesians 3:2–7 NIV

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

Paul believed that God revealed to Paul a mystery. The mystery that was hinted about in the Old Testament, but no one seemed to understand back then.

He stands on this revelation as the central point of his entire mission. To reconcile Jews and Gentiles and open up salvation for all people.

Paul is teaching that through Christ’s death and resurrection, God has invited the Gentiles to join His people. Expanding the scope of His salvation to include the entire world, not just Israel.

Isaiah 49:6 NIV

he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Galatians 3:8 NIV

Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

This message of reconciliation is the heart of Paul’s Gospel and missionary work.

God took a devout Jewish scholar and made him the man who would preach a message that many of his Jewish people would never except.

Paul was on a mission, that would one day have him killed. Yet he says that he became a servant of this Gospel, the good news to the Gentiles by Gods grace.

Paul is amazed and thankful that God has called him to such and important mission, a mission that changed the scope of the world.

Now Paul give us some insight into how he sees himself.

The Church Makes God’s Wisdom Known (3:8-12)

Ephesians 3:8–12 NIV

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Less then the least of all the Lord’s people.

Paul stands humbled by his calling, and because he had persecuted Christians he feels he is the worst sinner of all God’s people.

God made him the administrator of a mystery.

Paul was given this revelation of a church of many nations, and he was going to live out this mission.

To Paul the church is the centre piece of how the Gospel is revealed to the world.

Revelation 7:9–12 NIV

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

This diverse church, with many different unique people is exactly how the Gospel will be made know.

To Paul this is central, the church is the power of God in this broken world.

The church is where people can be healed and find hope.

The church is where people can go and not be judged, not be alienated, because God wants all people to come to know him. And the church is the ambassadors of Christ in this world.

Don’t Lose Heart (3:13)

Ephesians 3:13 NIV

I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

The Gentiles viewed Paul’s imprisonment as defeat. They were frustrated that he was being punished by his Jewish brothers and sisters who could’t see God’s vision.

Paul saw his imprisonment as the grace of God working through his suffering. So Paul encourages them, teaching them that suffering is a good thing, because it is through our suffering that the power of God is made known to others.

Sometimes people think because we are going through something hard that God has abandoned them. To Paul this is the exact opposite. If you are suffering, Paul would say God is closer to you then ever.

So he tells them to be encouraged by his suffering for their sake, it is what God has called him to do.

Big Idea: Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God offers reconciliation to all people. We are now all heirs to the promises of Abraham. The promise of being a great nation, that nation is the church. It is the church that now hold this amazing mystery, the mystery of how people like you and I can live at peace through Christ Jesus.

Closing

Jesus Christ died on the cross so you and I could live together in harmony. Harmony with each other in peace, as well as in harmony with the creator of the heaven and earth.

We are called by God as the church to be his representation on earth, we are to live at peace with everyone, especially our enemies.

God wants all of us to be delivered from the things that hold us down, the things that keep us trapped in the lies and deception of the enemy.

God through the love of the church, His people, can deliver all of us from the trap of sin and into the mystery of the Good News.

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