Sermon Tone Analysis

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What it is:

Paul: Who he is, what his ministry is

Gospel: Purpose and significance

Paul is a steward in charge of God’s grace.

If he fails in his task, the Gentiles will be deprived of God’s grace.

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith

As indicated above, this term does not refer to something unknown.

Rather, in a Semitic context it refers to what is known only because God revealed it.

More specifically here, it refers to the revelation that the Gentiles are included in Christ as equals (see esp. 3:6)

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Colossians 2:2–3

Mystery: All things are brought together in Christ…a Double union.

With Christ, and union of Jews and Gentiles

3:6 Heirs together…this is poetic.

It is alliteration.

synkleronoma kai syssoma kai symmetocha

Heirs: The inheritance

Why it is significant:

The focus in Ephesians on “the rulers and authorities” has to do with evil powers, not good angels or human institutions.

This verse should thus be understood in the context of the display of God’s glory even to those who oppose him.

In 1:19–22 and Colossians 2:15, Paul announces the defeat of the powers in Christological terms, based on the cross and resurrection.

“His eternal purpose” is literally the “purpose of the ages,” which connects to “for ages past” in verse 9 and to the discussion of God’s purpose in 1:9–11.

Note the past tense “accomplished.”

The “not yet” part of faith is still there, but God’s purpose has already been accomplished in Christ.

What remains is an unfolding of what has already been established.

Once again Ephesians is theocentric, focusing on what God has accomplished in Christ.

Are we not required to see that proclaiming the gospel includes insistence on unity as part of the message?

Our divisions are not between Jew and Greek, but both our divisions and our individualism are attacked by the theology of unity in this text.

To be in Christ is to be made one with all who are in him.

Unity: Even in relationship…all christians, friends, workers: SPOUCES

Beatitude

The biggest problem in bringing the boldness offered in this passage into our lives is that we are often not convinced of the truth of our own gospel.

Possibly we have been too inattentive or the message has been too frequently distorted by the messengers

The gospel is not merely about getting to heaven; it is about life now as well as in eternity.

It is as much about discipleship as about initial conversion, as much about unity as about individual faith, and as much about new life as about forgiveness.

Focusing on the gospel will require the recovery of a full-orbed gospel.

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Beatitude