What Is the Big Mystery?

Do You Love Mysteries?

Ah, mystery! How many of you when you were a kid enjoyed reading the Boxcar Children? Perhaps today you enjoy reading spy thrillers that are full of mystery and intrigue. Perhaps you are a kid here today or watching our live stream who loves the idea of the mysterious treasure that was buried on an island in the middle of the ocean. Wives maybe you love the mystery of where your husband is taking you on that special date this weekend. Husbands, maybe you enjoy the mystery of just getting to know your beautiful wife everyday and discovering one more reason you love her so much. Mystery is a part of our culture throughout the world. It peaks our interest and it is almost like we cant wait to find out what is "behind door number 1!" 

In our passage this morning Paul has just finished giving a wonderful explanation of the blessings and results of Christ's redemptive work. So by way of catching us up to this mystery Paul is about to reveal to the Ephesian church, I want to take us back to chapters 1-2 and give us the context of what Paul is driving at with the Ephesian church. One pastor summed up this Ephesian letter by "what God is doing in the Church by Christ for His own glory, forever."(Minnick) In chapter 1 we see a wonderful hymn written by Paul explaining the redemptive and sacrificial work of God. We see that all three persons of the Godhead are involved. Following that up in chapter 2 Paul starts by stating how hopeless all are without Christ and specifically he discusses the hopeless and lostness of the Gentiles (2:12). It is now in Christ that we are brought to full offering of salvation. The offer had not been openly given to the Gentiles. Yes, Gentiles could be saved but through becoming an Israelite proselyte. Now because of what Christ has done (2:16) Gentiles have the same access to God the Father as the Jews. 

All of this is built on Jesus Christ (2:20). Paul then in 3:1 begins to pray for the reasons just discussed but interestingly stops his prayer and begins to flesh out this mystery that deals with the Jew and Gentile. It deals with salvation and redemption. He does this by giving a personal testimony of the stewardship given to him--this mystery was his ministry.

 This brings us to our Big Idea this morning: The revealed mystery IS gospel unity in Christ.

Main Truth: The revealed mystery IS gospel unity in Christ.

A number of the important motifs in 3:1–13 have close parallels with Colossians 1:24–28. These parallels in Ephesians follow the same sequence as in Colossians. So the introduction of Paul (Col. 1:23; Eph. 3:1), his suffering (Col. 1:24; Eph. 3:1, cf. v.13), the grace or commission given to him (Col. 1:25; Eph. 3:2), the revelation of the mystery (Col. 1:26; Eph. 3:5), its content (Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:6), and the proclamation of that mystery to Gentiles (Col. 1:28; Eph. 3:8) are highly significant themes that are central to both passages. (Peter Thomas O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 224.)

After this aborted introduction, the paragraph has three sentences: verses 2-7, 8-12, and 13. The first sentence explains Paul’s stewardship of the mystery of the Church; the second sentence examines God’s administration of the mystery and Paul’s job of making it known; and the third short sentence makes a brief application to the Christians.

I. The Christian must steward the ministry of gospel unity, 1-5

A. Paul was COMMITTED, 1

The words "for this cause" refer back to "the building together of the saints" of 2:20-22. That is, bou are so builded together for a dwelling place of God" (Vincent). Then comes a parenthetical paragraph to verse 13, and the words "for this cause" are resumed. The apostle began his prayer of 3:14-21 in verse one, but between 3:1 and 3:14, we have a digression, the purpose of which is to acquaint the Gentiles with their call and Paul's knowledge of the mystery of Jew and Gentile in one body.—Wuest's

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Ephesians 1. Paul’s Intercessory Prayer Begins, 3:1

The expression I, Paul indicates a special emphasis on the few occasions it turns up in the apostle’s letters.4 Here, as in Colossians 1:23, it stresses his calling to proclaim the gospel to Gentiles, and it is in this role par excellence that he will pray again for his readers.

Paul was a a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles. This explains the position both physically and spiritually of the Apostle Paul. Paul did not consider himself a prisoner of the Jews or the Romans. He considered himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to be a prisoner of Jesus Christ? IT means that whatever Paul did, wherever he went, however he thought was controlled by Christ. He understood, believed, and lived this truth by not fearing what men could do to him. He knew that no man, government, power, imprisonment, or any circumstance would take place in his life without Christ’s permission. This is the level of commitment Christians today need first understand and second implement in their daily lives. We need to live as prisoners of Jesus Christ! Paul was given the stewardship of the mystery and that involved preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 26:15-18; 22:17-21; 21:29-30

As we see Christ revealing this wonderful mystery and choosing Paul to reveal it. One lesson we can learn from Paul’s statement of identification is, that, how we view life matters.

So how are you viewing your life today? What is your perspective on the day as you woke up and placed your feet on the floor this morning? Was it a view of:

Oh, I did not here my alarm. I am running late and your perspective is rushed with a tint of mental exhaustion so as you sat down this morning you have been like, “ahhh, I at least made it!”

Or, maybe, you have been hurrying to get the kids ready and they are ready to go, you just finished getting ready and you are rushing to go out the door when one of your children had gotten the Orange juice out without you knowing and was trying to pour themselves some and spilled some on you as you walked over to them to speedily get it out of their hands?

We carry perspective on almost everything. We all have a perspective on how we think our life should be lived and if life fails to live up to its expectations we throw an inward and sometimes outward fit. Our perspective on life is extremely important. Paul’s perspective was one of complete surrender as a prisoner to Jesus Christ. He surrendered his rights and desires to live as he saw and thought life should be lived to live according to His Lord and Master’s purposes and plans. He had a proper perspective of Jesus Christ and himself.

We are a selfish people. Think about how often you find yourself disturbed in your spirit because something in your day did not go as planned. Parents, think about the frustration you get when your children truly obey and are cleaning up but not as fast as you personally want it to happen. Wives, how frustrated do you get when your husband does not get to all of the things on the “list” you have asked of him to take care of around the house. Husbands, how frustrated do you get when your wife asks you for advice and then dismisses it?

We all with the smallest perceived or actual slights get bent out of shape and take it as a personal attack so often. Maybe someone walks by you and did not acknowledge you and you take offense to it. Selfishness is a part of our daily lives and the way we beat that is by having the same perception in life that Paul had. He viewed himself as a prisoner of Christ with no personal freedoms but the freedoms he had that Christ gave him—to proclaim the mystery of Jesus Christ!

With the stewardship given to him, Paul was passionate for the Gentiles. He had been called by God to minister the mystery to them. Paul was imprisoned for Christ's saving purpose, which was for the sake of you Gentiles. Just as Christ was not crucified for His own sake, Paul was not imprisoned for his own sake, but for the sake of his Lord and the sake of those he had been given a special calling to serve (Acts 9:15; 15:7; 20:20-24; 22:21; Rom. 11:13; etc.).—MNTC

Acts 9:15 NASB95

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

Acts 20:20–24 NASB95

20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 “And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 22:21 NASB95

21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

Romans 11:13 NASB95

13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

B. Paul was COMMISSIONED by God, 2

Paul properly administered the mystery God revealed to him. “Having been entrusted with a commission (1 Cor. 9:17); he is not able to withdraw from this solemn responsibility, but must fulfil it obediently. He is a steward of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1), and it is naturally expected that he be found trustworthy (4:2; cf. Luke 16:2).”

1 Corinthians 9:17 NASB95

17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

1 Corinthians 4:1 NASB95

1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Peter Thomas O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 227.

The words if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you begin Paul's parenthesis to emphasize his divine authority for this teaching. That about which they had heard was the stewardship of God's grace which was given to Paul on their behalf as Gentiles.

Oikonomia (stewardship) primarily referred to the management of a household, business, or other concern on behalf of someone else. A steward was responsible for taking care of that which belonged to someone else. He supervised such things as buying, selling, bookkeeping, planting, harvesting, storing, the preparation of meals, the assignment of duties to slaves, and whatever else needed to be done.

Paul did not choose his apostleship or his ministry; he was appointed. (1 Tim. 1:12-13; cf. Rom. 15:15-16; Gal. 2:9). Paul was chosen and commissioned purely by God's grace. He was appointed a steward by God's grace and then became a steward of God's grace. MNTC

Look what he says in Acts 20:32 – “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Every believer is a steward of the calling, spiritual gifts, opportunities, skills, knowledge, and every other blessing he or she has from the Lord…We are faithful stewards when we use what we have to minister to those within the family of God and witness to those who are without (1 Peter 4:10). MNTC

1 Peter 4:10 NASB95

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Just as Paul was commissioned you and I have been commissioned to share the same truth, the same revealed mystery! Matthew 28:18-20, we are to go into all the world and preach the gospel. We are commanded to GO with the gospel, SHOW the gospel through proclaiming it and living it, GROW others as we grow in the gospel. This is our commission and duty. Are you seeing yourself as a prisoner to this commission as Paul saw himself?

b. The authority behind Paul’s commission, 3-4

Stewardship of special revelation (knowledge)

Paul was given the responsibility of having oversight or management over the grace of God in the sense that he was to administer it in its publicity. He was given the revelation of the grace of God and the responsibility of properly preaching and teaching it. This grace given Paul for the Gentiles, he defines in verse 6. Then Paul explains his knowledge of this particular grace. It was given him by revelation. The word is apokalupsis, "an uncovering, a laying bare." "Mystery" is mustērion, "a secret purpose of God which when uncovered is understood by the Spirit-taught believer." The words, "as I wrote afore in few words," refer ostensibly to the contents of 2:11-22 which tie up with the mystery of 3:6.—Wuest's

General revelation refers to everybody in general such as creation by God and conscience where I am answerable to Him. Neither of these two identify who that God is and that is where Special revelation comes in. It is given to specific individuals and consists of what we have in scripture. Heb.1:1-2 – “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” It is progressive like seeds sprouting into a full tree.

Revelation. which was given was not known but now is. We know more than Abraham. Given knowledge by special revelation, thus we are entrusted with the stewardship of scripture (all of it). What are we doing with it?

Paul's stewardship was unique even for an apostle, and it was so revolutionary that he found it necessary to add that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. Obviously the mystery is that of Jew and Gentile being one in Christ, about which he wrote before in brief (About this revelation of the mystery Paul asserts: as I have already written briefly. This presumably refers to some document to which the readers had access. Colossians 1:25–27 might be in view, for there the apostle has a ‘brief’ statement about his stewardship and the unfolding to the Gentiles of the contents of the mystery, compared with the fuller statement in Ephesians 3:2–13. We do not know, however, whether these readers had access to the Letter to the Colossians. So it is most likely that Paul has in mind Ephesians 1:9–10 and 2:11–22, especially vv. 14–16 with its reference to the creation in Christ of ‘one new man’. Peter Thomas O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 229.) in 1:9-12 and 2:11-12.

Colossians 1:25–27 NASB95

25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

It was unknowable, incomprehensible truth hidden from all men until revealed by God (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21). And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. Paul was instrumental in revealing many mysteries to the church, but the particular mystery in view here is the one he has already mentioned in general and is about to state specifically—namely, that in Christ, Jew and Gentile become one in God's sight and in His kingdom and family (3:6). It was Paul's intention not simply to declare the mystery but to explain and clarify it.

2 Peter 1:19–21 NASB95

19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Both Jews and Gentiles settled at the Jerusalem Council mentioned in Acts 15 that both could be saved by faith without the law as Paul had been preaching. What was a mystery to them was that in that salvation the Jew and Gentile would be one new humanity God has chosen to accomplish His plans. They did not know the mystery of reconciliation through the cross. This leads us into Paul giving specifics to this great mystery now revealed.

II. The revealed mystery provides the church a divine unity, 6

Paul now in this verse begins to clearly spell out what this mystery exactly is that God has entrusted into his stewardship. He in an abbreviated way builds on what he discussed in 2:14-22.

So Paul begins to elaborate on that unity and states three separate ways that the church is unified! This is gospel power, unifying the ungodly to God for His own glory forever. It is to the praise of His glory that we as a unified church are to go about being faithful stewards of this amazing mystery that has been revealed. Next week we will look more closely as to our responsibility as a steward of the mystery. Today, with the remainder of our time together we are going to look closely at this truth of unity here in verse 6.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Ephesians 2. Paul’s Stewardship of the Mystery, 3:2–7

The content of God’s ‘open secret’ (v.4) is now spelled out.38 For a heightened effect and in order to describe it more precisely Paul assembles three parallel, composite adjectives,39 each beginning with the prefix with, to declare that Gentiles are ‘fellow-heirs with, one body with, and joint partakers of the promise with [those of Jewish birth] in Christ Jesus through the gospel’.

Preaching the Word: Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ Mystery of Christ ( Ephesians 3:1-13 )

“This mystery,” he says, “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” (italics added). The open secret, which was not understood in times past, is that Jews and Gentiles are 1) “heirs together,” 2) “members together” (sussoma, a new word coined by Paul because no word could adequately describe the mystery of Gentiles being on the same footing with Jews,2 and 3) “sharers together” — fellow partakers.

Specification #1: Fellow Partners (Heirs)

John wrote about this amazing and awe-inspiring event in 1 John 1:3.

1 John 1:3 NASB95

3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Preaching the Word: Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ Mystery of Christ ( Ephesians 3:1-13 )

The closer they were to God, the closer they were to each other. No Jew or Gentile had ever conceived of such a mystery in his wildest dreams! And for Paul this remained an abiding wonder and joy throughout his life.

The Gentiles are fellow heirs. Those who once were "excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise" (2:12) now have exactly the same legal status before God as His chosen people, the Jews. They have the same marvelous, boundless inheritance in Christ that Paul has already mentioned (1:11, 14, 18). Every believer is blessed "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (1:3). The Gentiles are not boarders or strangers but sons (cf. 1:11, 14, 18; 2:19), having the same legal status as all other believers.—MNTC, 92

Specification #2: Fellow Participants (Members)

In 2:14-22 Paul clearly lays out that the hostility between the Jew and Gentile had been broken down by Christ Himself dying on the cross. Their was immense hostility often between the Jew and the Gentile. Part of God’s new creation—the church—is the wall of hostility was broken down and in its place was a new building, the church, built on the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that the church grows and becomes more holy. In Christ we are built up and have the Spirit of God in dwelling in us. We are no longer strangers and aliens in a foreign land but members of the same household. What an amazing image for us to picture! We were outcasts and without hope, now we are a part of God’s family! This is what Christ did! Unity in the church! All spiritual distance and division have been overcome by Christ. In the closing verses of this chapter, Paul gives three pictures that illustrate the unity of believing Jews and Gentiles in the church.

Paul elaborates on the active part of the believer in Ephesians 4:11-16. This passage implies that unity is something which the people of God must grow and must strive toward. The unity made possible through Christ must be increasingly worked for and realized on a daily basis. - Boice (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 NASB95

12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

How does this happen? As we grow in love and knowledge of the One who has put us together.

God has a part for all of us being faithful stewarding the ministry.

Walk Worthy of your calling - 4:1-3

Train/Teach others to do ministry

Speak the truth in love 4:15

Walk righteously - 4:17-32

Imitate God - 5:!

Walk in love - 5:2

Walk wisely - 5:15

Wives Submit to husbands -5:22-24, 33

Husbands love your wife as Christ loves the church - 5:25-30, 33

Children obey - 6:1

Employee/Employer relationship - 6

Stand firm in face of sin and fight

Pray and encourage

We are equally sinners…We are all equally helpless…We have all come to one and the same Savior…We have the same salvation…We have the same Holy Spirit…We have the same Father…We even have the same trials…. And finally, we are all marching and going together to the same eternal home.” - D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones

It is knowledge and appreciation of these things that will draw us together. - Boice.

C. Specification #3: Fellow Partakers (of His promise)

That is not so much a third status as it is a summary of the other two. All Christians, regardless of their status or position before being saved, are now fellow partakers of everything that pertains to Christ through the gospel—which is everything that pertains to Christ. The essence of the gospel is that, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are made everything He is and given everything He has. —MNTC

Illustration: There are 8760 hours in a year. If you attend every SS, Worship, Evening, and Wednesday night service of the preaching of God’s Word you will have spent 130 hrs. in God’s Word which is 1.4% of your time spent being a steward of God’s Word. If you minus the hours of our sleep at hours a night you have 5824 hours of awakeness it would be 2.1%. Now if you have your daily devotions and study God’s Word for 30 min. a day for 7 days you would be spending an added 182 hours a year being a steward of God’s Word which would be about 5.2% of your time in the Word. Despite the common perception that traditional television is long past its glory days, the average American adult still spends a huge chunk of his or her life watching live television — specifically, over four and a half hours a day, according to a new Nielsen report. When you add DVR-watching time to this figure, the report shows that the average American adult watches over five hours of TV per day. The study also breaks down weekly time and finds that the average adult watches nearly 35 hours of TV (live and DVR) per week.

It declares the basis on which Gentiles, along with Jews, become sons and daughters of God, are made fellow-members of the body of Christ, and receive the promised Holy Spirit. As the gospel is proclaimed, Gentile men and women, who hear its message and appropriate it for themselves, are united with the Lord Jesus in his death and resurrection. Thus, the gospel not only declares what is God’s gracious plan, announcing the content of the mystery of Christ; it is also the instrument by which God achieves his purposes of bringing Gentiles to faith and incorporating them into his Son. It is through the active proclamation of the gospel that God draws men and women to himself (cf. 2 Thess. 2:14). - O’Brien

All three of these amazing blessings are in Christ through the gospel. It is amazing that in Christ and the good news of redemptive salvation and the unity in the church we have such ministry to steward. We partake in Christ’s inheritance, we can have a peace and love toward others because we are the church, and we partake in all the blessings and covenant promises that come with saving work of Jesus Christ!

Concluding Application

The revealed mystery IS gospel unity in Christ.

Paul considered himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles. He laid down his desires and accepted the commission given to him and revealed to him by God. He unpacks for the Ephesian church and for us today the amazing mystery of the gospel. The gospel revealed reveals the amazing purpose of the Church. It reveals our personal purpose for living. It is all to live to the praise of His glory! We have had the greatest mystery revealed with the greatest message to proclaim with the greatest Savior to follow each day of our lives!

We could extrapolate many truths from Paul’s testimony regarding his commitment and commission and we have a little this morning and will dive a little deeper into Paul’s stewardship and its relation to us today next Sunday. This morning I want us to leave thinking about these three amazing and awesome blessings we have in Christ. I want us to leave this morning with just three specific applications, one for each for us to incorporate into our lives this week.

Paul explained three aspects to the mystery given to the Church, the mystery of a glorious unity among all believers through Christ. He explained,

Application #1: We are legally heirs with Christ. We have the name of Christ. This week take each morning to thank God and add a new daily action in your life to focus on accurately representing Christ.

Application #2: We are all a part of the same body. Unity grows as your love for God and knowledge of God grows. Pray and ask God this week for one member to consistently invest your life over the next 6 months.

Application #3: We are all fellow partakers of the promise of Christ thought the gospel. Pray and ask God to provide a person who needs Christ to invest the gospel message. The essence of the gospel is that, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are made everything He is and given everything He has. - MNTC

Our country is divided. Homes are divided. Christians unfortunately are divided. We live in an age where everywhere around us is calling for unity and we have had a mystery revealed to us that brings peace and unity! Unfortunately, this wonderful truth is not what flows from our lips as much as it should. All too often we suppress it, forget about it, or graze over it rather than encouraging daily discussion and implementation, remembering, and contemplating the gospel revealed mystery we have in Christ.

Do you want unity in your family? — steward these blessings!

Do you want unity in our church? — steward these blessings!

Do you want unity in your personal relationships? — steward these blessings!

Jesus Christ is and always will be the only answer to disunity!

Unity in our church will grow when these three truths permeate our living. They need to be our constant thought. They need to be our constant praise to God. For all this is to the praise of His glory forever!

Let’s live and proclaim the revealed mystery of gospel unity in Christ.