The Threefold Blessing of the Gentiles

Intro

Text - Ephesians 3.1-7

Ephesians 3:1–7 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Title - The Mystery of Christ and The Blessing of the Gentiles

Background

Paul, the steward of God’s mystery for the Gentiles

God kept a mystery for ages

Ephesians 3:5 NKJV

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

Colossians 1:25–26 NKJV

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

Romans 16:25–26 NKJV

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

Paul describes the mystery

it is the mystery of God’s will

Ephesians 1:9 NKJV

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

these events did not happen by accident

they were part of God’s perfect plan from the beginning

it is the unsearchable riches of Christ

Ephesians 3:8 NKJV

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

no human wisdom was able to fathom or unlock God’s secret mystery

not even prophets

it is Christ in the believer the hope of glory

Colossians 2:2 NKJV

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

not one prophet or spiritual mn anticipated the turning of the gospel to the Gentiles!

Christ, who was supposed to save Israel, was now being manifested among the Gentiles!

Sermon Points

Paul declares three things that Gentile believers should consider true blessing from God

Ephesians 3:6 NKJV

6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

they are fellow heirs of God - SYNKLERONOMOS

they are fellow members of the same body - SYSSOMOS

they are fellow partakers of the promise in Christ - SYMMETOCHOS

Gentiles are “fellow heirs”

Believers have obtained a predestined inheritance

Ephesians 1:11 NKJV

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

This inheritance is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13–14 NKJV

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

This inheritance of the saints is none other than the glory that shall be revealed

Romans 8:17–18 NKJV

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Paul’s concern is for the Gentiles to recognize the riches of their inheritance

Ephesians 1:18 NKJV

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

The Point is -

The Gentiles are coming to Christ, not because they wanted to, but because God has predestined them to inherit this blessing in Christ!

Gentiles are “fellow members of the same body”

Christ's resurrection and ascension to heaven is for the benefit of His body, the church

Ephesians 1:18–23 NKJV

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

This body is composed of Jews and Gentiles

Ephesians 2:11–16 NKJV

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

This church is a new man, a new creation

Ephesians 2:15 NKJV

15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

Galatians 6:15 NKJV

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

The Point is -

the Gentiles, by believing Christ and His gospel, becomes part of this brand new creation of God - the new creation, or the new race

There is only one body and Gentiles are members of that one body!

Gentiles are “fellow partakers of the promise” in Christ

The promise (singular) is the Holy Spirit

Luke 24:49 NKJV

49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Galatians 3:13–14 NKJV

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Point is -

the Gentiles are beneficiaries of the promised Holy Spirit baptism!

Note how the Jews were suprised that the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles while Peter preached in the house of Cornelius

Acts 11:17–18 NKJV

17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

The Key to the threefold blessing of the Gentiles

How can Gentiles become joint-heirs with Jewish believers?

Note - when the apostles John and Peter spoke of inheritance, they referred to the way Jews understood best: by being born (again)

1 Peter 1:3–4 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Paul used a different terminology, one that relates to the Gentiles of his day - HUIOTHESIA - adoption as a son

Grk. HUIOTHESIA - huios, son + thesis, a placing; placing as a son, adoption as son

Galatians 4:4–5 NKJV

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Romans adopted sons, not to fill the need for a child, but to fill the need for an heir!

Jews were not keen on practicing adoption for two reasons:

they have levirate marriage

inheritance remained within the tribe

Paul used the word “adoption as a son” because gentiles were “strangers” to the promises of God

Ephesians 2:11–13 NKJV

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The Point is -

The ONLY CONNECTION we have to God’s riches is Christ!

without Christ -

we have no God in the world

we are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel

we are strangers from the covenants of promise

Adoption takes place when the Gentile believer receives the Holy Spirit

Galatians 4:5–6 NKJV

5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

Romans 8:15 NKJV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Adoption as sons (by the Holy Spirit) makes us God’s children OFFICIALLY.

Adoption makes us God’s HEIRS

the purpose of adoption is to provide an heir

Ephesians 1:5 NKJV

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:11 NKJV

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

predestination is used to refer to adoption and inheritance

the words “son” and “heir” are practically interchangeable

Galatians 4:7 NKJV

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Adoption is irreversible, while natural born sons can be disowned!

Such irrevocability was a characteristic feature of Greek law, according to which an heir outside the family must be adopted into the family; and the adoption was the will-making. The testator, after adopting his heir, could not subsequently take away from him his share of the inheritance or impose new conditions on his succession. The Roman-Syrian Law Book will illustrate this passage of the Epistle. It actually lays down the principle that a man can never put away an adopted son, and that he cannot put away a real son without good ground. It is remarkable that the adopted son should have a stronger position than the son by birth; yet it is so.

The Point is -

When God adopted you to be His sons and daughters, IT IS FINAL. IT CANNOT BE REVOKED EVEN BY GOD!

It means your inheritance is secure!

It means you can enjoy your inheritance today

God’s promises are yours to enjoy

God’s riches are yours to enjoy

Conclusion

What’s the relevance of this subject today?

If you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit -