Making the Gospel Known Part 2
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Recap
Recap
We will continue with looking at what Paul has to say concerning his ministry in Ephesians.
Last week we looked at verses 1-7.
Through those verses we discussed
Paul’s view of himself as a prisoner for Christ,
The idea of stewardship or management of the grace that has been given us,
The mystery of Christ which is the gospel,
What it is to be a servant,
And we discussed making the gospel known.
This morning we will work to put feet to this idea of making the Gospel known as we attempt to apply these verses to our lives.
Read Ephesians 3:1-13
1 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—2 assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5 This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.
8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 11 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. 13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Prayer
Verses 8-9
Verses 8-9
Ephesians 3:8-9
8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
The Least of All the Saints
The Least of All the Saints
Paul’s comments concerning himself should lead us to pause and reflect upon ourselves and our own thoughts and actions.
This is what true, honest, and real humility looks like in a persons life.
Paul clearly seen in his own life that
He did not have any standing
Worthiness,
Claim,
Position,
Nor gifts that would merit receiving the grace, love, mercy or forgiveness of God.
It was this honest evaluation of himself that led him to do the job in which he was called, in which every believer after him is called to do,
Make the Gospel Known
This is what Paul means when he speaks about the incalculable riches or unsearchable riches of Christ.
It is impossible for mankind to fully know or understand God
We struggle with the little bit of knowledge that we do have, and rest assured we have not even scratched the surface on the fullness of Christ’s riches
Live the Paradox
Live the Paradox
This is the first bit of application we will consider today.
Scripture is full of paradox
We see unseen things.
2 Corinthians 4:18
18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
We must be last to be first.
Matthew 20:16
16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”
We conquer by yielding.
Luke 6:27-29
27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either.
We find rest under a yoke.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We reign by serving.
Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We are made great by becoming small.
John 3:30
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
We are exalted when we are humble.
Matthew 23:12
12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
We become wise by being fools for Christ's sake.
1 Corinthians 3:18
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise.
We are made free by becoming bondservants.
Romans 6:17-18
17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, 18 and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
We gain strength when we are weak.
2 Corinthians 12:10
10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We live by dying.
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Verse 10-11
Verse 10-11
Ephesians 3:10-11
10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 11 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s Wisdom
God’s Wisdom
Part of this wisdom is Jesus Christ and the work he did on the cross, and in the grave.
This is the gospel of Jesus Christ
The Gospel of Christ is to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavens
These rulers and authorities are good and bad angles
Even they are witnessing God’s plan in Jesus Christ unfold
And they are doing so through the work of the church.
This is some of the work we read about in Ephesians 2:10.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
We need to remember what the church is.
It is the body of Christ
Made up of Gentiles and Jews
Brought together in unity with Jesus Christ
Through Christ’s work
We are united
This is apart of God’s eternal purpose
And this unity is part of God’s multi-faceted wisdom.
Make the Gospel Known
Make the Gospel Known
We accomplish this by
Loving God
Loving People
And Making Disciples of Christ
When we live like this, and with all the paradox’s we live by faith
It is the same faith in which we are saved by
It is this same faith that unites us together
It is this same faith that allows us to approach God
Verse 12-13
Verse 12-13
Ephesians 3:12-13
12 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. 13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.
For Paul, this desire to serve the Lord, landed him in prison
And he asks that the saints in Ephesus not be discouraged because of his imprisonment
Why would Paul say that?
Because it was his work in Christ Jesus that allowed him to make the gospel known
Anything that would have happened to Paul would not have mattered because God’s plan was made known
That is what Paul lived for, and died for.
Paul longed to show people Christ, so that in Him they would have boldness and confident access to God.
Live Grace
Live Grace
In our world today we do not see much of it
We must do all that we can to recover it, because it is by this alone
That we are saved
That we are forgiven
That we can love
That we have unity
That the Gospel of Jesus Christ is made known
Let us take after Paul and do whatever it takes, regardless of the consequences to be good managers with God’s grace.
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 grace.