49-15 The Mystery of Christ, Part 1
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Ephesians 3:1-4
Ephesians 3:1-4
"There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.
An angel hears his plea and appears to him. 'Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you.' The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.
The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.
Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, 'Hold on, you can't bring that in here!'
But the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, 'You're right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through.'
St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, 'You brought pavement?!!!'"
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
What is valuable in this life (from humanly, earthly perspective) carries no value in the next life. Our perspective about life will be different on the other side of eternity. Even now we’re called to have a heavenly perspective in this life b/c we are citizens of heaven Eph 2:19.
Paul lived out this heavenly citizenship while on earth (having a heavenly perspective). In Eph 3 Paul begins a prayer (beginning vs 14) for believers that they would come to a greater understanding of the incomprehensible love of Christ and to be filled up to the fullness of God. He is ready to begin this prayer in vs. 1 but decides to reemphasize some of the truths he had just mentioned.
Verses 2-13 parenthetical thought—Mystery Of Christ—Primary emphasis on the unity of Gentiles & Jews, having been brought together and made one in the body of Christ—the Church—this is the mystery of Christ (Jews & Gentiles together as one).
5 characteristics of the divine mystery revealed to the saints:
1) Its Messenger
1) Its Messenger
Vs 1 “For this reason”—introduction to the prayer (picks up in v14)
Looking back to ch.2—discussion of what God has done in bringing together Jews & Gentiles—truths: made alive in Christ, become 1 body, those far become near, equal citizens of kingdom and members of family of God, built into a temple and dwelling of God.
It is these unifying truths that leads Paul to begin a prayer on behalf of these believers (must pause first—pickup in vs.14).
Value in repetition!
Take notice how Paul describes himself in vs 1.
A. His Credentials
Prisoner. Previous affirmation of credentials (1:1 “apostle”).
A principal figure of NT (13 of 27 books), 2nd half of Acts focuses primarily on Paul as God’s instrument in the growing church.
Back in our introduction to Ephesians we saw Paul writing this letter while in prison (1 of 4 “prison epistles”—Eph, Col, Phil. Phile) to churches in Asia Minor.
This was 1st Roman imprisonment (61-62 A.D.) The entire account of how he got there is extraordinary.
By the end of his 1st Roman imprisonment he had been in prison nearly 5 years (2 at Caesarea—rest under Roman authority). Church history has the release of Paul after 2 years in Rome at which time he proceeded into Macedonia to a rather extensive ministry (4th missionary journey). Around 67-68A.D. under persecution of Emperor Nero (54-68)—Paul and Peter were both martyred.
Acts 21 thru end of book begins the account of Paul’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment.
Paul was arrested b/c he believed that God had instituted a new program to unite Jews & Gentiles together and make them one in the church. Orthodox Jews had a problem with Gentiles whom they viewed as “dogs.”
Paul was chosen by Christ to be the apostle to the Gentiles and accused of prejudice against Jews. When Judaizers met with Jerusalem council (Acts 15 teaching Gentile circumcision), Paul was there to boldly confirm God’s purpose to include Gentiles in His redemptive program.
There was a great deal of animosity between Jews & Gentiles, even so, Paul took up collection from the churches in Macedonia & Greece, for believers who were poverty stricken in Jerusalem. Paul delivered this gift himself and while he was in Jerusalem in the Temple, he was arrested by the Jewish leaders.
They falsely accused him of taking the Ephesian Trophimus (Gentile) into the Temple—prohibited, which he didn’t do. Paul faced hearings before Sanhedrin Council, Roman governor Felix, Felix’s successor, Festus, King Agrippa. King Agrippa was ready to release him b/c no guilt was found in him. And he would have but Paul, as every Roman citizen had the right to do, made an appeal to appear before Caesar. He was taken to Rome, shipwrecked on the way, and eventually stayed in Rome for 2 years.
Paul was familiar with adverse circumstances 2 Cor 11:23-33;
In all of this Paul was not discouraged—2 Cor 4:5-18 (deep commitment)
Paul was a prisoner but not of Caesar, Jews, or Rome but of Christ. This description details the purpose for Paul’s imprisonment.
Whatever Paul did, wherever he went, he was under Christ’s control and submissive to His sovereign purposes. J.C. was the cause of Paul’s imprisonment.
But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
Paul was at the disposal of J.C. and he was greatly used of God in the progress of the gospel b/c of his willingness to be used (2 Cor 12:15 to be expended): Phil 1:12-14—Yet Paul speaks of the great joy he has under these circumstances.
How do you respond to your circumstances? Do you let them control you? Or do you view them from the heavenly perspective? If all we can ever see is our immediate circumstances—those circumstances have control over us. We feel good when they are good & bad when they are bad. If Paul had only his circumstances in view and not God’s sovereignty and purpose for him, he would have given up on the ministry.
Yet he lived in total confidence & trust in God’s purpose and had a bold perspective about his imprisonment which serves to give others boldness too—Rom 8:28
God had a wonderful purpose in Paul’s bondage—salvation of Gentiles.
Paul was not imprisoned for his own sake
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 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, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 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.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
Paul was put in prison by J.C. so that sinners would come to a saving knowledge of J.C.
God’s plan was to use Paul as a bond-servant so that Gentiles would come to hear and believe the preaching of the gospel.
rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
B. His Stewardship
This is what Paul alludes to in Eph 3:2—i.e. since you have heard (assuming you have heard) “I am sure you have already heard” of the stewardship…
Stewardship—oikos “house” nomos “law”—“the law of the house, management” other translations “administration” (used 27x in NT) (responsibility for the management of a household).
Stewards are responsible for taking care of something that belongs to someone else.
Paul indicates that this stewardship of God’s grace was given to him—refers to 2 things: 1st salvation—Paul was saved by grace, 2nd Paul was appointed a steward of God’s grace—with the responsibility of faithfulness to exercise the commission given to him by God—apostleship to Gentiles.
He did not choose his apostleship or ministry.
Acts 13:2, 46-48—Paul was appointed to be a steward of God’s grace—called “God’s mysteries”
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
Paul says in 1 Cor 9:16-17 that he has been entrusted with this stewardship “given to me for you” (benefit of Gentiles).
We too are stewards. We have been saved thru the efficacious sacrifice of J.C. on the cross and have been entrusted with a calling, spiritual gift, opportunities, skills, knowledge, and every other blessing. These do not belong to us—they are God’s and are to be rendered to Him in service. We must be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Like Paul, it is not a choice but an obligation to serve those who are within the family of God and to be a witness to those who are outside.
Paul’s Stewardship was unique and set him apart from all other Apostles (to Gentiles).
Eph 3:3
He was given the revelation of the mystery of Christ. Revelation simply means to “uncover, to lay bare”—this refers to God’s self-disclosure which would have otherwise been unknown on man’s end. (God, J.C, H.S. man, sin, redemption, judgment, heaven, hell, creation, etc.)
Throughout history God has disclosed the truth about Himself in 2 ways. He does it thru General Revelation—from it we learn there is a God, what He is like-though not imparting salvation we come to know God is self-sufficient, transcendent, immanent, eternal, powerful, wise, good, righteous (Rom 1:19-20). Based on this revelation of God to man—all men are without excuse for rejecting God and subsequent judgment for disbelief.
There is also special revelation—this is God’s direct communication with specific people thru which He discloses the specifics of how one can be reconciled to God.
God’s revelation is harmonious—these 2 will never contradict each other. Latter culminates in the holy Scriptures; what apostles & prophets were used for by God (Eph 2:20); & what Paul received concerning the mysteries of Christ—Jew & Gentile becoming one in Christ (develop in next point).
He discussed this before in brief (Eph 1:9,10; 2:11-18). It was unknowable, incomprehensible truth hidden by God from men until God choose to disclose it by Paul. Paul, as a steward passed these truths on to the church. There is one specific truth that he will develop more fully in the following verses.
Paul’s intent was not merely to declare or state the mystery but to explain it. That is why Paul wrote letters, divinely inspired and part of the Bible—God’s word to us. He wrote so that these marvelous truths could be read and studied.
C. His Insight
Vs 4 Paul is referring specifically to public reading of this epistle. That thru the reading they would come to understand Paul’s divinely initiated insight into the unity of Christ’s body. This is not Paul boasting but a gentle admonition to read (continually) the truths laid forth within.
Paul had a special spiritual insight into these truths. Term for insight—sunesis (Lit. “to bring together”) used in NT of moral apprehension of truth. It means to bring together all the parts so as to understand the whole meaning. He was conveying that insight to the Ephesian church. An insight that would prove profitable to them as they read Scripture.
Paul places a premium on the reading of Scripture. Custom dates back to Jews returning from Babylon after Exile (Neh 8:1-8). The early church read the OT at every service and began to include apostolic teaching eventually leading to all NT. This was so extremely important to Paul that he wrote Timothy,
Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
Today we do well to give attention to it so that we also will have spiritual insight. If we don’t have spiritual insight we cannot properly apply the truths of Scripture to our lives—especially in light of the times we are living in now. How important it is to have a heavenly perspective.
There seems to be an erosion of religious liberties in our nation and the time may be quickly coming when standing on the truth of God’s Word will result in stiff persecution for the church. Calling sin “sin” and calling sinners to repentance is becoming less tolerable for many and may even become a criminal offense according to the world.
Christ told us to expect this:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
The coming persecution of the church will result in a greater purity since those who are casual about their commitments to Christ don’t tend to stick around in the face of persecution. We might even consider it a tremendous privilege to become “prisoners of Christ” if that’s what He calls us to. We’ll be in good company: Paul being one of them.
His passion, zeal, love for the lost came from his insight into the gospel. May we draw from that insight and join him in a life of ministry—imparting that knowledge onto others.
Paul was only the messenger of the mystery. Next time we’ll look a bit more in depth at the mystery itself.