Plan "A"

I planned it that way all along

Have you ever seen those crazy sport shots or trick shots where clearly it looks like the attempt is no where near being in the right direction but then out of no where something happens and it goes in?

Then there is the guy who attempted the whole thing- with the smug grin- “ I planned it that way all along”

Knowing good and well he didnt

Today in our text- Paul explains Gods plan “A” the “I planned it this way all along” concerning the Mystery of the Gospel and how it pertains to the Gentiles as an introduction to his prayer for them in vs 14-21

Lets begin with verse one of Chapter 3

Vs 1- For this reason- we when we read a passage and we see these type of phrases we must look back at what has been said to keep a proper light on what we are now reading

So when we glance back at the end of chapter two- we are reminded of the uniting of the Jew and Gentile in Christ

The once seperated, have been reconciled back to Christ by the grace of God and now are forever united together one to another in the body of Christ

This is a big deal- one commentator I read even went as far to say it was an act of grace that the Gentile churches would willing to give to Paul for the relief of the church in Jerusalem but it also was a much bigger mark of humility for the predominately Jewish church to accept it.

Paul says for this reason- uniting of the Jew and Gentile together into the church Paul sits as a prisoner of Christ to the Gentiles

Paul clearly is committed and bound even to Christ- time and time again he has used the word slave to depict his life commitment to Christ

No longer does he identify himself alone but attached to Christ

But also he is a physical prisoner- Most believe he is in prison at Jerusalem at this time on his way to Rome

Why?- Because of preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles

Its the Jews who predominately pushed him out and caused trouble but also there were times as in Acts 19- he was challenged because he took away revenue from the silversmiths as they made pagan idols

The preaching of the Gospel at Ephesus created a problem

The Paul was chained to the Gospel and the Gospel going forth to the Gentiles put him in chains

Paul somewhat stops his thought and explains this great Gospel mystery of which he is in chains now

Vs 2- Paul has not had the privilege of meeting all to whom he is writing to

The church has grown since has left- more have been added and more people may not know exactly how Paul was put into service for Christ and his special revelation given to him by Christ

Vs 3- begins to explain this more

Paul wasnt taught by the Apostles like the rest of the church

Paul was given special revelation of the mystery of the Gospel

Pauls journey began on the Damascus road in Acts 9

Acts 9:3–4 ESV

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

it was immediately at that moment Paul knew he was speaking to the God

Acts 9:5–6 ESV

And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

God then sends Ananias to Paul with this purpose

Acts 9:15 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Pauls calling to being an Apostle is unique but so is his teaching by God

Galatians 1:11–12 ESV

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

So Paul reminds the Ephesians that his mission to them was Gods plan A from the beginning

Vs4- Pauls writing here will further explain his point of the mystery of Christ

Vs5- for a time the message of a Messiah was not preached and proclaimed to the nations

Make no doubt, Israel was called to be a a light to the nations and they failed

The Jews were more concerned with preserving there rituals than they were being holy for He is holy

Isaiah 49:6 ESV

he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

This prophecy is bigger than the servant Isaiah and speaks to Christ work in redemption

For its in Christ that the Gospel light goes to all the nations

But for a time, the Mystery of Jesus was not disclosed as it is now

The Jews waited for years upon years and missed him when he came

He didnt fit their mold of the Messiah but after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the mystery is no longer hidden

Even John says it this way

John 12:14–16 ESV

And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

The indwelling HS illuminated the eyes of the Apostles and they began to understand the mystery of Christ and his mission to save the Gentiles

Vs 6- Paul says this is the mystery - that the Gentiles- you Ephesians and all of you here today who are born again into Christ are heirs, members of the body, part of the family

If there is a promise made to Abraham- beloved it applies to us as well

The same faith that saved him, saved us

The same grace that was applied to him, was applied to us

Every bit of this is sole byproduct of the believers life being in Christ now

Paul says this mystery was somewhat obscure but because of coming of Christ and his work on the cross

Paul says the mystery is revealed- Its never been Jews only, but even the outcaste Genitle

Plan A- all along- revealed in Christ

Vs 7-8 Paul praises God for the gift of grace that God bestowed on him to preach the Gospel to the Gentile world

Beloved it is a great blessing and nothing but the sheer grace of God for me to be up here before you every week

I dont deserve it- its all grace

Paul continues onward- its Gods grace that he would use Paul to deliver this message of hope

I can promise you now, there was not one of the 12 disciples who thought would be the best person to convert or even had him as a person remotely interested in the Gospel message

I echo Pauls heart here today- Im so thankful for transformative grace

If you would have known the evils that have rolled through my mind and even played out from my mouth and actions- you would understand me today

But I also know I am not alone here today in this, am I?

Yes I know, Yes I know

Jesus blood can make the villest sinner clean!!

But Pauls over all rejoicing didnt just come from his salvation but the message he was given to declare

Paul gets to take every Gentile he encounters and point them onward to unsearchable riches they have in Christ

Vs 9- Paul says I have privilege of taking the greatest truths mankind has ever heard and declare them to the world

To take the mystery of the Messiah and his redemption of the nations which in its full disclosure was hidden in God himself

The very purposes and plans of the heart of God have been laid on the table for all to see in Christ

Pauls says I get to speak of that- oh what grace

Oh by the way, this very one I speak of is the one who created all things

This Jesus- is creator, sustainer and redeemer

Vs 10- God has so designed, predestined and ordained that the church- Jew and Greek- be the very method of declaring Gods matchless wisdom to all of the heavenly host

What an amazing thought- that angels in heaven still await eagerly the outworking of Gods plan

That God has so ordained you and I believer, to not only be those who bring tidings of Good news of Great Joy but also that the church is looked upon longingly by the very angels of heaven as they await the consummation of Gods plan

1 Peter 1:12 ESV

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

I think Paul is doing all that he can to again remind the Ephesians- “Your not plan B, you have always been Plan A”

Vs 11- Affirms this very fact

The church is and always has been the plan A in the mind of God

It was the very purpose of God to unite all peoples to himself in Christ

The church is the product of Gods grace and Christ redemption and should live for His glory

Vs 12- its in Christ that you can come before the Father boldly in prayer and one day face to face because of His work and our faith in Him

Lets just gloss over this

Lets remember there was a real reason why the HP would have a rope tied around his ankle before he went into the HOH

Because if there was any unrepented sin- any impurity of heart and mind- any lack of honor and reverence for the Holiness of God- he is dead and they drag him out

Wouldnt that be a humbling thing- you have just confessed all your sins before God, did all the washings, offerings and rituals as commmanded

then you tie a rope around your ankle because the presence of the whom you will be entering isnt like anyone or anything you or I have ever encountered

The same God who told Moses to go remind the people twice to not come up the mountain as he descended on it, the same one who struck Uzzah down dead when he went to catch the ark as the ox carrying the ark stumbled

Of which RC Sproul said- Uzzah made the fatal error in thinking he was more holy than the ground that God made.

Because Christ has tore the wall of hostility between us and himself- we now get to come boldly on upon his grace alone

The Church gets the great grace of being heirs of Gods promises and also those who now declare it to others

Its a great grace but it comes also comes with chains

Vs 13- May you and I realize that our labor in faith and work in the Gospel is not one free of harm and pain

But as Paul suffered in his christian life- for the Ephesians and our benefit

By Gods grace may we the church do the same

Application

May our commitment to the church resemble His commitment to the church

One of my favorite and challenging verses concerning the church is in

Acts 20:28 ESV

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

God purchased the bride with his own blood, you and I have not

As we looked into the text today- over and over we are reminded that Gods plan is fulfilled in the faithful outworking of the Church

In a time in which the church is treated as country club- God says thats my chosen instrument to shine the light of His gospel to the nations

Church at times is nothing more than a place that allows us to use the building and be buried if we are members

In our text- the church is Gods vessel of divine providence to push back the darkness of sin with the light of the Gospel

R. Kent Hughes said the church is 1. Central to history, 2. Central to the Gospel, and 3 Central to Christian living

The bottom line is, the Church is not an option for believers, nor is supporting it an option. I am not saying you have to go to church to be a Christian, but you also do not have to go home to be married. However, if you do not frequent your home, your relationship will be in jeopardy. Attendance and participation in your local church is not an option. Paul’s gospel was Christ and the Church.

As we all know, the Church on earth is imperfect. Nevertheless, we must be committed to the local manifestation of the universal Church. We must be committed to regular worship and should worship with all we have. As the third race, we must be committed to our church’s fellowship as well. If we only attend worship, we are robbing the church and ourselves and Christ. We must be involved in a small group or a Bible school class where we interact and minister to others. Also, since Christ and his Church has the only answer for the world, we must be involved in sharing both. Evangelism is not an option. We must reach out to those who are not like us. When we do, we will be living out one of the supreme glories of the Church.

The Gospel, The Church- Always Plan A

Be thankful for his grace but seek to do his work