A Mystery in Christ!

The Lord reveals truth that was previously hidden to the Old Testament Saints.

DO YOU LIKE A GOOD MYSTERY?

Those in the OT knew of God’s grace and they knew there was coming a day when the Gentiles could be included in the Kingdom of God. But there was still a mystery about HOW Jews and Gentiles become ONE.

For example: We do not convert to Judaism to become Christians. Anyone saved is saved the same way, by grace through faith in the resurrected Son of God. There is EQUALITY at the Foot of the Cross. Jews and Gentiles alike are welcomed into God’s Kingdom, family, and eternity in Heaven.

DO YOU LIKE A GOOD MYSTERY?

My favorite type TV shows are generally mysteries like COLOMBO or MONK. I cannot recommend every episode to you, but some are better than others in their content.

Whenever there is a MYSTERY, a detective, or inquisitive person waits to make their case until they have ALL THE EVIDENCE. Sometimes conclusions are made rashly without all the evidence. Sometimes new evidence comes in that changes what was apparent to begin with.

READ PASSAGE. Eph 3:1-12

Ephesians 3:1–12 (AV)

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Paul reveals something previously unknown to earlier generations.

God offers NEW EVIDENCE about those IN CHRIST.

BTW: There is no mention of the LAW in this passage. The LAW does not affect our standing IN Christ Jesus. You do not nee to be living a Holy Life before you get saved. You don’t need to get your house in order before you come to Christ. God wants to save us FROM our sin! The law can’t do that.

The Mystery revealed is this:

The Gospel Reveals Evidence As To Who We Are In Christ.

The STAR WITNESS to reveal the answer to the Mystery is the GOSPEL.

Jesus lived a perfect life.

Jesus took our place on the Cross.

Jesus shed His blood for our sin.

Jesus died in our place.

Jesus rose again the third day.

The Gospel Reveals NEW Evidence As To Who We Are in Christ!

What is the NEW EVIDENCE? Detective??? Verse 6 is our main clue:

Clue #1: The Inheritance. vs. 6

We are Fellow Heirs.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (συγ-κληρο-νόμος)

Fellowheirs = συγ-κληρο-νόμος =“one who obtains something assigned to himself with others, a joint participant”

Fellowheirs is a legal term. (Nomas = Law) is part of this word.

We have legal standing as Sons and Daughters of God.

I knew a Widow lady who left her entire estate to her church. She wanted a Gospel legacy to be passed on to the next generation, even though she was gone. The money came at a good time to help that church. I believe every Christians should include God in their will.

“A man had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He could receive little company and was not to be excited. While in the hospital a rich uncle died and left him a million dollars. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. It was decided to ask the preacher if he would go and break the news quietly to the man. The preacher went, and gradually led up to the question. The preacher asked the patient what he would do if he inherited a million dollars. He said, “I think I would give half of it to the church.” The preacher dropped dead.”

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

We are included in Gods inheritance. Jews and Gentiles Alike.

1 Peter 1:3–5 AV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations (2900. Heaven, Inheriting)

As a dead man! A Dead man cannot inherit an estate, no more can a dead soul inherit the kingdom of God.

The GOSPEL MAKES YOU ALIVE IN CHRIST and available to His eternal Inheritance! IF you are not yet a believer in Christ, you are not yet spiritually alive!

Clue #1: The Inheritance. vs. 6

Clue #2: The Equality.

We are members of the Body of Christ. Jews and Gentiles Alike.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (AV)

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

We are part of a Spiritual Body.

Different body parts perform different functions, have different names, and are in different locations, but all are needed!

We are each an important part.

1 Corinthians 12:12 (AV)

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

There is EQUALITY at the Foot of the Cross. Jews and Gentiles alike are welcomed into God’s Kingdom, family, and eternity in Heaven. None of us are good enough for God, but He loves!

BTW: Equality is misunderstood today. Being a Jew or a Gentile is something you cannot change. It is your legacy, you are born either a Jew or a Gentile. Some people act like they can change things that biological cannot be changed today. A Male cannot biologically be a female and a female cannot biologically be a male. You could mutilate the body, but the chromosomes never change. The same is true sociologically (in the mind) because the brains are created differently.

It is most healthy- spiritually and emotionally to accept the person God made us to be. Accept the body size, shape, hair coloring, and facial distinctions that God gave to you. Our world is unhealthy trying to look like everybody else. The Christian can learn to accept “As is!”

Many mislabel equality to mean “What we do” When God sees it as “Who we are.” You cannot change who you are, but you can change what you DO. Eating and excersise are things you can change. Change habits, etc.

Differences are not a bad things and do not mean one is better than the other. Men and women can compliment each other and the greatest compliment is marriage between a man and a woman. This solves all the unhealthy thinking of sexuality, identity, and relationship issues.

Equality is not based on what we can change but what we cannot change. God sees you the same as others in the things you cannot change. Anything that can change should be changed to be conformed into the image of Jesus.

By God’s Grace, HE Accepts us for Who we are and we can be changed in what we DO.

Clue #1: The Inheritance. vs. 6

Clue #2: The Equality.

Clue #3: The Promise.

Jews and Gentiles are included in the Promises.

Promise = “a promised good or blessing”

Thayer, J. H. (1889). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: being Grimm’s Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (p. 227). New York: Harper & Brothers.

Warren Wiersbe suggests:

The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Six: I Know a Secret (Ephesians 3:1–13))

Finally, in their new relationship, the Gentiles are partakers of God’s promises. Once they were outside the covenant, with no claims on the promises of God (Eph. 2:12); but now, in Christ, they share the promises of God with the believing Jews. In Romans 11:13–15, Paul explains that believing Gentiles share in the spiritual riches that God gave to Israel. But in Romans 11:1–12, Paul explains that God has not, because of the church, negated His promises to Israel. The church today shares in the spiritual riches of Israel, but one day God will restore His people and fulfill His promises concerning their land and their kingdom.

Romans 11:13–15 (AV)

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Some people teach a “Replacement Theology” and say the church has become a New Isreal. Not true. The church and Isreal are 2 things that God brings together to make His new Kingdom! Both are part and have place in the Kingdom of God!

Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary ((b) Its Contents (3:6))

In Christ, there were no longer any special promises to Jews, no revelations made to them alone. The full blaze of New Testament truth was the property of the church, not Israel.

The Gospel Reveals Evidence As To Who We Are In Christ.

Clue #1: The Inheritance. vs. 6

Clue #2: The Equality.

Clue #3: The Promise.

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? What does this “EVIDENCE” mean to us?

At the Cross and Resurrection: “HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED...”

God’s Grace Empowers Us. 2, 7-8

Anything we do is by the grace of God.

Any ministry or work is by the grace of God.

Everyday is a gift of grace.

6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths But for Grace, My Soul Had Perished

But for Grace, My Soul Had Perished

But for Grace, my soul had perished,

Withered as the desert sand;

Gone to shadows, and tormented,

But for Grace’s perfect plan!

But for God’s unceasing Mercy,

But for Calvary’s sacrifice;

I had wandered, blind and thirsting,

Fell to Satan’s grim device.

But the blessed blood of Jesus,

Shed upon that cruel tree;

Called me from the ling’ring shadows,

Saved my soul, and rescued me!

But for Grace, O Grace perfected,

But for love’s undying flame;

I had never hoped in Jesus,

Ne’er had even known His name!

God’s Grace Empowers Us. 2, 7-8

2. God’s Wisdom Enlightens Us. 9-11

God Created You! Jesus had a role in Creation. You are created.

God has a purpose for You!

You are not an accident. You are not a product of chance. The schooling you had does not control you, the media does not tell you how you should live, the negative influences around you are not in charge.

With God’s Wisdom, you can have the path you should go enlightened.

Spiritual darkness is all around, but your life is lit up by the Wisdom of God!

God’s Grace Empowers Us. 2, 7-8

2. God’s Wisdom Enlightens Us. 9-11

3. God’s Presence Emboldens Us ! 11-12

Pray with faith; believing that God can.

Pray with confidence; believing that God will.

Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4 (Grace Greater than We Know)

Why do we call grace amazing? Grace is amazing because it works against the grain of common sense. Hard-nosed common sense will tell you that you are too wrong to meet the standards of a holy God; pardoning grace tells you that it’s all right in spite of so much in you that is wrong.Realistic common sense tells you that you are too weak, too harassed, too human to change for the better; grace gives you power to send you on the way to being a better person. Plain common sense may tell you that you are caught in a rut of fate or futility; grace promises that you can trust God to have a better tomorrow for you than the day you have made for yourself.

The Gospel Reveals Evidence As To Who We Are In Christ.

And Just one More Thing… the Grace of God is given me to you-ward. “God gave it to me so I could give it to you!” God’s grace is something that we share with others. Share God’s loving grace with someone this week.

The Gospel Reveals Evidence As To Who We Are In Christ.

Clue #1: The Inheritance. vs. 6

Clue #2: The Equality.

Clue #3: The Promise.

DO YOU SEE the CHANGE GOD HAS MADE POSSIBLE??? WHO ARE YOU “IN” CHRIST?

WHO YOU ARE “In Christ” SHOULD NOT BE MYSTERY...

RESPONSE:

God’s Grace Empowers Us. 2, 7-8

God’s Wisdom Enlightens Us. 9-11

God’s Presence Emboldens Us ! 11-12

Anyone need salvation? Be saved and forgiven!

Is there someone you need to talk with about Jesus?