The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Ephesians 3:8–13 ESV

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

In One Night With the King, Esther is brought before King Xerxes. She quotes Proverbs 25:2

Proverbs 25:2 ESV

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

There are mysteries listed in the Bible.

Here is the mystery of the knowledge of God. It is not as if we can put God in a box and say I understand God. For example, I can search out certain science principles and discover if carbon dioxide really can be created from two different substances in enough quantity to blow up this balloon.

Supplies:

white vinegar

baking soda

water

water bottle

Steps:

pour vinegar into the bottom of a water bottle to the bottom 1st or 2nd line.

Add enough water so there is liquid to 1/8th of the bottle.

Add baking soda to the balloon and attach to the water bottle.

Lift up the balloon and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar/water mixture.

When the baking soda and vinegar mix, an acid-base reaction occurs and carbon dioxide is forms and fills up the balloon.

It is amazing how God uses science to reinforce the gospel. We start with vinegar which is an acid. Sounds very much like humanity. We, in our sinful state, apart from God, are acidic. We erode the good around us.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Baking soda is a base. It neutralizes acid, cleans, and purifies. Jesus Christ is our base. He creates a reaction within us that is not natural on our own. It neutralizes our acidity and makes us able to achieve heights we never could on our own.

I am finite and God is infinite. The mystery of having a relationship with God. The mystery of the riches of Christ. A relationship and riches which cannot be found apart from Christ. And He chooses to show this mystery through the church. As long as we continue to exist with the base (Jesus Christ) others will be drawn to Christ. This spiritual reaction softens our heart and gives us the mind of Christ.

We can see the chemical reaction between the vinegar and the baking soda. What is the spiritual reaction?

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Wow. These are some great spiritual reactions to the effect of Jesus Christ in our lives. We really could use some more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Another definition of base is the foundation of something that provides support to the thing which is built on it. If our lives are not based on the Lord Jesus Christ, we will fall.

1 Peter 2:7 ESV

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

We see the effects in the world around us of lives lived apart from God and the acidity of sin destroying everything God meant for beauty.

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

There is a drastic difference between vinegar and baking soda. This is something in science we can physically see. This also gives us a picture of the drastic difference spiritually. The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy. This is polar opposite of Jesus Christ coming to not only gives us life, but more abundantly.

We need Jesus Christ to neutralize the destructive way we have lived apart from Him. We also need Him to cleanse us

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

and purify us

1 Peter 1:22 ESV

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

We, as a church, need to make sure Jesus Christ is our base. But, it first starts individually. We will not be an effective church if our members are acidic. We, each individually, need to make sure we are in communion with Jesus Christ.

Where are we at this morning? Do we find our hearts a little acidic? If we take the veils off between us and the Lord, what will we find? Have we been eroding those around us? Especially those who loves us the most? This world can easily pour in the acid on it’s own, we need to stay in connection with Jesus Christ.

There may be someone here this morning or listening via Facebook who have never experienced a relationship with Jesus Christ and had the acid in their life neutralized, much less cleansed and purified. Well, i am excited to tell you that today is your day.

Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Today, you can make Jesus Christ the Lord of you life. He made it so easy. He did all the hard work.

Conclusion:

A - Acknowledge

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B - Believe

Acts 16:31 (ESV)

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

C - Confess

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.