Grace and Peace

Arguing that Jesus only intended the Disciples/Apostles to be involved in the Great Commission. Jesus could not expect little ol’ me to be involved in missions!

Arguing that if everyone is involved in missions, then there will be nobody in the churches. Who is going to send the missionaries and support the missionaries?

Obviously, then, God does not want everyone to be involved in missions.

Jonah 1-4 I tried to show that Missions is not just a novel New Testament invention. God loves the world!

From Jonah we saw that God went to great efforts, humanly speaking, to get a preacher to Nineveh.

We saw that the problem was not God’s mercy or grace, the real problem is that people do not want to go and preach the message God has given.

The narrative is a satire that shows the folly of Israel, because Israel was not following God and was not acting gracious like God. They only cared about there own wants.

Nahum 1-3 I tried to show that God will punish the wicked!

Since God has to punish the wicked

And since God has given us a message that can save the wicked,

Then we should go and share that message with all those who God gives us opportunity to preach because it brings glory to God to act like God.

So how does Ephesians fit into the this Biblical Theology that I am developing that God loves the world, will punish the wicked, but has a salvific message that can save all humanity if they will put their faith in Jesus Christ_

Why does missions exist?

Missions exists because there are places in the wold where people are not worshiping and glorifying God!

That statement is very purposeful because I am not saying:

Missions is to help economically poor countries be rich!

Mission is to help uneducated countries be educated!

Missions is to help the socially oppressed to be liberated!

Missions, is the responsibility of the local church, exists because there are places in the world where people are not worshiping God. Because or since we worship God:

We Worship God we value God more than our comfort

We worship God we obey God more than our desire

We worship God we teach others to worship God too:

First, with the Gospel

Then, with discipleship

We Love God, and therefore we must love what God love. John Piper makes this point in the book “Let the Nations Be Glad” and he quoted John Stott saying “The highest of missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God . . .), but rather zeal—burning and passionate zeal—for the glory of Jesus Christ. . . . Only one imperialism is Christian . . . and that is concern for His Imperial Majesty Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his empire.” Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad! (p. 10). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Psalm 67:4 and Psalm 97:10-11 talk about the nations being glad, worshiping the Lord.

Missions is not a New Testament phenomena, rather, it is God’s work to bring people to worship Him. We go, we send, not because there is a need (primarily), but because we worship God and we want to be obedient to God, we want to be involved in what God is involved, and we want others to worship God!

We are theologically motivated, not pragmatically oriented (because of a punishment) or anthropologically oriented (man has a need). Rather our focus is on God!

So how does Ephesians fit into the Biblical Theology I am developing?

Ephesians is the outworking of a missionary work, Paul traveled to a town where there were people worshiping, but they were not worshiping God. Paul preached the gospel and people were saved.

I. Exposition of Ephesians 1:1-2

Eph. 1:1 The letter begins as a typical letter fashion introducing himself. The author introduced himself as Paul. But we must ask the question, who is Paul?

A. Paul’s early life

Acts 22:3 Paul was in Jersualem to fulfill a promise he had made to go to the temple in Jerusalem. While there, some of the Jews made an accusation against him and Paul ends up arrested. From this arrest we can gather

In Acts 21:37 Paul addressed the commander in Greek! So he could speak Greek, which is good because the earliest of the Ephesians manuscripts are all written in Greek.

Acts 21:39 and Acts 22:3 Paul states that he is from Tarsus in Cilicia.

Tarsus was on the Cydnus River, some 10 miles north of the Mediterranean Sea, and some “40 km. (25 mi.) S of the Cilician Gates, which for three millennia have been the only major pass through the Taurus mountain range between Cilicia and Syria” (Eerdmans Dictionary, “Tarsus” 1276).

The city was a center of education that was better than Athens and Alexandria. The city and the area of Cilicia became Roman property. Mark Antony made the city free Roman city.

Acts 22:3 Paul said that he was Jewish man (Ιουδαιος) which means “1. pert. to being Judean (Jewish), with focus on adherence to Mosaic tradition” (BDAG, 478). Paul clarifies what he means when he says he is a Jew

Phil. 3:4-5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee – that was not a pejorative statement that we say now, rather it was a declaration that he was conservative and held to God’s Word!

Acts 22:3 Paul was “born” (γεγεννημένος Perf. Mid. Part. Nom. Masc. Sg.) in Tarsus. Paul would have had Roman citizenship and Jewish citizen ship.

Paul was “brought up” (ἀνατεθραμμένος Perf. Mid. Part. Nom. Masc. Sg.) – “a. to make grow by nourishing, raise, educate” (GE, 158). The one bit of debate is how one understands “this” as in “this city”? It could be “this” city Jerusalem, where he was standing or it could be “this” city Tarsus which he just mentioned. There is debate as to where Paul grew up.

Paul was “educated” (πεπαιδευμένος Perf. Mid. Part. Nom. Masc. Sg.) – “2. mid. educate, teach:” (GE, 1521) or “1. to provide instruction for informed and responsible living, educate” (BDAG,749). Paul was educated, at the very least, in Jerusalem. And Paul was taught by Gamaliel. Who was Gamaliel?

Acts 5:34-39 Mentions Gamaliel as a teacher of the law, who was very respected by the people. Josephus described him as being as the grandson Hillel. Gamaliel had the honorary title of “elder” and was called “Rabban” – our teacher (Eerdmans Dictionary, 481).

Paul mentions Gamaliel’s name for a reason. If I told you some of my professor’s names, you wouldn’t know them and it would mean nothing to you. But when Paul mentioned Gamaliel it was impressive.

B. Paul’s Career as a Pharisee

Acts 7:58 The church started in Acts 2 with the Holy Spirit baptizing those in the upper room into the Body of Christ. There was opposition from the Jewish leadership. In fact, the first time that Gamaliel appears is giving counsel concerning what to do with the Apostles who were preaching that Jesus was raised from the dead. The Jewish leaders just wanted the whole “Jesus thing” to just disappear. But it wouldn’t.

Acts 6 the church picked deacons to take care of the needs of the congregation. Stephen, one of the deacons was preaching, expert in OT. A rumor went out that he was preaching blasphemy

Acts 7 Stephen gave a defense and preached his last sermon! The crowd went crazy with his sermon and they took Stephen out of the city, and before they started to stone Stephen to death, they laid their cats at the feet of Saul, who is Paul. Two things to note:

First, Paul gave consent to the stoning of Stephen!

Second, and most important, Paul heard Stephen’s sermon. Paul heard the Gospel. Faith comes by hearing the Gospel being preaching, God takes the word preached and convicts a person!

Acts 8 Paul was in agreement that Stephen should be put to death

Acts 8:3 Paul was “ravaging” (ἐλυμαίνετο Impf. Mid. Indc. 3rd Sg.) – “to treat badly, mistreat, torture” (GE, 1260), or “to cause harm to, injure, damage, spoil, ruin, destroy” (BDAG, 604). He was doing this to the church, Paul sought them out, men and women, and put them into prison.

Acts 9:1-2 Paul was very zealous, he wanted letters from the high priest to go the the synagogues in Damascus. This is about 270 mile trip, one way.

C. Paul’s Conversion

Acts 9, Paul, while on the road to kill and imprison Jews who put their faith in Jesus being the Son of God who died for their sins, was confronted by Jesus!

Jesus asked Paul why he was persecuting Him?

Paul wants to know who is talking to him.

Jesus identified Himself as being the One that Paul was “persecuting” (διώκεις Pres. Act. Indc. 2nd Sg.) – “2. to harass someone, esp. because of beliefs, persecute” (BDAG, 254).

Acts 9:6 Jesus tells Paul to go to the city and Jesus was going to tell Paul what to do. When is it that Paul puts his faith in Jesus? – This caused a lot of debate in the Men’s Breakfast.

The moment that Paul believed the word that Jesus told him.

Paul was going to Damascus, but now Paul was going to Damascus in obedience to Jesus. It is a totally different purpose.

That moment changed his life. The believers in Damascus believed God could changed them, because they put their faith in Jesus and were changed. But the questioned if God’s power to save could change someone like Paul. Ananias obeyed Jesus, even though he did not know if this was the best thing to do.

Acts 9:15-16 Jesus told Ananias that Paul was God’s chosen instrument to bear Jesus’ name before:

Gentiles

Kings

Jews

Paul was going to suffer

D. Paul’s Christian Life

Acts 9:19-25 He was excited to share with people the gospel, some put the time he spent in desert to be right after his conversion, he got back to Damascus and preached! But the ones in Damascus were not too sure about brother Paul.

They tried to kill him. Paul heard of the plan and some of the disciples lowered him out of the city in a basket.

Acts 9:26-31 Paul went to Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem did not want to accept him either, until Barnabas brought Paul to the apostles. Some of the Jews were going to kill Paul and the church sent Paul away to Caesarea and then to Tarsus.

Some years go by, the apostle Peter is doing ministry, he had a vision of Jesus telling him to eat, even unclean food. Then Peter had to put the vision into practice as he went to Cornelius’ house to preach the Gospel.

Peter came back and the church in Jerusalem questioned him. Peter gave a report to the church. He did not scoff at them.

The gospel continued to spread into Gentile territory. A church was being established in Antioch.

Acts 11:19-26 The church in Jerusalem heard about something going on in Antioch, so they sent Barnabas (v. 22). He saw the work that was being done and he decided to take off to Tarsus and look for Paul (v. 24). Paul and Barnabas are with the church a year.

Acts 13:1-3 Things get really serious. After being at the church for a year, the church and elders through the guiding of the Holy Spirit set aside Barnabas and Saul for specific call to missionary work. The church sent them to be missionaries.

We have to idea the impact that little church had on church history! We are studying the letter to the Ephesians because the church in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas as missionaries!

E. Paul the missionary

Paul made three missionary journeys. He wanted to go into Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him from going.

Acts 16:9 Paul received the Macedonian call to go and help them. Paul turned to Europe. What should you do when you hear that Macedonian call?

You can ignore it.

You can be a lazy calvinist and chose to do nothing to show that God will still work out His plan without out you.

You can answer the call!

Rom. 15:24 Paul had a desire to go all the way to Spain!

Paul the missionary traveled, sometimes he stayed a sabbath, other times he stayed three years.

He was rejected by some, accepted by others,

he got stoned and left for dead, beaten on a couple of occasions,

Paul was imprisoned. Let go, imprisoned again, and then some time betwen 64-67 A.D. he died a martyr’s death by being beheaded.

F. Paul the Writer

Paul visited the churches and the towns where he helped start churches. He even wrote to a church in Rome, even though he had not visited them. Some of Paul’s writings were inspired by the Holy Spirit and are actually Scripture.

II. Application

What can we learn from the life of Paul that can be applicable to us today.

A. God’s Can Save Anyone

The power that God has to save, has no limit. There is no sin that is too great, there is no lifestyle that is too bad. Furthermore, God knows all your sins and He still gives you the opportunity to believe in Jesus as your Savior.

Just as was in Paul’s life, Jesus used the preaching of the word and the conviction to save Paul.

Jesus saves us of our sins through the preaching of the word. The act of being saved is a divine act that God initiates, God does, and God accomplishes!

B. God wants a complete surrender

Paul went on to Damascus after being saved, but out of surrender to Jesus’ command. Eugene Peterson describes faithfulness as “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.”

When Barnabas came knocking on his door, Luke does not record the excuses he gave, all we see is that Paul was surrendered to go from Tarsus to Antioch.

When the Holy Spirit impressed upon the church to send Paul from the church in Antioch to the world, Paul was surrendered?

The church was surrendered to send, Paul was surrendered to go. And we are looking at the letter to the Ephesian church because the church obeyed and Paul obeyed.

Are you surrendered to God?

Conclusion

Missions exists because there are places that do not glorify and worship God. And until Christ comes to rapture the church, there will continue to be the need for the church to send missionaries to reach areas with the Gospel so that they can be worshiping the one true God!

What should motivate us in missions?

Not the need – if people are your motivating factor you will drop out rather quickly because people are nasty. You try to share the gospel with them and they will reject you.

Not the punishment – God will judge the wicked, but the punishment is not the motivating factor for missions.

God’s glory and His worship is our motivation.

We see God to be so great and wonderful that we want to share with the saved and unsaved how Great He is.

We glorify and worship God by loving what He loves and He loves the world.

Please do not say you love God

If you do not love missions.

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