Who Am I
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Ephesians 3:1-13
Ephesians 3:1-13
Chained to the World, Chained to the Word - 3:1
Mystery Revealed 3:2-6
Gospel Service 3:7-9
Church Mission 3:10-13
Chained to the World/Word
James Baker, former United States Secretary of State, once said that his job was one of the most glamorous and important jobs in the world. He travelled the globe, meeting the most important people and resolving issues that affected all humanity.
But one day, while he was driving in his limousine through Washington D.C., James Baker noticed an old lonely man walking the street. As James Baker passed, he recognized the old man as the United States Secretary of State immediately before Baker was appointed.
James Baker realized then that if he continued to look to his job for his identity and fulfilment, then one day he’d be like that lone figure walking the street. Instead, Baker went on to anchor his identity in Jesus.
To whom or to what do you anchor your identity? What are the things that make you important? What are the things that you would use to define your life? Even ministry is not an identity to dwell in. Let’s find out where the Apostle Paul found his identity!
Did Paul find his Identity in his calling as the Apsotle to the Gentiles?
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
This is very important work, as it has no other higher calling so surely his identity is wrapped in this, as he dove headlong into into. Minsiters of the Gospel are called into gospel work by God too, and many of them find their identity in what they do for the Lord too. Again, how can this be a bad thing? But the question remains did Paul find his identity in his apostelship?
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
Written as a Prisoner
A Literal Prisoner
Paul begins by reflecting on his own role in ministry, his own role in proclaiming the gospel of Christ. He says, “For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles.” This is a very interesting way for Paul to describe himself. He is a prisoner literally, and is well known
A Figurative Prisoner
But he is also a figurative prisoner. That is, he is captive to the will of God. He is a slave to Christ, and his commission by Christ Himself is to proclaim the message of the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. He describes himself as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles.” He has been imprisoned because of His proclamation of the gospel and because he is the apostle to the Gentiles.
V1) If you looked at Pauls life at the surface level, you could be mistaken that his identity was found in his calling and title of apostle. But dig beneath the surface and you see that what he does is anchored to his identity as a slave to - Christ
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
2. Mystery Revealed 3:2-6
With his identity fully in chains to Christ, it balanced and sharpened his ability and focus into what he had been called into which is ordering the church and of course being an Apostle to the Gentiles.
The Administration of God’s Grace
Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
V2) He goes on, in verse 2, to say, “[Y]ou’ve heard, haven’t you, about the administration of God’s grace that He gave to me for you?” What he’s referring to there is the fact that God has set Paul apart, first by saving him graciously and also that he might proclaim it to others. That’s what the administration of God’s grace is referring to—that God gave to Paul for you, you Gentiles.
To him had been entrusted a stewardship of God’s grace with particular reference to the Gentiles. We know grace means unmerited favour and is closely linked to our salvation. But Paul also uses it several times to express the privilege of being given a work to do for Christ.
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
V3) Grace means unmeritted favour, and is often used in conjunction with our salvation, but, Paul also uses it several times to express the privilege of being given a work to do for Christ, and to denote the particular task allotted in his service
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
In his own case it was the amazing favour of being called to be an apostle and that to the Gentiles. He has expressed this—the inclusion of the Gentiles with the Jews in the one body and household—and it is to what he has said already in this letter, not to some earlier letter
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
Identity At Home
Paul had a stewardship, this is important for us to grasp as if what we do is our identity, we will not steward but control and demand our way, as it is who we are. Now of course our identity can be found in many forms, how we parent how we interact with our spouse, if they are our identity so if they stray, go away or sadly pass away we will be more devestated. Whist this may be a hard pill to swallow, but if our identity is found in anything other than Jesus Christ it is a form of Idolatry. You may also have the tendacy to think more highly of yourself or that you are an utter failure.
This type of Idolatry can lead to;
Holding to high of expectations on others
Unneccessary fighting
Irreational Fear - e.g. about losing someone
Anger when people don’t do what you want
Lack of Joy
Burnt out
Sense of lonliness
Feeling like you don’t measure up
To name but a few things,
Thats even in the good things like work, family, spouses, and yes . So are you a Steward or an Idolator, please understand if you understand this in your areas of life, not only can you be set free from the sin it carries, but the weight of it too and the lack of joy it brings (as a chore). Becasue if you are God’s and God is yours (identity) then the others belong to him and you get to be part of your calling in work, life, family, and ministry. Then you will in the gospel, get to enjoy your work that you do for Christ.
The Gospel will keep us in our Identity and realign our lives
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
V6) “The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” because the gospel of Christ means that God has made you alive with Christ, raised you up with Christ, and seated you with Christ in the heavenly realms; and therefore, salvation is by grace through faith. Because of that gospel, Jews and Gentiles are able to have access to God together. That’s what we saw at the end of chapter 2. This is the answer to the riddle, the mystery that is being kept hidden for ages and generations. How will God bless all people through Abraham? How will that promise be fulfilled? The answer is: in Christ, through the gospel, the very gospel that Paul has been commissioned to preach.
3. Gospel Service 3:7-9
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Identity At Work & Church
Story about Ministry being someones identity
We could be mistaken to think that Paul’s identity was found in the Gospel service he performed, becasue he claims to be a ‘servant of this gospel’. However, we should know by now, that Jesus is by and large the Gospel. His work was given by the one whom he found his identity in.
V7-9) We see here in this next part of chapter 3 that Paul is continuing to reflect on his own role as a preacher of the mystery of Christ, and he has explained all of this before, but what stands out is
“This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints.” It’s hard to think of the apostle Paul as the least of all the saints—arguably, the greatest missionary the world has ever known, the original church planter, and the contributor of thirteen letters to the nt of profound theological insight and thought. Yet this is how Paul viewed himself because he once persecuted the church.
He all but admitted murderous intent toward those who named Jesus their Lord. So, for these reasons, he saw that he was an enemy of Christ—a very deliberate, explicit enemy and rebel against God in his persecution of the church. And so, if the grace of God is able to save someone like that, he knows the grace of God is able to save anyone. That’s what I think he means when he refers to himself as the least of all the saints. Even though he had ways he could boast, he knew that everything from salvation, faith, Garce, Mercy and even the mystery revealed and his work/calling were given to him. This humility is not a false humility we see in Christians some times.
Nothing More Ugly Than A Smug Christian
This is becasue So many people can find their identity in their jobs. You are not a School Teacher, Farmer, Retiree, Mine Worker etc. All the skills, hard work, etc. pertaining to your work is becasue of God and the gospel for the work of the gospel. You are not your own.
Identity can also be found in Ministry and not just Pastors, nor Elders, nor Deacons. But Church folk who find their identity in a certain way that a church operates (that is non crucial). Also, people can found identity in their particular way of understanding pet doctrines that can be interpreted other ways. Or allegiance to certain teachers, youtube gurus etc.
If you can’t hangout with someone becasue they think differently on a secondary matter - you might have an idol
If you find your identity in your favourtie bible commentator, Theologian and everything they say - you might have an idol
If you smuggly believe you are smarter than others becasue you hold to a particular view that you feel is supperior - you might have an idol
In saying that, weather it is Pastors, Elders, other leaders or members who find their identity in ministry it can lead to,
arrogance
fighting
manipulation
Pain for others and themselves
Irrational fears
Stress/Burdened
Lonliness
Loss of fellowship
To name but a few, again this can be corrected by finding your identity in being a slave to Christ and his gospel. It is freeing and again realigns us back to harmony, unity and peace with each other and with God. Don’t let the goodness of ministry, church life become tarnished by letting them become idols! Repent and be freed to live at peace and to have immeasurable Joy!
4. Church Mission 3:10-13
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Teawork Makes The Dream Work
The 1980-90 Detroit Pistons were a basketball team made up of seemingly unrermarkable individuals. However, they were a force in finals appearances and won back to back championships in 1989 and 1990, which is not easy to do in the NBA. This team also beat a team with one of the best players in the world Scottie Pippen and the greatest player ever Michael Jordan. So how did these unremarkable players beat a talented roster with Micahel Jordan in it? Full focus on the goal, lotalty amongst their teamates, they had each others back on and off the court, they knew their roles. They stayed united.
However, I now want to introduce you to the alltime best team that have tried to be beaten and disbanded from the world but have survive, will survive and always will win.... The Church. Again made up of unremarkable people by the worlds standards, but are sold out to Christ, have each others backs 24/7, know their roles, focused on the main goal of eternal life with God and each other, are diverse but united. This is not a team, club but the Bride of Christ. It has survived abd will survive Persecution, Wars, Science, The so called ‘God’s Dead’ era (error), Plagues etc. and will also beat Covid 19 as they though Lockdown would destroy churches, in alot of cases it has grown them.
V10) Paul is now referring not only to his own proclamation as an apostle to the Gentiles but to the fact that the church in its very existence proclaims the gospel of Christ and the wisdom of God in Christ to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. These are the same evil spiritual forces of darkness that he refers to in 1:20–23 and again in 6:10–18. The existence of the church proclaims the goodness of God in Christ because the church cannot exist without God fulfilling His plans and promises, without God’s manifold wisdom being made known in the cross and resurrection of Christ, which - Verse 11 raises again as Christ is the central theme and the reason we have been forgiven, which has eternal ramifications, now as part of the bible we look up for his return as the final accomplishment.
The word for manifold (polypoikilos) is a word bursting with beautiful imagery. It was used in greek writing pertaining to cloth and flowers. God’s wisdom is a beautiful tapestry and as colourful as a variety of differnt coloured flowers.
You are a part of that Universal Team (Church), but here is your local team - SHOW PHOTO. This team has been through alot too, rises and decreases in numbers, rumours of the town shutting down in the past, to ore recently, sickness, death, brokeness, hurts etc. Through this the rich tapestry and beauty of God’s wisdom - as mentioned above - shines through even more brightly and beautifully. You make up the beautiful picture of the gospel!
And this is the reason that we are deepening and growing in knowledge of the gospel, love, strength, faith, joy etc. We cannot be shaken becasue we have Jesus as the cornerstone. So we can keep moving forward in the gospel which is the mission of the church, Just like Paul did, by sharing the wisdom of God, thrugh his mystery revealed which is Christ God’s Salvation plan, his peace plan.
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul in - Verse 13 - states, ‘not to be discouraged becasue of my sufferings for you’ namely because it is for their benefit, but also Paul is free even though he is in physical chains, becasue his identity is in Christ and the doing verb is ‘a slave to Christ’. Thats the point to searching our heart for identity idols, becasue they ensnare us and we lose our freedom and are robbed of Joy. They weigh us down and make us miserable
So the goal is for us to be a slave to Christ and not the world and to make others a slave to Christ. Because Being a Slave to Christ = Freedom.
Let us pray, and then our sing our last song as The Church collectively.
