Ephesians 3:1-13 (2)

Premise:

Paul was given stewardship by God to preach to the Gentiles and teach of God's revealing the mystery of grace being administered to the Gentiles.

Opening:

Introduction of the Passage:

Reading of the Passage:

Ephesians 3:1-13

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—2 if indeed you heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.4 About which, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ,9 and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my afflictions on your behalf, which are your glory.

Behold, the Word of God.

Prayer:

Transition:

A Lack of Preaching.

In his commentary on this passage, R.C. Sproul points out an interesting fact. It is a fact that I never noticed before. This fact is that one almost never hears a sermon from Ephesians chapter 3. I reminisced on this as I was preparing this week, and as someone who has grown up in the church, I can honestly say, I do not recall ever hearing a sermon from this chapter. I have absolutely no memory of this chapter being preached on in depth. It is entirely possible that it was mentioned, or that it was brought up and quoted in sermons I have heard, but I do not recall a singular message on this passage. Why is that?

R.C. puts it well when he says, “The reason why we rarely hear sermons from the third chapter of Ephesians is that in the twentieth century it is universally taken for granted, without any dispute or controversy, that the Christian Church is open to people from all different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.”

This is true. We really don’t question the fact that the message of the gospel is for all people. In fact, if someone stood up and said that the gospel is only for one race or people group, in our day, one would hope that they would be boo’d off the stage and condemned for heresy. However, the temptation when coming across a passage we feel confident in is to simply skim over it and move on. We have a rather cavalier attitude to subjects we feel we no longer need to hear about. We can feel that we have an idea down, and therefore we can move on to passages that more suit what we wish to grow in. However, scripturally, we are not given this option. The Bible says that all Scripture is breathed out by God.

All Scripture is God Breathed.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,17 so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This passage prevents us from cherry picking what Scriptures we study, grow from, and believe. Scripture is wholistic in nature. We accept all of it or none of it. So when working through a book of the Bible, we must never skip a passage just because we feel that is does not apply to us. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable. All Scripture teaches us, corrects us, rebukes us, and trains us in righteousness.

This means that we do not approach this text and say, “well, this is dealing with relations between the Jews and the Gentiles, therefore I don’t need it.” This passage, like all other Scripture is to teach us, it is to correct us, it is rebuke us, it is to train us in righteousness, that we may be complete.

Transition:

With this in mind, let’s open this passage. This passage is describing a great divine mystery.

The Divine Mystery.

What is this divine mystery? Well, the premise of this passage is this:

Premise:

Paul was given stewardship by God to preach to the Gentiles and teach of God's revealing the mystery of grace being administered to the Gentiles.

Paul just revealed this divine mystery in brief in our last passage. What was this mystery? The mystery is this: The former separation between Jews and gentiles has been reconciled in Christ; who formed the two into one true Israel, the Eternal, Holy, catholic (Universal) Church.

John MacArthur, in his commentary points out five aspects of this divine mystery: its prisoner, its plan, its preaching, its purpose, and its privileges. I will be using these five aspects that MacArthur lists as an outline.

Transition:

1. The Prisoner of the Mystery. (1-4)

Ephesians 3:1-4 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—2 if indeed you heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.4 About which, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”

Paul; Apostle, Preacher, Church Planter, Prisoner.

Prisoner of Jesus Christ.

John MacArthur, “Although arrested on Jewish charges, Paul did not consider himself a prisoner of the Jews. Although imprisoned by Roman authority, he did not consider himself a prisoner of Rome. Although he had appealed to Caesar, he did not consider himself Caesar’s prisoner. He was a minister of Jesus Christ, bought with a price, and given the special mission of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. He was therefore the prisoner of Christ Jesus. Whatever he did and wherever he went were under Christ’s control. Without his Lord’s consent, he was not subject to the plans, power, punishment, or imprisonment of any man or government.”

On behalf of the gentiles.

Colossians 1:24-29 “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and I fill up what is lacking of Christ’s afflictions in my flesh, on behalf of His body, which is the church,25 of which I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God given to me for you, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.28 Him we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.29 For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His working, which He works in me in power.”

Reiterating Paul’s Commission and Authority.

Ananias sent to heal Saul. God says about Saul...

Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

Mystery Revealed to Paul by Divine Revelation.

Argumentation:

Reading Scripture Gives Insight Into the Mystery’s of the Faith.

Have Questions? How Much Time Do You Spend in the Word?

2. The Plan of the Mystery. (5-6)

Ephesians 3:5-6 “which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”

Hidden From Former Generations.

Revealed Through the Holy Apostles.

1 Peter 1:10-12 “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries,11 inquiring to know what time or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He was predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

The closing of Romans, Romans 16:25-27 “Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the Gentiles, leading to obedience of faith;27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

R.C. Sproul remarks, “A very important saint who lived at the beginning of the second century, Ignatius of Antioch in Syria, wrote several letters to the Christian churches in Asia Minor, as well as to Rome. In writing his letter to the Romans, he said, ‘I do not order you as Peter or Paul, for I am not an apostle, but I am a convict.’ It is interesting that Ignatius can call himself a prisoner but not an apostle. Paul calls himself an apostle but also a prisoner. So even Ignatius, one of the early church fathers, and others such as Clement, understood that there was a line of demarcation between their authority and that of their predecessors, the apostles, who were called directly and immediately by Christ.”

In the Spirit.

Gentiles are:

Fellow Heirs.

Argumentation:

Think of this from a Jewish perspective.

Fellow Heirs of the Covenant.

Fellow Members of the Body.

Argumentation:

Equal Members of the Church.

Equally in the Family Covenant.

Fellow Partakers of the Promise.

Covenant Promise of the Messiah.

Galatians 3:29 “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.”

Argumentation:

Equal in Christ.

No Second Class Christians.

In Christ.

Through the Gospel.

3. The Preaching of the Mystery. (7-9)

Ephesians 3:7-9 “of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ,9 and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;”

Paul Describes His Ministry.

Not of His Own Authority.

The Least of All the Saints.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 “For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”

John MacArthur, “The term very least is a comparative, indicating less than the least. That was not mock humility but his honest assessment of himself. Because he had such an unusually clear comprehension of God’s righteousness, he also had an unusually clear understanding of how far short he himself fell of that righteousness.”

To Proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News.

The Unfathomable Riches of Christ.

Argumentation:

Do we find riches in Christ, let alone unfathomable ones?

And To Bring to Light for All what is the administration of the mystery.

Which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.

4. The Purpose of the Mystery. (10-11)

Ephesians 3:10-11 “so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,”

So That...

The manifold wisdom of God might be made known…

Through the church...

To the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Remember what Peter said in 1 Peter 1:10-12 “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries,11 inquiring to know what time or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He was predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

R.C. Sproul, “Paul is saying that this mystery is revealed to the apostles to be expressed and taught to men. But even angels and demons did not know of this secret counsel of God. So it is to be made known to the powers and principalities, and to angels. It is the task of the church to make God’s plan of salvation plain to the whole cosmos, even to the heavenly beings.”

This is Part of God’s Eternal Purpose.

In Christ Jesus Our Lord.

5. The Privilege of the Mystery. (12-13)

Ephesians 3:12-13 “in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my afflictions on your behalf, which are your glory.”

In Christ we Have...

Boldness.

Confident Access Through Faith In Him.

Paul’s Plea for Boldness of Heart.

Application:

The Gospel is to Go Out to All People.

No Exceptions, No Limits.

The Gospel is to Impact All Peoples.

Every Tribe, Tongue, and Nation.

Until the Whole Earth is Covered with the knowledge of the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh,

As the waters cover the sea.

Limited Atonement, But a Limitless Message.

The Sad Truth is That Many Will Be in Hell.

This Does Not Limit Our Message.

Guaranteed Success.

True Christian Unity.

We Unite Rightly, and We Refuse to Unite Wrongly.

We Unite in Christ and In Righteousness.

Ephesians 4:4-6. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

We Refuse to Unite With Sin.

We cannot affirm any sin.

We Divide Rightly and We Refuse to Divide Wrongly.

We Divide Over False Teaching and Irreconcilable Differences.

Is it Irreconcilable or are you just proud?

We Refuse to Divide Over Ethnic Bounds and Personal Preference.

We Often Get These Backwards.

“Peace if Possible, Truth at All Costs,” Martin Luther.

Fear God more than you fear man.

Be Strong and Courageous. Be Wise as serpents and Gentle as doves.

Be Unified, Build on This Unity.

John MacArthur, “Being in Christ through acceptance of the gospel is what creates among believers their perfect and absolutely new society. There can never be true oneness apart from that reality. And there can never be practical unity in the church until Christians realize and live by the positional unity they already have in Christ, their one Lord and Savior.”

Unity is a necessity of the gospel. When we become saved, believe the gospel, we are brought into a new community of faith. This community must be centered around the gospel. Just as, the gospel necessitates community. One cannot believe the gospel without building a Christian community, and one cannot build true community outside of the gospel. In this sense, culture necessarily is derived from the gospel. Culture is always centered around a message or a gospel. The gospel of a people is the mold that their culture is pressed into. Therefore we must not ask what is wrong with the culture, but we must ask what gospel is being preached. What a people believes to be good news will necessarily shape their culture. Because Christians have the one true good news, they are the only people who can build a true and good culture. This is why the church must focus on building not just existing.