The Riches of the Mystery

Paul is writing from prison, a prison of his choosing and for God’s purpose and glory. Why? Because he understood the mystery that was revealed to Him, the administration given to him and the stewardship that was charged to him. There are famous people who have been to prison, been to jail who went on to be great assets for the kingdom of God. From Joseph, Peter, John, to John Bunyon and now today we look at the Apostle Paul. Paul wants the Ephesians to know he is in prison, but not one of a Roman making, one of God’s choosing.

Ephesians 3:1 NASB95

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Ephesians 4:1 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Ephesians 6:20 NASB95

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

He is a prisoner of Christ, not Rome, a prisoner of the Lord and an ambassador in chains. He fully understood what he was going through and accepted his calling, his stewardship.

This section of scripture is really like a parenthesis section (in vv.2-13) because how it starts in (v.1)

Ephesians 3:1 NASB95

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

and then in

Ephesians 3:14 NASB95

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

It is like in the middle or the start of a prayer he is overwhelmed by what has been entrusted to him, what has been revealed and he has to stop and share the importance of it.

The mystery is not something scary, eerie or anything like that, it is a great joy and fulfillment of God’s grand plan, the mystery is the church! But now let’s look at why Paul stopped at this important topic in the middle of a prayer.

I. It was personally important to Paul

Let us read Eph3:1-5

Ephesians 3:1–2 NASB95

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;

Ephesians 3:3–4 NASB95

3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Ephesians 3:5 NASB95

5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

Paul was a prisoner of Christ, of the Lord because he believed in God’s new way, of uniting, not through works, but through grace. Man to God and man to man. And the new way was including the Gentiles who in a Jews eyes were considered “dogs” at the time and even to early Christian’s thought the Gentiles were inferior. Paul was made a minister of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Ephesians 3:7 NASB95

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.

Paul knew his calling from the get go, or you can say from the beginning.

Acts 9:15 NASB95

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;

He was the Apostle to the Gentiles

Romans 11:13 NASB95

But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

Romans 15:15–16 NASB95

But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

He knew that the believers were to be “one” in Christ

Galatians 3:28 NASB95

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Paul was not just a prisoner because of the mystery, he was also a minister given a stewardship of the Gentiles and a uniting of the Jews and the Gentiles in one body the church!

The stewardship is the responsibility for sharing the Good news to sharing who they are in Christ. Remember this series is entitled the “sufficiency of Christ.” Paul never looses focus of that.

This truth about the mystery “the church” had not been revealed in the O.T. Scriptures it was revealed to the N.T. apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:11 NASB95

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

Because Paul was a faithful steward of the administration he was given he was now a prisoner in Rome but not a prisoner of Rome but of Christ.

Paul is reminding them what they had already heard

Ephesians 3:2 NASB95

if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;

Not only was the revealed mystery important to Paul, it was important to the Gentiles.

II. It was collectively important to the Gentiles

Ephesians 3:6 NASB95

6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

Eph3:6-8

Ephesians 3:7–8 NASB95

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 preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

In Eph2:11-22 Paul had laid out plainly the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles was broken down at the Cross of Christ, that the two were to become one. The truth of the mystery in this section is to the believing Gentiles of the new position, new relationship that have because of Christ. More than salvation for individual sinners but reconciliation between men, not by heritage but by Christ together to form one body, the Church which is the body of Christ .

(Slide) So the benefits according to (v.6) are:

(Slide) Fellow-heirs with the Jews

(Slide) Fellow members of the body

(Slide) Fellow partakers of the promise

For again, we need to remember we are “one body”

Ephesians 4:4 NASB95

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;

I once read this (Slide)“Our human birth determines our racial distinctions, but our spiritual birth unites us a members of the same body.”

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 NASB95

12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

1COr12:12-14

One body with one head and that head is Jesus Christ according to Eph5:22-23

Ephesians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

Once outside the promises of God, the covenant made with Abraham

Ephesians 4:10–13 NASB95

10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 2:12 NASB95

12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

We are able to share in the spiritual richness in Christ. The mystery not only puts the Gentiles in a new position but gives them a new power.

Ephesians 3:7 NASB95

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.

Romans 11:13–15 NASB95

13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

The working of HIS POWER. God gave Paul the things necessary to accomplish the ministry, the calling he was given and he has given us that power to accomplish all things for His purpose and glory too! There is the mighty power

Ephesians 1:19–21 NASB95

19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:22–23 NASB95

22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

and then

Ephesians 3:20 NASB95

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

His power, with a purpose!

Ephesians 4:16 NASB95

16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

EPh

For the growth of the body, for the building up in love!

So there is position, there is power now there are unfathomable riches

Ephesians 3:8 NASB95

8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

Paul who considered himself the least of the saints.

Acts 13:9 NASB95

9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,

1 Corinthians 15:9 NASB95

9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1COr15:9

or even

1Tim

1 Timothy 1:15 NASB95

15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Paul’s humility because he understood the mystery, could try to grasp the unfathomable riches. In some versions it says unsearchable, untraceable riches meaning you cannot discover the end. What was hidden has now been revealed, what you could not see in the O.T. you can see now in the N.T. These riches are available to all believers today.

May we have the humility like Paul who understood, or at least had an understanding of the deep truths of God’s Word, it did not go to his head, it went to his heart, no pride or ego, but a broken and contrite heart.

Matthew 5:3 NASB95

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Psalm 51:17 NASB95

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

That is how Paul served and it was acceptable to God! May we come and serve the same way.

So the mystery was important to Paul, it was important to the Gentiles well it is important to the angels too.

III. Important in the heavenly places

Ephesians 3:9–10 NASB95

9 and to bring to light 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.

EPh3:

So this mystery, hidden for centuries now has been revealed in the church. This was revealed to Paul and the leaders but was hard for the Jews to accept.

The principalities are the ones in the heavenly places, they wanted to know.

1 Peter 1:10–12 NASB95

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted 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 announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

we know the angels rejoice

1 Peter 1:12 NASB95

12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

Luke 15:10 NASB95

10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

now the angels know the mystery that through the Christ not only was man reconciled to God (Eph2:1-10) the dividing wall was broken down (EPh2:11ff) but that the Gentiles and the Jews become one body, the church (Eph3:1ff)

The angels are watching, learning from the church

Ephesians 3:10 NASB95

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.

1 Corinthians 11:10 NASB95

10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

1 Corinthians 4:9 NASB95

9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

The angels know of the power of God from creation, now the wisdom of God is made known through the church, God’s new creation. Can you see the beauty of all of this?

The apos

God hid the mystery from the beginning but has made it known to the church and by the church to others. This is what Paul is made a steward of .

Ephesians 3:9 NASB95

9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;

God’s plan, God’s mystery has been entrusted to us the church today to share it, teach it, proclaim it, we are to be One body!

It was important to Paul, it was important to the Gentiles, it is important in the heavenlies and it should be important today.

IV. Important to the Church today

Paul experienced the Lord on the road to Damascus and from the Lord he was entrusted with the precious treasures, truth, of the gospel

What the angels wa

1 Timothy 1:11 NASB95

11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

and he taught it entrusted it to other men

2 Timothy 2:2 NASB95

2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

The gospel, the mystery has been passed down over the years but along the way it became liturgy to some where it was about rituals and not lead by the Truth of the Word and the Spirit as it was in the first century. It lost some invaluable truths like baptism (Act2:38), church discipline (Mt18), restoration of a fallen brother (Gal6:1). When we don’t know and rightly divide the truth we deprive people or confuse people concerning their position in Christ

2 Timothy 2:15 NASB95

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

We need to be diligent, we need to be good stewards of the gospel and the mystery that through Christ we are all one, united as it says in Eph4:4-6

Ephesians 4:4–6 NASB95

4 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.

The church is not an afterthought of God, was not God’s back up plan, the church is God’s plan and is part of God’s eternal purpose

Ephesians 3:11 NASB95

11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

(Slide) So how do you wrap up this today, this mystery that has been explained out?

(Slide) Know what God is doing today - when we know what God is doing today and you work with Him, you can be assured He will work in you and for you and through you all for His purpose and glory! - He has given us all things for life and godliness so we can accomplish His task today.

(Slide) Knowing brings confidence - understanding brings the believer who knows what God is up to and how he wants to do it confidence that we have been empowered to accomplish the task and to be able to face any circumstances that may come our way, to Paul it was prison, to us I don’t know, but I know we are equipped.

(Slide) Knowing brings confidence

(Slide) Knowing encourages sharing with others - God had a secret that has been revealed, today we looked at the wonder place in Christ that we Gentiles have and what we have to live up to. Sharing the gospel, sharing the mystery, it was important to Paul, to the Gentiles, in the heavenlies and should be to us.