Sunday Service - 4-28-19 - Ephesians 3:1-9 - The Incredible Encouragement of the Mystery of the Church
Ephesians 3:1-13 Notes Page
3:1 For this reason I, Paul, …
He breaks his thought to explain something … to be continued in 3:14)
For this reason… Remember Eph 2 – the Gospel – personal and corporate reconciliation to God and to each other, strangersaliens citizensmembers, being built together into the House of God
What breaks his thought? His situation.
a prisoner… … of Christ Jesus
Paul’s outlook – faith - He sees what others can’t see.
on behalf of you Gentiles—
for a great purpose – the Gentiles, the Church, Us.
2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
He doesn’t assume all of them know him, even here, he’s sensitive to them.
Paul was given a stewardship – strategy – administration of God’s grace -TROUBLE!
Paul has a special task. It’s not about him – it’s about them.
3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
Had you heard about this? You need to know this.
MYSTERY?! What once was hidden, now revealed.
by revelation – the certainty of this truth, direct from God.
2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
He doesn’t assume all of them know him, even here, he’s sensitive to them.
Paul was given a stewardship – strategy – administration of God’s grace -TROUBLE!
Paul has a special task. It’s not about him – it’s about them.
3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
Had you heard about this? You need to know this.
MYSTERY?! What once was hidden, now revealed.
by revelation – the certainty of this truth, direct from God.
4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
The power of the Word in the heart of the believer
The source and substance of the mystery is Christ. He is why we now know something different. Who is worthy to open the scroll?
5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
We are special … for some reason. Do we get that? (Job)
Set apart ... By the Spirit … What does the Spirit know? What can the Spirit do?
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
The mystery is…!!
Fellow heirs of the same blessing/inheritance … Fellow members of the same body … Fellow partakers of the same promise
“in Christ Jesus”: equality in Christ, Union with Christ = union with each other
“through the Gospel”: Eph 2 – by grace through faith
V5 Not made known to past generations: Eve, Abraham, David, Solomon, etc… How?
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 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,
Paul’s understanding of himself, humility – Paul’s outlook – faith.
“the gift of God’s grace, which was given me” (See V2) – Grace for them, Grace for Him.
God’s grace for Paul – who was Paul?
Again, it’s not about him … it’s for them. Rags to riches.
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
Lamp unto my feet, light unto my path
The “plan” of the mystery. What’s the planpointpurpose?
“hidden for ages” - he makes all things … he makes all things beautiful in His time.
… Who created all things … 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Seriously … through the church … all the wisdom of God
Made known to the spiritual rulers and authorities
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
This is an eternal purpose, not a plan B. (chosen in Him before the foundation of the world)
Now become a manifest reality in Christ Jesus … our Lord – this is it – the Lordship of Christ in us and over the universe … and we rule with Him.
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Not a Lord who makes us weak, but who makes us strong!
Do we trust Him? Do we know Him as our boldness, access with confidence?
13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Look at Paul’s concern. His own situation? Their hearts!
He is conformed to the image of Christ, filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
What is our concern?
Paul says this is your glory! Do you see? How can we constantly blind ourselves to the glory of it all?
So, he asks the reader of this letter, the believer, to not lose heart. Where is your heart? Trust Christ! He has overcome the world. He is Lord!