Presentation 06

Studiesin

Ephesians

Chap 1-3Chap 4-6

See what you are in ChristBe what you are in Christ

DoctrineTruth

Application

The Structure of the Book

Apostleto the

GentilesChap 3 v1-13

In these verses Paul introduces himself and explains his unique role in God’s purpose for the Gentiles.He describes himself as ‘a prisoner’. But he was not Rome’s prisoner but Christ’s.He was a prisoner because the gospel he preached made no distinction between Jew and Gentile – this had infuriated the Jews.And so he was suffering for the very truths he had been teaching.

It seems that in 3.1 Paul had begun to pray for his readers but stops to provide biographical background before taking up his prayer again in v 14. He was given two grace gifts by God.

Introduction

1. The Mystery made known to Paul v1-62. The Ministry entrusted to Paul v7-13

1. Mystery Made Known to PaulThere are mysteries about God which we cannot fathom. When we walk down the beach we eventually come to the sea and can go no further. When we reach similar boundaries in our understanding and all we can do is stand back and worship.

However , the ‘Mystery’ here is not a reference to what cannot be understood or to some secret and obscure puzzle but to an ‘open secret.’Something which has been made known and can now be understood.Paul is speaking of something that had been previously hidden from human knowledge but which is now disclosed by God's revelation.

Walking towards the boundary of human reasonBeyond the boundary of human reason

1. Mystery Made Known to Paul“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

How can this be a mystery "which for ages past was kept hidden" v9 since the Old Testament made clear that God had a purpose for the Gentiles? cf. Gen.12.1-3, Is.42.6.

What was hidden was, the radical nature of God's plan. God's people are no longer thought of in terms of nationality but as a new international community, God's new society, the church. In God's house there are no tenants with short term leases, Jew and Gentile alike are all God's children, there is no distinction.

1. Mystery Made Known to PaulBeing a Christian involves more than personal salvation. Jesus died not only to save individual sinners but to create a redeemed people, the church. This is an open secret that some Christians continue to bury by refusing the discipline and instruction of the church.

But the gospel is good news about a new fellowship of people as well as of new personal life. We must guard against saying, “I do not need the church I can manage on my own”. If Satan can separate us, from the convoy of the church fellowship, we become easy targets.

2. Ministry Entrusted to Paul1. Paul, “less than the least”. v8

Paul uses a very striking expression to describe himself, “less than the least”. He was deeply conscious of his own unworthiness. He had blasphemed, insulted and persecuted Christ cf. Acts 9.4, 1Tim 1:13. Against this undistinguished background Paul magnified his office. This begs the question, “Why does God choose to use people with such a sinful past?”

1. To encourage others. “If God could use Paul then there is hope ...” 2. Past sin does not disqualify him from useful and fruitful service.

2. Making known Christ’s riches to the Gentiles.Paul’s commission was to preach ‘the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles,’ and this his he has been doing in ch1-2. What are Paul’s great incentives ?a. He saw himself as a steward of truth. As such he was responsible for what had been entrusted to him. [parable of talents Matt 18.23-25]Truth is to be shared not monopolised. Think of the response of the lepers on discovering that the siege of Jerusalem had been lifted, “this is a day of good news”. 2Kings 7.9 Rarely do we find exhortations to evangelise in the epistles because it was the natural spontaneous response of those who discovered gospel truths, to share them with others. Do you see yourself as a steward of truth?

2. Ministry Entrusted to Paul

2. Making known Christ’s riches to the Gentiles.b. The second incentive was one of gospel content - the richness of the message itself. When the Lord Jesus forms the substance of the preached word it will never be dull. Paul did not simply teach a set of orthodox doctrines, he held up the person of Christ to his hearers.

Paul describes the riches of Jesus as ‘unsearchable.’ The Greek word ‘anexichinastos’ means that which cannot be measured because it is so vast - beyond exploration. In heaven we will be making new discoveries about Jesus for all eternity! Jesus never impoverishes those who put their trust in him. God does not promise us large bank accounts here on earth but he does want us to be spiritual millionaires. To have Jesus, is to have all that really matters.

2. Ministry Entrusted to Paul

3. Making known God’s mystery to all men.Paul now turns from the content of the gospel to the condition of his hearers. He no longer uses the verb ‘evangelizo’, 'to preach' but 'photizo' ‘to enlighten’. The condition of his hearers is one of darkness and ignorance.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world". Jn 9.5When Jesus commissioned Paul, he said, “I am sending you to them [the Gentiles] to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light”. Acts 26.15-18.

Satan, the prince of darkness, holds men and women in a condition of darkness. When you pray for the preaching of God's Word, pray too for the Holy Spirit’s enlightening ministry. Paul further reminds his readers that his preaching was directed not just to Jews but also to Gentiles.

2. Ministry Entrusted to Paul

4. Making known God’s wisdom to the cosmic powers.What is the purpose of preaching the gospel? We might answer, ‘to save the lost’ but in fact its primary purpose is the glory of God. Paul moves our attention from those who hear and respond to the angelic host who watch the drama of redemption unfold.

Imagine the drama in which history is the theatre and the world the stage. Church members from every land are the actors. God has written the play, which he directs and produces. But who are the audience? The angelic host, who see the gospel bring sinful people into fellowship with God and sworn enemies into a new family relationship. The angels are fascinated as Jew and Gentile together form a society of equals and the applause is tumultuous. ‘Hurrah for God’, they cry and God receives the glory.

2. Ministry Entrusted to Paul

4. Making known “God’s manifold wisdom” to the cosmic powers.

God’s wisdom is like an Iranian carpet. The word ‘manifold’ means ‘many coloured’ and was used to describe a vast range of colourful threads that had been woven together. The church is a multi-racial, multi-cultural community, like many threads in a beautiful carpet. Its members come from a wide range of colourful backgrounds. No other community resembles it.Sin fragments communities cf. Tower of Babel.But the gospel manufactures a unique community

Glory!

2. Ministry Entrusted to Paul

5. A secondary goal, ‘your glory’.

Paul shares something of his experience as an evangelist. He says, "I suffer for you which is your glory". His sufferings bring them glory! Their thinking is returned to Paul in prison but they are to view that imprisonment in a new light. He was a prisoner of Jesus but he was also there for their glory. This idea, which links suffering to fruitfulness, runs throughout scripture. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds”. Jn.12.24.The principle application refers to Jesus’ death but there is a secondary application for his followers. cf. 2Cor 4.10-12. Paul suffered in order to be instrumental in bringing God's new humanity into being.

2. Ministry Entrusted to Paul

The Churchis the

mysteryhidden for ages but now revealed

What do we think of history?1. Is it the dull memorization of dates and names of rulers? 2. Is it just a series of random events?3. Is it a monotonous cycle of events, which regularly repeat

themselves?4. Or, does it have direction and purpose? Is it a journey

towards a great climax and to a great future beyond? History is

His story