The Mystery—God’s Eternal Plan

Eph. 3:1-7

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Eph. 3:1-7

First Century Diversity

First Century Diversity• Jews and Gentiles

First Century Diversity• Jews and Gentiles• Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots and Herodians

First Century Diversity• Jews and Gentiles• Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots and Herodians• Stoics and Epicureans

First Century Diversity• Jews and Gentiles• Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots and Herodians• Stoics and Epicureans• National gods, multifaceted worship, life-styles and morality

First Century Diversity• Jews and Gentiles• Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots and Herodians• Stoics and Epicureans• National gods, multifaceted worship, life-styles and morality• Relationships—men/women; slaves/free;

citizens/non-citizens; literate/illiterate; rich/poor; educated/Barbarians

One Way to God—Great Diversity

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.

Rom. 16:25

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.

Rom. 16:25

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.

1 Cor. 2:7

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.

Rom. 16:25

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.

1 Cor. 2:7

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

Col. 1:26

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.

Rom. 16:25

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.

Rom. 16:25

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God.

1 Cor. 2:7

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.

Rom. 16:25

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God.

1 Cor. 2:7

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) . . . 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ…

Eph. 3:3, 4, 9

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery• Mystery can be known

11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”

Matt. 13:11

11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables . . .”

Mark 4:11

10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ ”

Luke 8:10

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery• Mystery can be known• Mystery is to bring all diversity into one body, the church

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Eph. 3:5-7

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

Eph. 2:13-17

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery• Mystery can be known• Mystery is to bring all diversity into one body, the church• How to do it? Compromise?

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery• Mystery can be known• Mystery is to bring all diversity into one body, the church• How to do it? Compromise? NO

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery• Mystery can be known• Mystery is to bring all diversity into one body, the church• How to do it? Compromise? NO• How to do it? Assimilation?

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery• Mystery can be known• Mystery is to bring all diversity into one body, the church• How to do it? Compromise? NO• How to do it? Assimilation? NO

One Way to God—Great Diversity• His plan existed before the world created• Hidden from all, then revealed• Hidden/revealed = mystery• Mystery can be known• Mystery is to bring all diversity into one body, the church• How to do it? Compromise? NO• How to do it? Assimilation? NO• Paul – Jew/educated/citizen/ yet spent his

life among Gentles

22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

Gal. 1:22-23

22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

Gal. 1:22-23

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Cor. 4:17

22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

Gal. 1:22-23

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Cor. 4:17

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

1 Cor. 7:17

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

1 Cor. 12:28

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

1 Cor. 12:28

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Cor. 1:10

Becoming Part of His Eternal Plan

Becoming Part of His Eternal Plan

• Believe in Him John 3:16

Becoming Part of His Eternal Plan

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent (Decide) Acts 17:30

Becoming Part of His Eternal Plan

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent (Decide) Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

Becoming Part of His Eternal Plan

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent (Decide) Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

• Baptized into Christ Acts 2:38

Becoming Part of His Eternal Plan

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent (Decide) Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

• Baptized into Christ Acts 2:38

Added to His Kingdom, His Church

Becoming Part of His Eternal Plan

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent (Decide) Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

• Baptized into Christ Acts 2:38

Added to His Kingdom, His Church

• Live Faithfully unto death Rev. 2:10