Podcast Notes:
Welcome to Talk 11 in our series on Ephesians.
Today we’ve reached Chapter 3 and we’ll be looking at the first 13 verses.
But first let’s set it in context by reminding ourselves of what Paul has been saying so far.
In Ch. 1 he concentrates on the blessings of being in Christ.
In Christ:
- We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing
- We are chosen and adopted to be God’s children
- We have been redeemed by his blood and our sins have been forgiven
- We have the promise of the Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
- We have the assurance that Jesus is already seated at God’s right hand far above all…
In Ch.2 Paul reminds us:
- Of our lost condition before we became Christians
- Of the change that Jesus has made in our lives because of God’s love and grace
- That we are seated with him in the heavenly realms
- And that he has a wonderful plan for out lives
- These blessings are not just for those with a Jewish background but are for Gentiles too
- In fact, when Jesus died the barrier between Jew and Gentile was broken down
- And God is creating one new humanity out of the two by forming his church which is the new temple in which God lives by his Spirit.
This theme continues in Ch. 3 to which we now turn.
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
6 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.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
In this passage I notice three main themes:
God’s messenger – Paul
God’s mystery – the inclusion of the Gentiles
God’s measureless love
God’s messenger
Paul was a prisoner
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles
4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
6:19-20 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Paul was a prisoner of Christ Jesus (v1) – not of circumstances – not of Rome
Cf. v7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
Paul was a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles
13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory (Greek: is your glory) NB There was a purpose in his suffering
Paul saw his suffering for the gospel as a great privilege
Or, more precisely, his ministry was a privilege, and if that meant suffering, so be it
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
God’s mystery
Note the repetition of the word mystery in vv 3, 4, 6, 9.
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
6 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.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
The mystery was something kept hidden by God
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
The mystery was made known by revelation
3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NB The inclusion of the Gentiles was God’s eternal purpose!
Paul had special (but not exclusive) insight into this mystery
3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
God has a specific purpose for each of our lives (cf. 2:10)
So what is this mystery that Paul is talking about?
6 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.
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ
God’s measureless love
the boundless riches of Christ (8)
We are:
6 …through the gospel we are heirs together with Israel
members together of one body
sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
11… part of God’s eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 …through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
And all this is because of God’s LOVE
As we shall see next time:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19