Ephesians-Bring to Light
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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[b] God, 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.11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:7-13 (ESV)
It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love a good mystery. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to use clues in movies or books to solve the crime before it’s revealed by the writer. Red herrings are added to distract us from the clues that reveal the criminal. There is a satisfaction in wading through motives and suspects and theorizing “whodunit.”
It’s almost impossible read our scripture today without noticing the word mystery is a key term. That word may trigger to the English speaker a definition of mystery genre I’ve described above. To better understand these verses, we need to understand the term’s translated connotation, for God isn’t trying to fool us or trick us. Instead the mystery being discussed is a plan God made that was previously vague that is now made more clear—that Christ would unite all believers as one, Jews and Gentiles. That all people’s, through his sacrifice for our sins, would have access to God, a benefit previously reserved for the Jewish people alone. Verse 6 defines mystery for us in the text: the Gentiles are no longer separate from Israel but fellow heirs, members, and partakers.
v. 1-5 The Mystery Revealed
As the Bible recounts the story of man’s interaction with God, from the beginning there seemed be a distinction made between people. As far back as Genesis 4, God favors Abel over Cain. As we read through the old testament, Noah, Abram, and Isaac, and Jacob are all chosen to be part of the Messianic line that will ultimately bless all families[1] as they are included in the lineage of Christ.
Yet with all the laws and regulations separating Israel from other people groups, it’s easy to see why Israel thought God’s plan was to send the Savior for their benefit all alone. Israel was waiting for a Messiah, without understanding fully that their Messiah would redeem all people, not just ethnic Jews. God through special revelation told this to Paul as he had shared previously in 2 Corinthians. Because he understood God’s plan, his missionary journeys included evangelizing the Gentile communities in the towns he visited. Peter, in Acts 10, also received this message in a vision from God. The leaders of the early church in Acts 15 discussed how the Gentiles and Jews could become one body. God’s mystery of all people experiencing equal access to Him through Christ was revealed to the apostles.
v. 6 The Mystery’s Benefits
So what privileges do the Gentiles now enjoy as they become one with Israel? It would be remiss not to highlight how the Gentiles access this gift, the same way Israel did, through faith. The good news of the gospel is that all people receive God through trusting in Christ, not following the law. All people are equally unable to earn salvation and need the grace of God.
For all of those that trust in Christ’s payment for their sins, God’s free gift, become heirs. We are to inherit the kingdom of heaven, a paradise for eternity. Revelation 22 describes this new home which will descend from heaven where we are free from the curse of sin. Starting in verse 3: “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face”…We will be with God as Adam and Eve once walked with him in the garden. We will worship and serve him forever, where death and disease are no more.
The Gentiles will also become members of one body with the Jews. As the Spirit lives in all of us, He helps us grow connected to each other. Though we have distinct functions and gifts, as parts of the body do different things, as we work together our role when expressed benefits all members.
Additionally, the Gentiles becomes sharers in the promises of Christ. This promise was the transformation the people of God were given under the new covenant[2]. Our stony heart replaced with life, our bodies a temple for the Spirit within us, giving us the ability to obey and walk with God. This same Spirit seals us[3], keeping us His, making our destiny with God for eternity a guarantee. Every promise God made is realized by the indwelling Spirit within the believer.
v. 7-13 The Mystery’s Purpose
As we consider how the mystery of salvation was reveled and the many benefits given to us in Christ through the Spirit, we are left to wonder why me? How did I get so lucky? Like Paul we feel the least of all the saints. The more we understand of the holy purity of God, His perfection, power, and grace, the more we realize we don’t deserve to come to him boldly and confidently. Gratitude is a natural byproduct of understanding we are included in the kingdom based on the righteousness of Christ and that this invitation is not limited to your ethnicity. Paul understands it is his privilege to bring this light, this revealed mystery of the gospel for ALL people to the world. As part of the church, the manifold wisdom of God is to now be make known through us. The purpose of God in making us part of His body is to declare His plan of salvation and the riches in Christ, to the human and spiritual realm. No matter what we suffer in this life, the glory of the mystery revealed is beyond compare.
Questions for Reflection:
· Do you feel united to other’s in your church community? Do demographics get in the way of your connection with other believers your gather with? Are there factions in your church that need to be healed by the message of oneness we studied this week?
· Do you understand what it means to be an heir? How are you contributing to the body of Christ?
· Does gratitude move you to share the gospel with people that are outside the people of God? Remember all means all. No one is too far from God they can’t be included in the kingdom by Christ’s work of atonement on their behalf.
Comments