A Great Mystery

One gospel-One body

Ephesians 3:1 -13

"It is because of the gospel that Paul had been imprisoned. He was willing to suffer much hardship for the sake of those who were once his enemy but now, through Jesus, they have become family. Likewise, we should expect to suffer some if we are going to be willing to share the gospel with others." Mark Driscoll

Let's just admit it.

No matter how much we think we understand about God, the Bible, and Christianity, it is all a big mystery.

I can try to

explain the Trinity.

share my knowledge about how God can be everywhere at once.

enlighten you on what God was thinking when He put that tree in the garden.

But I will not.

Paul knows about mysteries.

Perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of all time was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit after his conversion on the road to Damascus. It was there that God called Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15) It was htere that Paul would begin a long journey of suffering and imprisonment for the Gospel of Christ.

I, Paul, "the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles."

Paul writes to the Ephesians from a house in Rome where he was under house arrest.

This is an apartment in Rome which serves as an accurate

example of the type of house in which Paul would have been staying during his house arrest.

(Interesting website)

He writes, "...assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ," (3:2-4)

The mystery that Paul was speaking of was the unity of the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. Having full revelation of God's word in our hands today, we have the benefit of seeing clearly that the Old Testament prophets were pointing to the day when the Gentile nations would serve Yahweh, the One True God. (Is. 60:1-3)

But the Jews did not completely grasp the mystery that the prophets foretold. They could not comprehend that ,from God's perspective, Jews and Gentiles would one day be on equal footing before Him.

"that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body,

and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel." (v6)

In total humility, Paul describes himself as being the least of all believers, yet God used him to share this eternal truth that was:

"hidden for ages in God who created all things."(v9)

and

"was according to the eternal purpose that he realized in Christ Jesus our Lord."(v11)

What an incredible, miraculous, joyous fulfillment of God's plan! Paul, a humble servant, declaring to the world that Jews, Gentiles, male, female, black, white, young and old can:

"have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him."(v12)

Let us also be reminded by Peter:

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

For further study in Ephesians:

RC Sproul -Ephesians

Only through His grace,