Ephesians 3:1-14
The apostle Paul was a great man in intellect, in the gospel, and in his zeal for the promotion of the gospel across the known world at that time. He was a man who trusted in providence, commissioned by God to do what he was doing, felt privileged to preach the gospel, had concern for other people, was in fellowship with God even though he was writing this epistle from prison. What type of message did he preach? Paul preached a revealed message that came to him by revelation. It was and is a message that is revealed by God and therefore it is God's message. If it is God's message it doesn't need to be adjusted by men and women who are sinful.
Paul preached a message that was and is:
A mystery: V3-4, 9 "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." The message was a mystery, a hidden thing. Mystery means "a thing that is not obvious to the understanding" The gospel is not an obvious message contrary to what "easy believism" teaches. It is profound. General revelation is not enough, the creation is not enough to bring you to salvation. It leads you to believe in a creator God if you think logically, but how we can know God through general revelation remains a mystery. We need special revelation to get to know the creator God. This is found in the word of God through the prophets and apostles. The bible's message is profound and mysterious. It tells us of a holy God who is sinless and perfect.
What is God? God is a spirit: infinite, eternal and unchanging in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. How can this God justify sinners who are guilty and remain just and holy? It doesn't make sense that he could or would, but that is exactly what the message of the bible is. A mystery that we would not know otherwise, that God can and does justify guilty sinners upon certain conditions. And he does it in a way that his justice and holiness is retained. That is profound and amazing, not obvious, a profound mystery explained. This marvelous message has been shaken by some modern evangelists who say "You want to be saved? It is O so simple, repeat these words after me". But no! It's not O so simple. It's a profound, amazing message that God can and does save sinners. God can save sinners and give them a perfect righteousness, blotting out all their sins by punishing all those sins on his only begotten Son. He takes sinners into his own family even though they were and are guilty as charged. That is not "O so simple, repeat these words and raise your hand". The gospel is about a message that brings you into an encounter with the living Christ, by grace through faith you receive him and it changes your life, you repent of your sin and trust him. It is a mysterious, profound, amazing message. It is about Christ becoming the Lord of your life, it is not "O so simple". Modern techniques cheapen the mystery and the profundity of the gospel. They make it into a man-made "easy peasy" ritual, perform this, that and the other and you have your insurance policy to heaven but that is not what Paul preached.
Paul preached that Gentiles, (non-Jews) can be fellow heirs by faith in Christ through the gospel, V6,12 "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." Gentiles can be joint participants, fellow inheritors by the gospel by faith in Jesus. What a message that is! The message that you and I can be saved and become children of God in the gospel through faith in Jesus is a profound message. Modern do-gooders have a different message, their message is that God loves everybody, and instead of being saved by repentance and faith and trust in the gospel and trust in Christ, we are saved by his unconditional love through our profession, but Paul's message is that we are saved by faith in Christ's gospel and God's special love is conditional upon certain conditions, upon certain people whom he has chosen. It is not "come to Christ and have all your needs met" No, that is not what Paul preached. Christ and the gospel is there to make us fellow heirs by faith in Christ. To bring us into God's family.
He preached a message that was for everybody. V8-9 "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." Its a message for Gentiles, he wanted to make all men saved. A gospel, not just for certain people, not only for the receptive, he wanted to make all men saved. Not just for people who attend church, it is a message for everybody. How will they hear? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature." In the past and in the present, some people look at the gospel "you need to be saved" as only for certain types of people. Criminals need that, or alcoholics, decent respectable folk don't need that because they are already acceptable but Paul says that the gospel is for all. The glory of the gospel is that it levels everybody. Rich and poor, all are as wretched and sinful before God.
He preached a message that brings about God's eternal purpose. V11 "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." When you get saved, when you got saved, you thought it was you who made the decision and in many ways it was because it feels that way but actually when you got saved, you were bringing to pass God's eternal purpose which he had purposed before the world was made. And what is God's eternal purpose? Eph 1:10 "That in the dispensation of the fulness of tines he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." God's eternal purpose is to gather all believers together in one body in Christ, to bring many sons to glory, to save every single believer, to make his church without spot or wrinkle and present his church faultless in the presence of the glory. God's eternal purpose is all tied up with his church, always. without exception. With the bringing home of the church, the bride of Christ, with saving people into the church, making them holy and obedient and bringing them to heaven to be with Christ for ever and ever. (Eph 1:4,5) There is one church says that God's purpose is "we are convinced that God is trying to heal the whole planet and everybody in it. We are sharing new ideas, simple ways that we can join God in his mission to make this world beautiful again". God is trying??? Is he? Where does the bible say that? Is God's mission, his eternal purpose all to do with the world, or the planet? God's mission is to make the planet beautiful? Does he really need you and me to get the job done? No! God's mission is to do with the church. He is not trying to heal the whole planet. He is not trying to make the world beautiful again. God's mission that God has purposed is that someday he is going to burn the whole planet with fire and the elements are going to melt with fervant heat. 2 Peter 3:7,10 "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men....But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." He is going to purify the whole world from sinful humanity; that is not so beautiful, but that is what the bible says. All who do not trust in Christ are destined for the lake of fire. That is not so beautiful. Here is the truth. God will. He is not trying. God will heal every single person who trusts in Christ and repents of their sins. He will do that, and that is his mission and he will accomplish it, and it is to do with salvation of the church.
Think of the glory of the message of the gospel, a mystery that sinners could become God's children, a message for everybody, a message that accomplishes the will of God, the glorious gospel, how exalted and grand it is when you ponder it.
Maybe you are not saved, but you can be a fellow-heir with the children of God and inherit the things of Christ by faith in Christ through the gospel. Christ wills save every single repentant sinner. The message is the same as it was 2000 years ago.. sinner, trust the Saviour, repent of your sins and trust him. Come to Christ the way you are.
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The above notes were taken my myself from the sermon by Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed) at Sermon Audio.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12509175657
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