Ephesians - 3:1-13
The Apostle Paul had come into his life one
of the greatest revelations of God, the secret that the love and mercy of God
was not just for the Jews, but for all mankind. God was reaching out the
Gentiles, the pagans of the world with the message of hope through Jesus
Christ. This was not only important to Paul, it also was important to the
Gentiles. Verses 6-8, 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.” I became a servant of this gospel by
the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I
am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ.”
This seems rather academic to us today, but in Paul’s day this was the issue! It was almost inconceivable to the Jews that Gentiles would be allowed to join them in sacred worship of Jehovah…much less any kind of fellowship.
Imagine what would happen if a large group
of Jehovah’s Witnesses were brought into your congregation and allowed to be
trustees and teachers and elders…and that you were to fellowship together with
them! This is exactly what the Jews were experiencing. This prospect of
Gentiles being accepted by God was repugnant to them and was partly responsible
for keeping many Jews from embracing Christianity. However, this was just as
hard for Jewish Christians to accept. That is why we are told that they were
placing strict rules on their fellowship like requiring that they be
circumcised…and eat certain foods.This seems rather academic to us today, but in Paul’s day this was the issue! It was almost inconceivable to the Jews that Gentiles would be allowed to join them in sacred worship of Jehovah…much less any kind of fellowship.
Let me ask you this, “What kinds of things do we impose on those whom we will accept into our fellowship?
The mystery is important to Paul, it is important to the Gentiles, and it was Important to the angels. Verses 9 and 10 - “and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 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.”
Did you know that God is educating the angels through the church? Angels are created beings just like we are. 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us; “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”
Even the angels are curious about God’s plans because there are parts of what God is doing which are not revealed to them just as they are not revealed to us. God’s plan concerning the church was hidden in the beginning, now Paul is making it known and with the knowledge comes responsibility. I cannot even begin to explain the spiritual realm of things that is all around us, I simply believe it because God’s Word says it exists; and I can see its effects upon people. To that extent, if angels are watching and learning from the church, how are we doing? What impression is the church giving?
There are two kinds of books that always sell well: mysteries and love stories. The gospel is both. It is the story of God’s love and the mystery of God’s plan and purpose from the beginning of time. A “mystery” in God’s Word is something that unaided human wisdom cannot grasp, but which God makes plain through the revelation by His Spirit. Unless we can see with spiritual eyes, we remain spiritually blind.
Who is ‘the church?’ Paul did not say, “His intent was that now through the wonderful and talented ministers, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.”… NO! He said this is the church’s mission! “Well, we can’t tell anybody the good news if they won’t come to church,”…That old hand exercise we learned as kids - “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the door & see all the people” - is WRONG! The church is the people! The church is all of us, working together, to bring this good news to everyone.
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