The Mystery Explained

9/30/2018 The Mystery Explained Intro: Having just finished explaining to the gentile believers at Ephesus how great their salvation was in relationship to the Jews, Paul now goes into the details of this great truth. God has a way of doing what humanly seems impossible. Paul was among the strongest supporters of the Law, the temple and everything Jewish. He despised the gentiles and as a Jew would have nothing to do with them if possible. God in His grace reached down and touched the heart of Paul; who was called Saul before his salvation, and gave him a true compassion for the lost gentiles. When sharing the gospel the most powerful witness is that of a changed life, and Paul certainly was one who clearly was changed by the power of God. Paul calls himself a prisoner because God has sent him to the Gentiles, something he could not refuse! In Acts 22 Paul is explaining to the Jewish leaders what happened to him on the road to Damascus. They are intent until Paul shares with them his calling from God to go to the Gentiles. They listened to him until he mentioned the word "Gentiles" (Acts 22:21), and then a riot broke loose! The relationship of Gentiles to Jews was even a problem among the early Jewish believers, as Acts 10 and 15 points out. Jesus after all was a Jew, from the house of David, while embracing him was a challenge he was not a gentile. As the number of Gentiles increased in the church the number of Jews decreased. Paul explains that God had given him a special revelation and a special stewardship (dispensation). He terms this revelation "the mystery of Christ." In the OT, God revealed through prophecy His program for the people of Israel: that He would establish them in their kingdom when they received their Messiah, and then through Israel He would convert the Gentiles. God offered them the kingdom through the ministry of John the Baptist (Matt 3:2), but the Jews stood by as he was killed by Herod; rejected Christ's ministry (Matt 4:12-17), whom the Jews demanded to be crucified; and refused the apostles and Stephen (Acts 2-7), who was actually killed by the Jews (Acts 7:54-60). Three offers of the kingdom were made to Israel, but the nation rejected each of them. They had rejected the Father, who had sent John; they rejected Jesus the Son; and the Spirit led apostles. With the death of Stephen, the offers of kingdom was put on hold; the message went out to the Samaritans and the Gentiles (Acts 8 and 10); in the meantime God was bringing Paul around to see Jesus as the Messiah and accepting him in Acts 9. Paul was chosen to minister to the Gentiles, and his challenge was to get the rest of the Jews to understand what God was doing with them and the Gentiles. It took a special revelation from God to change Saul and it would be a major battle for Saul, now named Paul to do the same with the rest of the Jews. The challenge now was to bring together into one body Jews and Gentiles in the church. Here in v. 6, he states the mystery clearly: that believing Gentiles and Jews are now one body in Christ. This mystery had never even been a consideration, never crossed the minds of the Jews. It is interesting that Paul was the first to get this new revelation, he was the one fighting the hardest against the church prior to his salvation, even the other apostles were slow to get on board. Even Peter had to have a vision from heaven in Acts 10 before he would go to the Gentiles. The truth of the one body was given to Paul and it took some time before this was accepted in general by the rest of the church. Ultimately this issue is what eventually separated the Jews from the church. They just could not get over their prejudice and embrace what God clearly was doing. After Paul was gone there was no one to stand in the gap and fight for the changes God wanted. The division between Jews and Gentiles was so strong it kept the Jews from embracing the mystery of Christ and left the church to the Gentiles. Peter and the other apostles had a hard time dealing with the new relationship created in Christ Jesus. 1

Gal 2:11-13 11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. Not much has changed, there is still the challenge to accept the fact that all believers are one in Christ. As Christ Jesus broke down the wall of partition that separated us from God, we are now called to brake down the walls that separate one group from another. The danger for us lies in the possibility that we do what the early Jews did; reject what God is doing and create separation among believers. The ministry was placed with one man initially, Paul. Often this the case, God uses one to spark a change or revival among His people. Jeremiah comes to mind where God called him to preach to the nation and was told that no one would respond. Martin Luther is another among many who God used to move His program forward. Standing alone and in danger of death, Martin Luther lead by the Spirit of God accepted the ministry laid on him. The result was a great battle within the church resulting in the reformation. So Paul, one among many God has called to service is faithful to his calling, moves out in the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish what God has called him to do. I. The Mystery Revealed 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 1. This revelation was a mystery to previous generations. What is a mystery? In contemporary English it is something unknown. But this is not the meaning mystery had in Paul s day. In Greek the word mysterion (from which we get our word) refers to something known only to the one revealing it. It is not that the thing itself is unknown. It is known but only to those to whom it is revealed. 2. Paul says, perhaps you heard about it, now Paul is going to explain it. Paul mentions the word mystery four times; so the chapter is important to give us a better understanding of the mysteries mentioned here. Paul begins to uncover these mysteries in chapter 1, speaking of the mystery of [God s] will, which is, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ (vv. 9-10). He touches on it again in chapter 5: This is a profound mystery -but I am talking about Christ and the church (v. 32). However; the main section is found here in chapter 3. 3. Paul s knowledge came from a revelation from Christ. This was a special announcement to Paul and not previously known by others. 4. The mystery explained was simple, yet earth shattering to a Jew; the Gentiles were now going to be accepted by God on the basis of the Gospel message. What is this mystery? It is the Gentiles are now going to be made partakers along with the Jews of God s great blessings in the church. 5. Not only would the gentiles be brought into the family of God, but they would be fellow heirs with the Jews. 6. God would see them all as one body; no distinction. For many Jews this is totally unacceptable. 2

7. While, it was difficult for Paul to adjust to the ministry God had for him, still he understood it was a privilege and honor to be selected by God for this work. Prior to this a Gentile could approach the God of Israel, but only as an Israelite. He had to become a member of the covenant people through the rite of circumcision. The new thing revealed to Paul is that this approach is no longer necessary. Christ has broken down that wall, making one new people out of two previously divided people. So now both Jew and Gentile approach God equally on that new basis. 8. Overcoming personal hangups is often what God presents us with when we submit to his leading. 9. Today the church still faces the same issue of separated bodies of believers, failing to embrace this major truth that all believers are part of the body of Christ with no distinctions. II. Purpose of the Mystery 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 1. It is the church that God has chosen to tell the world the historical significance of what is happening around the world. 2. James Montgomery Boice wrote, Paul s view of the historical significance of the church could not be more in conflict with prevailing secular opinions. John Stott expresses it like this: Secular history concentrates its attention on kings, queens, and presidents, on politicians and generals, in fact on VIPs. The Bible concentrates rather on a group it calls the saints, often little people, insignificant people, unimportant people, who are however at the same time God s people and for that reason are both unknown (to the world) and yet well-known to God. Secular history concentrates on wars, battles and peace-treaties, followed by yet more wars, battles and peace-treaties. The Bible concentrates rather on the war between good and evil, on the decisive victory won by Jesus Christ over the powers of darkness, on the peace-treaty ratified by his blood, and on the sovereign proclamation of an amnesty for all rebels who will repent and believe. Again, secular history concentrates on the changing map of the world, as one nation defeats another and annexes its territory, and on the rise and fall of empires. The Bible concentrates rather on a multinational community called the church, which has no territorial frontiers, which claims nothing less than the whole world for Christ, and whose empire will never come to an end. This is the great reality Paul holds before our gaze as he makes known the administration of [the] mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God but is now revealed (v. 9). 3. This is the mission of the church today, to make known the mystery of Christ, one body made up of all those who by faith embrace the savior. III. Appreciation of the Mystery 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, 3

to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 1. It is not only we, the members of the church, who are directed to look at this mystery. The rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms are also said to be looking at the church as the place where God s manifold wisdom is made known (v. 10). What is that manifold wisdom these heavenly authorities are to see? What is the purpose of God made known in the worldwide community of God s people? The passage suggests three things. 1. The bringing together of otherwise divided individuals in Christ. Remember Christ s prayer in John 17:21 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The overwhelming evidence of the power of God is the oneness of the body. When unsaved people see this oneness in the church, where all are equal and come together with a common goal of worshiping and servicing the Lord, it makes a deep impression. He is writing to Gentiles, who before the coming of Christ and the founding of his church were cut off from Israel s spiritual blessings and were despised by the covenant people, and he is telling them that the period of alienation is now over and that the dividing wall of hostility has been broken down. Gentiles are now one with Jews within the fellowship of Christ s church, that is real power. Remember the hostility went both ways; the Jews hated the gentiles and the gentiles hated the Jews in return, both were guilty of keeping the division alive. But there is more in this uniting of people described in the middle portion of the chapter. Earlier Paul had focused on the historical change that took place as the result of Christ s death, in which Jews and Gentiles were brought together. In the church God is bringing these otherwise alienated and mutually accusing entities together on a basis that excludes any real cause for alienation. The church is a community of sinners redeemed by Christ and forgiven by God. If salvation were of works, pride would rear it s ugly head and division would still be a factor based on our goodness. But salvation is not achieved by works. God has achieved it and made it available to us by grace alone. Thus boasting is excluded, and men and women of all races and nations meet as forgiven sinners within the church s fellowship. Even the angels marvel at God s grace in saving sinners simply by faith. 2. The Testimony of Christian people in the world. Making Christ Known The last commandment by Christ to his disciples in Matthew 28:19 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, The birth of Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection were a turning point in history. Prior to Jesus God was dealing primarily with the nation of Israel. Now the whole world is the issue and focus of God. Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. John 3:17 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 4

While historians may look at history as a series of changes and events that nations and world leaders have done, it is really only the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that gives meaning to anything, When we are talking about Christ we are not talking about some vague historical idea or some abstract principle for measuring the meaning of life. We are talking about a person who lives in us and can be known to others as we model him before a watching world. It is not a dead Jesus whom Christians serve, but a living one. Where can people see him except in the church, which gives a hope for a better world and meaning to the present one. I m not pointing to the building but to the people who make up the true church of God. 3. The Life we Live and the Suffering we Endure is Proof of the Presence of God. While not listed in this section, the reality is this; Jesus said, If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.... If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also (John 15:19-20) and Paul points to this with the mention of his tribulations in verse 13. Gal 6:9-10 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 2 Thess 3:13 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 5