LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for April 7
Christians are called to reveal the mystery
___ Ephesians 3:1-13
___By Roy Cotton
___BGCT DFW/Metroplex Church Starting Center Consultant
___Today begins the second unit of the study theme "Ephesians: God's New People." Unit 1, chapters 1 and 2, emphasized "Creation of God's New People."
___The lessons in the first unit centered on the work of grace and faith in Jesus Christ. "It is by grace you have been saved" (2:5). This is the distinction of Christianity. It is "not by works." It is "by grace" (2:8-9). Grace through faith makes the difference.
___Unit 2 emphasizes the "Intention for God's New People." According to the LifeWay commentator, the three lessons in this unit focus on God's intention for his new people, the church and the responsibilities Christians have for carrying out that intention.
___Grace to experience
___In Ephesians 3:1-3, the Apostle Paul begins with the words "For this reason" (v. 1). The verse invites us to explore the content of the phrase. The preceding chapter ended on the new status of the Gentiles. In Christ, the dividing wall of hostility has been abolished in his flesh (2:14-15). Because of Christ, those who were formerly on the outside "are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household" (2:19).
___Paul, in his humility, describes himself as "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles" (3:1). He reminds the church in Ephesus that he was called to preach the good news to the Gentiles. It is on account of his faithfulness to the calling that he was imprisoned in Rome while he was writing the epistle (letter). Paul did not consider himself a prisoner of Rome. He did not complain about his predicament and unfortunate imprisonment. He considered it a privilege to be "the prisoner of Christ Jesus." How would we have reacted in similar circumstances?
___In verses 2 and 3, Paul begins a parenthetical and autobiographical commentary that continues to verse 13. One commentary suggests it was as if Paul reflected on the privilege of God's grace in Christ and lost himself in sharing what the administration of this grace meant to him. The administration or dispensation of God's grace (free gift) was given to Paul for the Gentiles, that he would be the one privileged to reveal the mystery of the gospel to them.
___Mystery to understand
___The mystery revealed to Paul for the Gentiles had not been revealed in the Old Testament. It was like an inside secret. The Holy Spirit only reveals the mystery to those who belong to Christ. The understanding of the mystery is that the love, mercy and grace of God can be shown to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. God is no respecter of persons. Gentiles and Jews are one in Christ (2:18).
___The Lord called Paul to the ministry of making known this mystery to the Gentiles (Acts 26:18). Barclay suggests, "No one had ever dreamed that God's privileges were for all people."
___In order to understand the mystery, one must be in Christ (v. 4). The Bible makes clear that God has revealed his mystery "to us by his Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:10). Paul states the "natural man" (v. 14), that is, a person "without the Spirit," cannot understand spiritual truths "because they are spiritually discerned."
___Truth to proclaim
___Several years ago, while flying to Dallas/Fort Worth from Richmond, Va., seated next to me were two college students. They told me they were going to visit their grandparents in Texas, before leaving for Spain. I found out that they would not be allowed to see their parents nor grandparents for the next two years because they were going to Spain to do mission work for the Latter-Day Saints (Mormon church).
___I was intrigued when I found out that their parents had opened savings accounts for them for this purpose when they were born. LDS families are expected to bear the total expense for the two-year mission. How ironic, especially given the fact that I was serving in collegiate ministries at the time.
___As student missions director, I interviewed Baptist students each year whose parents had not given permission for them to do Christian summer missions (10 weeks) saying, "Summer missions did not pay enough." What a paradox: We have the truth and refuse to proclaim it, while LDS do not have the truth yet expect every Mormon to not only serve two years but have their families foot the bill.
___Paul counted it a privilege to be "the prisoner of Christ" (v. 1), "a servant of the gospel" (v. 7) and "less than the least of all God's people" (v. 8). His mission to the Gentiles should be our mission to the world, that of proclaiming the "unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery" (vv. 8-9).
___Wisdom to make known
___Verses 10 through 13 should be seen as a missions mandate for the church. God's intention is for his people to join him in spreading the good news about the redemption he has made available to all persons through Christ. Baptists are people of the word. We are called to demonstrate the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) by doing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Intentionally share Christ's love by praying, going, giving, proclaiming and living. If not us, who? If not now, when?
___
___Question for discussion
___ What are some mission possibilities for you and your church in Texas, North America and throughout the world?
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