Live Out Loud – Our MYSTERY May 6, 2007
Ephesians 3:1-13 Sunday AM
Insert: I love a great mystery. Whether it’s a John Grisham novel or an episode of NCIS, I’ve always been intrigued by a good mystery. Even as a child, one of my favorite board games was Clue – I enjoyed trying to figure out if it was Col. Mustard in the library w/ a wrench. I have a mystery for you.
Insert: In 1941, Col. Montgomery of Scotland Yard stood before the members of the London Mystery Book Club. Only he wasn’t there to discuss Sherlock Holmes. He was there b/c he needed help in solving a mystery. He explained that a stranger had arrived in London from South America who was a suspected Nazi agent tasked w/ the mission of smuggling currency into the U.K. to finance espionage. He shared that upon arriving Scotland Yard had arranged an accident sending the man to the hospital w/ a broken arm. While being treated, his staff searched his luggage, which consisted of a briefcase containing only some letters from friends in British Guiana. Either this man wasn’t an agent or he was a very clever one. Scotland Yard had considered a number of other ploys like mailing counterfeit currency or surgically implanting diamonds, but those ideas were proven unfounded. The Colonel explained that if they couldn’t find anything that they’d have to let the man go into the population – so he asked for their insights.
Trans: Could you have solved this mystery? When I first read it, I turned my brain inside out but couldn’t crack it. Then, after hearing the solution, I thought, “Of course! It’s so simple. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Trans: In Ephesians 3:1-13, Paul talks about a marvelous mystery that was hidden from the prophets, but has now been revealed – that in Christ, there is no distinction b/w Jewish and Gentiles believers, but that we’re one in Christ – His Church – joined together for a unique privilege and calling.
Intro: We introduced this idea last Sunday when we discussed Ephesians 2:11-22. Paul stated that once a person puts their faith in Christ alone for salvation, they are included into a new and living body – the church. Now this is a very simple concept to state, but for many people, it is an extremely difficult truth to accept. How can people so different, with different religious heritages and convictions become one? B/c Jesus spans not just the gap of sin, but also the gap of indifference.
Note: Now when we speak of the church, we’re not specifically speaking of the local church like we’re in today, but the church at-large consisting of all people who’ve genuinely placed their faith in Christ alone for salvation and who are seeking first His kingdom and righteousness.
Recap: When Paul wrote these words sharing this big mystery, they were a huge spiritual horse pill for those who heard them b/c the Jews believed that they had cornered the market on God and they weren’t letting anyone else in.
Note: The O.T. is clear that God initially chose Israel from all the peoples on the earth for His own possession and purpose. It started when God decided to make a covenant w/ Abraham b/c he believe in God and his faith was recognized as righteousness. As a result of His promise, God sovereignly chose Israel to be His people that they might receive His blessings and be the vessel through which the revelation and redemptive message of God would be spread. Unfortunately, Israel never fulfilled her calling b/c instead of being humbled and honored to be God’s people, they were arrogant and judgmental holding an – “I’m better than you” attitude.
Trans: Enter Paul in Eph. 2. In vs. 1-10 he explains that God’s people aren’t identified by their religious heritage but by a faith transaction. Every person shares the same problem – they’re sinners. This sin serves as a barrier b/w us and God. At the cross, Jesus tore down the barrier through His blood and has given every person access to Him by grace through faith.
Insert: In fact, in John 3, Jesus explained His salvation plan in terms that both the Jews and the Gentiles would understand. (Read John 3:14-16)
Note: B/c of God’s unconditional love for His creation, He offered Himself to bridge the gap sin so that all who’d believe and receive Him would live. This reality was foreshadowed when God instructed Moses to raise his staff when snakes had entered into the Israelite camp. So long as the people looked to the staff in faith, God would heal them from the poison; but if they refused to trust in God, then they’d suffer the consequences.
Note: We’ve been poisoned by sin and Jesus was lifted up on a cross for our spiritual healing. If we look solely to Him, we will live, but if we refuse, we condemn ourselves b/c God has done everything for all men to find healing and salvation, except make them turn to Him and believe.
Note: As a result of this saving grace, vs. 11-22 explain that b/c of Christ’s atonement the barrier b/w Jews and Gentiles has been torn down too. There is no longer a distinction b/w Jewish and Gentiles believers. They are now one in Christ. If you’re a believer you’re part of God’s family.
Note: In fact, Paul says that as believers in Christ we have a new IDENTITY – we’re citizens in God’s Kingdom; we have a new INTIMACY – we’re children in God’s household; and we have a new INDUSTRY – we’re a congregation in His Temple. We are His workmanship to the world.
Trans: This brings us to our text this AM. In Ephesians 3, Paul is going to continue this discussion to give us a greater understanding of this mystery. He is going to talk about how this truth was concealed from the O.T., was revealed at the cross, and is to be fulfilled by the church.
I The Mystery CONCEALED
Text: 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
Note: Have you ever been asked to keep a secret. It’s not always an easy thing to do. For thousands of years, God held a remarkable a secret in His heart. He hid it from the world, His priests, patriarchs, and prophets. He even hid it from the angels until the time came for God to reveal it through His Son.
Note: What was this mystery? God’s secret was that once He made an end to sin by dying on the cross, that He would establish a new chosen people, a royal priesthood, a new living temple and spiritual body through whom He would bestow the responsibility of carrying His message of salvation to the ends of the world. This new creation was to be comprised of both Jewish and Gentiles believers, who on equal footing, would be called the church.
Verse: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
Trans: Why is this secret such a big mystery? B/c the O.T. prophets had no vision of the church where believers would unite in one body w/out distinction based solely on faith. God hid the church from the prophets allowing them to see the peaks of Israel’s redemption and restoration while hiding the church in plan view. It is a mystery b/c God has always reserved His blessings in salvation based solely on faith and not works.
Note: Let me explain. When God initially extended His covenant to Israel, it was based upon Abraham’s faith response. Yet somewhere along the way, the Israelites misplaced their faith and placed their hope in their birthright, their nationality, the written Law, and the physical act of circumcision. Even to this day, many Jewish people consider themselves God’s chosen people b/c of their religious heritage instead of b/c of their faith.
Note: This same misconception has struck the modern church. Just as there are millions of Jewish people who have misplaced their faith hoping in their pedigree, so too have many churchgoers misplaced their faith believing that their goodness, or church membership, or baptism, and even their nationality is sufficient to saved them. But just as it has fallen short for the Jews, so too will it fall short for the religious churchgoer. Salvation is only possible through the shed blood of Christ on the cross (His grace) through a surrendering faith response – nothing more and nothing less.
II The Mystery REVEALED
Text: 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together w/ Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 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, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Note: At the cross, Jesus established a new and living covenant then at Pentecost, as Christ ascended and the H.S. descended, the church was birthed. As a result, anyone who puts their faith in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, is joined together as one in a new spiritual entity called the church.
Trans: So you ask, what is the big deal? Why is Paul making so much of this?
Insert: It would be like someone saying that UT and Vandy no longer exist; that they’re now one new university called the University of the Volunteer State. All Vandy and UT alumni must return their diplomas in exchange for a new one. They must unite their sports teams and fan base, and turn in the black and gold and orange and white for new colors and a new fight song. There will be no more Dores or Vols – just the UVS Road Kill. If you were a Vol or a Vandy fan, this would be tough to handle; But if you have difficulty imagining the union of the Vols and the Dores, think of what it would’ve meant for a Jew to become one w/ a Gentile heathen.
Note: This is why Paul belabors the point. He is emphasizing the three levels of unity that now exist b/w Jews and Gentiles: We’re all now co-heirs w/ one another in the manifold blessings of God, members united together as one church, and a common people who together partake in God’s promises.
A Fellow HEIRS
Note: This reality pertains to our legal status. We are equally God’s inheritance and are included in His last will and testament. Not only do we receive an equal proportion of His spiritual inheritance, but we also share fully in His mission. It is no longer the believing Jews responsibility to carry the love of God to the world – it is every believer’s responsibility.
B Fellow MEMBERS
Note: Through faith, we are all part of the family. We’re not second class in-laws or distant relatives; we’re adopted children indistinguishable in God’s eyes and loved equally and fully by the father.
Insert: I have a great appreciation for this truth. When I was an infant, my real father left and my mother divorced. When I was four, my mother remarried and my new father adopted my older sister and brother and I. He gave us his name, his love, his provision, and even his discipline. And even when he and my mother had a daughter, I never felt as if I was a second class child. He loved me and my siblings equally and fully – b/c we were fellow members of the same household.
C Fellow PARTAKERS
Note: We are enabled to partake in the promises of God’s Word and in the indwelling power of the H.S. that we might live under the influence of God able to accomplish His mission and mandate.
III The Mystery FULFILLED
Text: 10 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, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God w/ freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged b/c of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Insert: I love the new Coke commercial of the man sitting in a nursing home who tastes Coke for the first time. It sends him on an adventure to discover all the things he has missed in life – sky-diving, motorcycling, and he even finds his first love to tell her that he’s always loved her. There are few people in the world who’ve never tasted a Coke. People have tasted “the real thing,” b/c of the vision of Robert Woodruff. While Woodruff was the president of Coke from 1923 to 1955, he had a conviction that everyone should have the opportunity to taste Coke.
Truth: The sad reality is that Woodruff was more committed to giving every person in the world a drink of Coke than most of us are committed to giving each person in the world a drink of the water of life.
Note: The mystery fulfilled is when God’s people act like His people and go into the world and through words and actions share the love of God w/ everyone. Our collective mandate is to take the gospel to the world. As individual members of the body, our mandate is to do whatever is necessary to contribute to His overall mission goal. We accomplish this mandate first as individuals and second as a unified body.
Note: You might say, “What can I do?” At the very least, you can pray that God will raise up laborers for the harvest – and pray for those laborers. At the very least, you can faithfully give of your financial resources, time, and talents to take the gospel to the world. Some of us can even go… for life… for a few years… even for a summer… or for a couple days.
Point: The Great Commission is a personal and collective assignment for all of us. Each of us must ask the Lord, “Father, what do you want me to do?” But then we also have to work together w/ one another as a team to fulfill our mission and mandate. The world will know Him by our love.
Note: For some reason beyond our scope of understanding, God planned that His people the church would carry out his mission and fulfill His mandate. It is hard to fathom why a holy, omnipotent God would entrust His love for people into the hands of people like us – but he did. He called us – His church, to be His people – called by His name. It boggles the mind.
Insert: Jay Kessler gives five reasons why he believes in the church.
1. The church is the only institution that deals w/ the ultimate issues of life such as death, judgment, relationships, purpose, and heaven/hell.
2. The church provides perspective that gives dignity to mankind. In a day where man has become a means rather than an end and is considered worthless, the church counteracts this insidious message w/ the truth that every person is fearfully and wonderfully made in Christ.
3. The church provides a moral and ethical compass in the midst of relativism. Like a swamp of murky, slimy water, our society has resisted, re-thought, or completely rejected all moral absolutes. But not the church! It still stands on the timeless bedrock of Scripture.
4. The church is the only place to find true community, healing, compassion, and love. It is here people really care. Not b/c of status or money, but b/c the H.S. is at work uniting people w/in the Body.
5. The church (like no other institution) has provided motivation for the most lasting, unselfish, essential, courageous ministries on earth. Schools. Hospitals. Halfway houses. Orphanages. Missions.
Note: No, the church isn’t perfect. After all, we’re all a part of it if we have had a genuine faith transaction. And while we haven’t always practiced what we’ve preached, the church is the only vehicle God has for working out His eternal will in the world. This to me will forever be a mystery.
CONCLUSION
Trans: Criminal mysteries aren’t the only things that stymie me. Many things in life stymie me. So why should I be surprised to find I can’t figure out everything about God? Neither can you! One day when I stand before God w/ my questions, I’m sure I’ll smack my glorified forehead w/ the palm of my heavenly hand and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Note: Back to our Scotland Yard mystery. When the colonel finished talking, the club members turned to one another, whispered for a few moments, and nodded heads. Then the president said, “Colonel, we think you have overlooked a rather obvious possibility – the letters in the briefcase. The stamps on them could be rare editions, worth thousands of pounds each.” As it turned out, that was exactly right – so simple… so obvious.
RESOURCES
Sermons: David Dykes – Series in Ephesians
John Piper – Israel and Us Reconciled in One Body
Books: Max Anders – The Good Life
John MacArthur – Commentary on Ephesians
