A word that Paul uses in our passage for today is one that he also uses elsewhere in this book. That word is “mystery. The word “mystery,” is used by Paul in verses 3, 4, 6, & 9. What is Paul referring to when he uses this word?
The word, “mystery” might make us think of Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes or Perry Mason. We usually think of a mystery as something to be figured out, a puzzle, or an enigma. But the word used by Paul has a different meaning. The Greek word “musterion,” as used here by Paul, means: “something which is beyond natural knowledge, but has been opened to us by divine revelation through the Holy Spirit.”
We come up with this definition for the word Paul uses here from his own writing in the book of Colossians, as well as verse 3 of our text:
“the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” - Colossians 1:26 (NIV)
“the mystery made known to me by revelation” - Ephesians 3:3 (NIV)
As Paul elaborates on this “mystery,” this truth that has been opened to us by divine revelation through the Holy Spirit, he speaks of the church. He speaks of the church as being something which was previously undreamed of as a possibility, but which is now, has become a reality.
In the church, God has done away with all previous distinctions and has created a new humanity.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV)
Paul tells us, therefore,, that the church is a very “big deal” as far as God is concerned. The church is at the heart of His redemptive work and His eternal purpose (vs. 10-11). As part of this new humanity, through faith in Christ, we are involved in a cosmic drama.
The theater is history. The stage is the world. The actors are the church (you and me). The writer is God, who also directs and produces the drama.
As producer, He has paid the price (through the death of His Son) to earn the right to decide how things are to be done. As director, He gives the orders that are to be acted out by His church (the actors in this cosmic drama).
The audience is the elect angel host of heaven and the fallen angels of hell.
“It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.” - 1 Peter 1:12 (NLT)
“because the angels are watching” - 1 Corinthians 11:10 (NLT)
“It is through the old creation (the universe) that God reveals His glory to humans; it is through the new creation (the church) that God reveals His glory to the angels.” - John R.W. Stott, God’s New Society
What’s the big deal about church? The church is a big deal because it is at the center of God’s work, it is at the heart of what God is doing in this world. To be involved and committed to the church is to be part of something bigger than ourselves and as great as God Almighty.
1. The church is at the heart of God’s plan for the Christian - v. 6
Make no mistake about it! What God is doing today centers around His church. It is the activity of the church that is where God’s action is!
Paul tells us that God has brought Gentiles and Israel together within the church. In the church, Jew and Gentile are:
A. Heirs together - we have a common heritage.
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” - Galatians 3:29 (NIV)
B. Members together - we have a common status.
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” - Galatians 3:26-27 (NIV)
C. Sharers together - we have a common destiny.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” - Galatians 3:28 (NIV)
It was for the church that Christ died.
“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” - Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)
If God feels this way about the church, how should we feel about it? If Christ gave His life for the sake of the church, what sacrifices should we be willing to make for it?
Have you ever been driving along the road when suddenly you saw a hitch¬hiker ahead? His thumb-signal is giving a message loud and clear, “If you will furnish the car, the gasoline, the time and do the driving, I’ll ride with you, but, you’re ‘nuts’ if you think that I’m gonna chip in with any gas money; by the way, if you have an accident and I’m injured, I’ll sue you for everything you have.”
In just about every congregation you’ll find this very same kind of attitude. Yes, there are hitch-hikers in the Lord’s church! They say in one way or another, “If you supply an attractive building, lights, heat and air conditioning, so that I will be comfortable as I listen to the preacher, I’ll ride along with you for awhile. But you’re crazy if you think that I’m gonna chip in with any real financial support. Nor will I be involved with personal work, visitation, benevolence, etc., etc. By the way, if anything happens, that irritates me, you’ll hear from me! So, on my own terms, I’ll ride along with you. "
We may kid ourselves, but never the Lord! Are your hands busy in the Lord’s work or are you thumbing a free ride?
Within every church are two congregations: 1) Those who are part of the membership; and 2) Those who are part of the fellowship. Of which congregation are you a part?
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” - 1 John 1:3 (NIV)
2. The church is at the heart of God’s purpose for the world - vs. 8-9
Paul said there are two ways by which God works through the church to accomplish His redemptive purpose in this world.
A. Through our declaration of Christ to a broken world - v. 8
1) The greatness of this message we are called to share - v. 8b
Note how Paul speaks of the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” The word translated “unsearchable” in the NIV is translated in a variety of ways in other translations of the Bible.
Amplified - “unending, boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless.” New Living translation - “endless treasures.” Contemporary English Version - “blessings that cannot be measured.” New American Standard Bible - “unfathomable.” English Standard Version -“unsearchable.” Holman Christian Standard Bible -“incalculable.”
Paul is telling us that Christ always enriches life.
2) The greatness of this mission we are called to do - v. 8a
Implied along with the greatness of the message is the greatness of our mission. We are responsible to share with others about the life they can discover through faith in Christ. This mission is the reason for the church’s existence. In fact, without being faithful to this mission, the church will not exist.
Once upon a time, there was a Church With No Problems. This became evident when you first drove into the parking lot. Adequate parking was always available near the front entrance for all who attended. No one had to arrive early and greet people at the door for everyone knew everyone. Sunday School was just heavenly. The fellowship in the classes was fantastic. People were so comfortable with each other because most had attended with the same people in their class for all of their lives. Morning worship was a great blessing, too, because there was plenty of seating and everyone knew who sat where. The worship services always ended on time, too (aided by the fact that invitations were never longer than a verse or two).
Everyone loved the pastor. He fit in perfectly. He liked everyone, too, and made it clear when he came that he loved the people and the church so much that he “wouldn’t change a thing.” The pastor never, ever preached about money. He didn’t have to. There was always enough money to do everything the Church With No Problems wanted to do, because they didn’t want to do much.
The facilities at the Church With No Problems were great - plenty of space & always in perfect condition. In fact, the Church With No Problems carefully avoided members who might damage the facilities and possessions of the church. By avoiding “those kind of people,” the Church With No Problems didn’t have the problem of trying to find people who would make the sacrifice of teaching the kind of people who might damage facilities. Everyone could just stay in their own class with their own age group and grow strong in that nurturing environment.
The Church With No Problems was successful at having no problems by following the two main principles recorded in the church’s handbook on “How to Avoid Problems in a Baptist Church." These were:
(1) Never Ever Allow Anything to Change.
(2) Never Challenge People to do anything that requires sacrifice.
In case you know someone who would like to join the Church With No Problems, tell them not to bother . . . it closed up right after the funeral of the last living member!
God works through the church to accomplish His redemptive purpose through our declaration of Christ to a broken world and . . .
B. Through our demonstration of community to a broken world.
As people from different backgrounds, of different temperaments, and even of different opinions, come together under the banner of the Lordship of Christ, the world is awakened to the difference Christ can make in peoples’ lives.
Several years ago Johanne Lukasse of the Belgian Evangelical Mission came to the realization that evangelism in Belgium was getting nowhere. The nation’s long history of traditional Catholicism and the aggression of the cults had left the land seemingly impervious to the gospel.
Driven to the Scripture, he came up with a new plan. First, he gathered together a heterogeneous group of believers: Belgian, Dutch, Americans - whoever would come. Second, he had them rent a house and live together for seven months. As is natural, frictions developed among these diverse people. This in turn sent them to prayer and, happily, to victory and love. Following this, they began to see amazing fruit. Outsiders called them “the people who love each other,” for they were living out the words and promises of Jesus in John 13:34-35.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35 (NASB)
Let’s seek to live together in this house in such a way as to draw people to Jesus!
Conclusion - v. 13
To Paul, the church was a big deal. Consequently, he was willing to sacrifice for the sake of seeing God’s plan and purpose being carried out through the church.
The cause of Christ and the work of His church are more important than any one of us; yet requires the contribution of every one of us.
What is God calling on you to sacrifice for His glory and for the sake of His church? Time? Talent? Treasure? The right to be angry with someone else? Control? Having things done “your way?”
