LIVING IN CHRIST – Prisoner of Grace
Ephesians 3:1-13 NIV
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. 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.
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. 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 with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
INTRODUCTION:
Opening Illustration: Shawn is a believer, but has struggled to live his life in full obedience to Christ. As a result of some poor choices Shawn ended up in prison. Yet within those prison walls God’s grace has made a transformation in his heart and life. His desire is to share the freedom that he has found in Christ in the most unexpected of places with others.
Let’s take a look at God’s amazing grace that transforms lives. Grace has been defined as God’s unmerited favor—the full expression of His mercy and love. Let’s allow Paul to show us the ABC’s of grace in an unexpected way. By grace we are ARRESTED, BOUND and CHARGED.
I. Arrested by Grace.
Ephesians 3:1 NIV
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.
1. Paul was the prisoner of Christ Jesus.
a) Paul is Christ’s prisoner; he is not held captive to Nero but by Christ. All of Paul’s life is lived according to God’s will because he lives daily “in Christ.”
ILLUSTRATION: Paul, first known as Saul, was arrested by grace on the Damascus Road. His life was forever changed because he was confronted by the risen Christ—“Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?”
b) Paul’s imprisonment is for the benefit of others—“for the sake of you Gentiles.” Ultimately Paul knew that he was a prisoner of Christ Jesus—that he had been arrested by grace and was held captive in the arms of his loving savior Jesus. But Paul also knew that it was also his commitment to share the gospel with the gentiles that landed him in prison. The Jews might have left him alone if he had not insisted that salvation was by faith alone in the risen Christ whereby both Jew and Gentile stood on level ground before the cross of Christ. Paul’s willingness to accept the Gentiles as brothers caused the Jews to hate him.
2. Paul was Christ’s prisoner because he was made alive in Christ and made a member of God’s forever family.
a) “For this reason.” Paul is making reference to what God has done “in Christ” from chapter 2. We are no longer separated from God but have been brought near and in Christ have been given peace whereby we are members of God’s family.
b) Look what has happened for those who have been arrested by grace:
>> We had been dead in their transgressions and sins,
>> We had been following the ways of this world controlled by the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
>> We had tried to satisfy the cravings of their sinful nature,
>> We had been objects of God’s wrath,
>> BUT GOD has made us alive in Christ Jesus,
>> God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms,
>> We had once been separated from Christ, without hope and without God in the world,
>> But we who were far away have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ Jesus,
>> Jesus has become our peace and destroyed the dividing wall of hostility,
>> Through Christ we have access to God as our Father, we are no longer outsiders, but now we are members of God’s family!
c) “For this reason” Paul is a prisoner of Christ Jesus; he has been arrested by grace and his life is no longer the same. This is why Paul could say:
Ephesians 4:1 NIV
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
3. Have you too been arrested by grace?
a) Can we see our lives from heaven’s perspective like Paul so that even hardship and suffering for Christ is viewed as part of God’s will and is for the benefit of others?
b) Have you like Paul come to see that not only has your live been arrested by grace, but you are also:
II. Bound by Grace.
Ephesians 3:2-7 NIV
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. 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. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
1. Grace has bound us to the gospel.
a) Grace is not just something received. Paul received grace in order to share it with others. Likewise we too have been arrested and bound by grace. The gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ has transformed our lives and we must share it with others.
ILLUSTRATION: This is what excites me about Shawn’s story. Even locked in a prison cell he was free. God had touched his heart and began to make a change from the inside out. And the freedom he has received he wants to share with others.
b) If we don’t have a passion to share the love of Christ with others—if we are not bound to the gospel, then perhaps we need to start at square one and ask ourselves if we have really been arrested by grace.
2. Being bound by grace to the gospel reveals the mystery of Christ.
a) Mystery—not the unknown or hidden. The mystery is what God has revealed. God is making Himself known in Christ. Look what Paul says about this mystery that is revealed and made known in Christ.
Ephesians 1:9 NIV
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
Ephesians 3:3-6 NIV
3 the mystery made known to me by revelation . . . 4 [and] you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 . . . revealed by the Spirit . . . 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.
Ephesians 6:19 NIV
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.
Colossians 1:27; 2:2 NIV
27 . . . to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. . . 2:2 in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.
b) The Spirit makes known the mystery of Jesus! Christ has reconciled us to God. Christ has made us alive and given us a relationship with God as our heavenly Father. And furthermore they mystery of Christ restores our relationships with our fellowman. Walls of division are broken down and family unity is restored.
3. Grace—God’s unmerited favor, His mercy and love—grace has arrested us making us prisoners of Christ Jesus. And having been arrested grace has bound us to the gospel. Bound by grace the mystery of the gospel has been revealed to us so that we might know Christ. But that is not all. We are Arrested, Bound and:
III. Charged by Grace.
Ephesians 3:8-13 NIV
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. 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 with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
1. Grace has not charged us in order to find us guilty.
a)
2. Grace has charged us to live the Gospel of Grace. Charged is to be energized, made alive and stimulated.
a) Charged to make know the riches of God’s grace in Christ. (vs.8-9)
b) Charged to make known the effect of God’s grace even to rulers and authorities. How? By daily living the gospel of grace free from sin. (vs.10, 11)
c) Charged to live as God’s children. (vs.12)
d) Charged to live a victorious life. (vs. 13)
CONCLUSION: We have been Arrested, Bound and Charged by Grace! Are you a prisoner of grace?
Application:
1. Have you come to see your life as being lived “in Christ?” Are you a prisoner of Christ so that you confidently live your life in the will of God? Ask God to help you see your life through His eyes and enable you to accept each day as a gift from Him. Let God give you confidence to live in obedience to His will regardless of the consequences knowing that God will be faithful to help you even in the midst of trial and hardship.
2. Grace has charged you—you’re energized by grace to give grace to others. Freely you have received now freely give. God has given His grace to you, but it is not yours to keep. Who would God direct you to go to this week and share the reality of His love and mercy with them? Make a commitment today to administer God’s grace in their life as the Lord desires.
