The Mystery Unveiled

The Mystery Unveiled

Ephesians 3:1-5 Monte T. Brown

September 30, 2007 Sunday Morning

Heart O’ the Hills

[Introduction

Does any one denomination, organization, or religion

hold the key to everlasting life?

Is it the Jews? The Muslims? The Catholics?

The Protestants? What does the scriptures say about

salvation?

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and

he who does not believe the Son shall not see life,

but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36

Let’s take a look at Ephesians 3:1-7 as Paul

addresses these questions to the Jews living in

Ephesus and to the church today.

Please stand and honor the Word of God as we read

from Ephesians 3:1-7.

Scripture

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: Ephesians 3:1-5

Prayer

1. The Mystery of Salvation is for All!

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus

for you Gentiles— Ephesians 3:1

For this reason = Paul is referring back to the unity

of believers, which he addressed previously in this

letter.

The prisoner of Christ Jesus = this is the motive for

his prayer which begins in verse 14.

Paul had been a prisoner for about two years in

Caesarea and two years in Rome, but he did not

consider himself a prisoner of any government.

He was referring to being a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

whom he had surrendered his life too.

Paul’s imprisonment to Christ Jesus was for preaching

the Gospel to the Gentles.

To show them that they were not bound by the Law of

Moses, but that they were to be fellow citizens with

the saints.

God’s Word says this about path to salvation:

Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the

life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall

be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 10:9

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the

Son of God does not have life. I John 5:12.

2.Mankind is not Naturally Inclined to Seek out

Salvation

Mankind has a tendency of listening to the Word of

God, but not hearing the Word of God.

We seem to have the ability to tune out things around

us and focus on our own little world.

If we had heard then we would know!

[2]if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of

the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:2

Dispensation = means stewardship.

Paul is saying that this is not something that he

sought out, but was given to him by God.

It was his calling, a spiritual gift, the

Stewardship of Grace.

God had given him the authority to minister as an

apostle to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:1-19; 1 Timothy

1:12-13; Romans 15:15-16; 1 Corinthians 4:1;

1 Corinthians 9:16-17; Galatians 2:9)

Paul’s Stewardship of the Gospel was given to him by

the grace of God.

Has God called you to the Stewardship of the Grace

It is the only way you can have salvation.

• You cannot work out your salvation.

• You cannot inherit your salvation.

• You cannot purchase your salvation.

• You cannot live a blameless life and receive

salvation.

As it is written: There is none righteousness, no,

not one; There is none who understands; There is none

who seeks after God….there is no fear of God before

their eyes. Romans 3:10-11, 18.

But the natural man does not receive the things of

the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him;

nor can he know them, because they are spiritually

discerned. I Corinthians 2:14.

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me

draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:44.

Look at what Romans 8:29-30 and see what it says

about our salvation, and the transformation that

takes place!

And we know that all things work together for good to

those who love God, to those who are the called

according to His purpose.

[29]For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be

conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be

the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29-30

3. The Mystery of the Barrier Keeping Mankind