Sermon Central
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The Mystery Unveiled
Contributed by Monte Brown on Nov 1, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: 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?
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.
I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall
be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
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,
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.
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
