WEBVTT 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:07.519 Ephesians chapter 3, starting in verse 1. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:18.960 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, on behalf of you Gentiles, assuming you have heard about the administration of God's grace that he gave me for you. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:24.079 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:29.120 By reading this, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:38.079 This was not made known to people in other generations, as it has now been revealed in his holy prophets, to his holy prophets and his apostles by the Spirit. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:45.359 The Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:52.880 I was made a servant of this gospel by the grace, gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of his power. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:01:07.519 This grace was given to me, the least of all the saints, to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:16.239 This is so that God's multifaceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:21.040 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:25.280 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:32.000 So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:33.280 Let's pray. 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:35.840 Oh Lord, I thank you so much for your word. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:46.799 I thank you so much for the gift of salvation we have through faith in your Son, for his substitutionary atonement on the cross, for the salvation we have as a result. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:57.680 I thank you, Lord, for your word, and I ask that you would fill us with your spirit to rightly divide, to grow in your word, and to apply it, and just be glorified in your name. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:58.640 Amen. 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:01.280 Alright, go ahead and have a seat. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:30.639 So Paul started a sentence in verse 1, interrupted himself, went on a 12-verse tangent, and then we'll pick back up in verse 14, which we will go over next week. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:38.240 So, with that in mind, uh this passage is really, really good. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:44.000 It is also a really good illustration of word salad. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:45.840 There is a lot going on. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:51.919 It is uh, and what I love about Paul, Paul is like one of the most brilliant minds in his age. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:59.280 And the Lord brought him to salvation, and Paul did not condescend when he would give that message. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:02.560 He continued to elevate his hearers, but sometimes it's confusing. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:11.439 And so that's what we have this morning is a passage that we have to basically look at, rip apart and understand, and get the encouragement out of it. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:24.960 And as we talked about all the way back at the beginning of when we started going through Ephesians, in this book we will find encouragement, great encouragement, and we will find opportunities and exhortation to grow. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:28.240 And that's what we're gonna see a little bit here as well. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:37.759 So, just in terms of a thesis statement for this chunk that we're going over, that we will frame out as we go through this. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:55.599 Paul is motivated by and imprisoned for a glorious administration of God's grace as part of God's eternal plan, which should empower and encourage the Ephesian Gentile followers of Jesus and us as well. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:57.439 Okay, there's a lot there. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:03.759 There are gonna be some key words through this passage that come up over and over and over and over again. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:12.159 Words like administration, words like grace, words like revelation, words like made known, and words like mystery. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:17.839 So we're gonna hit those words as we're going through this to give a framework of what Paul is talking about. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:26.399 So when we start in verse 1, he says, For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, on behalf of you Gentiles. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:31.920 First, he is identifying himself as a prisoner. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:41.360 Not of Rome, but a prisoner of Christ Jesus, a prisoner as a result of Christ Jesus, on behalf of the Gentiles. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:48.160 It's fun that Paul has turned his imprisonment into a weird sort of flex in that he's actually identifying himself as the prisoner. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:05:05.839 Basically, when Rome and the Jewish leaders think that Paul is imprisoned and therefore sequestered and is out of the way, and he actually takes that as his rap title, basically, and that's that's so he is the prisoner, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:10.240 And then it goes off the rails, but in a good way. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:14.399 Holy Spirit inspired off the rails, if that makes sense. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:29.120 So uh verse 2, depending on your translation, you may have, assuming you have heard about the administration of God's grace, or the question, you have heard, haven't you, about the administration of God's grace. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:42.000 So this is where it seems like Paul hits the phrase Gentiles, and it sparks something in his brain that he wants to cover before he gets back to for this reason I. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:50.160 I'm not gonna say it bugs me that this is one long fragment, but it really bugs me that it's one long fragment. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:06:02.399 So he says here, assuming you've heard, about the administration of God's grace that he gave to me for you. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:04.079 Administration. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:13.519 That word, as we think about in today's day and age, may think, oh you know, we could we might shorten that to admin in our day and age. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:22.240 We may think of assistance, of structure, of filing, of organization, of keeping things going. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:25.759 Administration here, it is a stewardship. 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.920 It is an entrusting, which is the same thing as our current definition. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:39.040 So it is, so when I hear the administration, he is saying that there is a stewardship of God's grace. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:44.079 That God gave Paul on behalf of the Gentiles. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:58.959 God has stewarded, administered, delegated to Paul something about his grace to be given for the purpose of the Gentiles. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:10.399 So the best way to start framing this so it makes sense before we jump into verse 3, let's jump ahead to verse 7. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.040 If Paul can be confusing, so can I. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:26.240 He's gonna say, assuming you've heard about the administration of God's grace, he gave me for you, and then in verse 7, I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace that was given to me. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:30.480 Same words, verse 2, by the working of his power. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:51.040 And this grace was given to me, the least of all these things, to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration, there's that word again, of the mystery, another key word, hidden for ages in God, who created all things. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:08:06.000 So, whatever this is that Paul is speaking of here, he has been given a charge to number one, proclaim the incalculable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:12.560 And number two, to proclaim to everybody this mystery, which he will define in a moment. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:21.040 So that helps a little bit with knowing what the heck he's talking about here when he's saying, I'm assuming that you've heard about the administration of God's grace that he gave me for you. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:32.320 He's talking about his calling, his calling, and the gift that was given to him, which is both a task and a change of heart and life for him. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:36.080 As we continue, back in verse 3. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:50.799 The mystery, that's one of our big words for this passage, was given or made known, another big word, to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:54.080 I think we can all agree that Paul has briefly written nothing. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:55.600 Ever. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:58.320 But in his mind he did. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:06.960 And uh so this mystery was made known by revelation. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:11.200 Mystery is in verse 3, 4, and 9 in this passage. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:13.919 Made known is in 3, 5, 10 in this passage. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:15.600 Revelation is in 3 and 5. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:17.600 These are all words that he's basically saying. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:23.360 Something has been hidden for a long time and has been revealed and made known to Paul. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:24.799 Simple as that. 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.720 We'll explain exactly what the mystery is in a moment. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:32.720 Actually, Paul will, but ultimately, that's the key of what he's talking about here. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:38.159 This is the administration of God's grace, a mystery that was made known to him. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:47.279 So, what's the important thing about if you watch like a movie or read a book that's a mystery, what's the important thing about it? 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:49.679 That it gets solved. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:10:03.120 Imagine like the classic, you know, murder mystery thing where they have everybody in the house and it's the butler, no, it's not the butler, it's definitely the butler, but it's not the butler, and then at the end, it's like, I don't know who. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:05.360 Roll credits. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:07.679 That is horrible. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:10.240 If the detective is like, you know what? 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.200 Actually, I ran out of time and money, so I just left. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:15.679 So, good luck. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:19.600 That is not a satisfying resolution to a mystery. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:25.039 There has to be a revealing of the mystery in order for people like me to not go insane. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:33.200 And here he's saying that the mystery was revealed, was made known to Paul. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:42.080 What does this look like for this to be made known and revealed to Paul? 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:43.600 What opened his eyes? 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:47.120 Well, we need to understand Paul's testimony a little bit. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:51.840 And so I have a passage for that, I have a slide that I'm gonna put up from Galatians. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:58.000 Gives us a little bit of his background and testimony and also his burden that will help with that. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:03.200 So, it's a big chunk, that's why I wanted it up there so you can both see it and hear it. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:07.120 Galatians 1, 11 through 16. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:13.919 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:23.440 I didn't receive it from a human source, I wasn't taught it, it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:26.480 You have heard about my former way of life in Judaism. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:30.399 I intensely persecuted God's church and tried to destroy it. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:38.399 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:53.120 But when God, who from my mother's womb set me apart and called me by his grace, he was pleased to reveal his son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.559 I did not immediately consult with anyone. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:00.000 It continues forward from there, but I couldn't fit any more words on the slide. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:09.919 So, this idea of Paul's testimony, he was as um antithetical to the gospel of Jesus as you could be. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:16.960 In fact, he was so zealous for his traditions that he was arresting and uh consulting in the murder of Christians. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:20.000 And God directly intervened. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:41.440 He's on the road, bright light shines from heaven, knocks Paul off his horse, a voice from heaven speaking to Paul, and he becomes blind for multiple days until uh Ananias comes and preaches the good news to him, something like scales falls off his eyes, and he can see. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:44.000 That ain't normal. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:13:00.799 That's not necessarily the most orthodox of testimonies, but with that in mind, the gospel was preached to Paul in such a way that he was directly confronted by Jesus. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:11.840 That he was bright light, knocked off his horse, voice from heaven, speaking as Jesus to Paul. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.960 Paul didn't go to school for this. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:20.240 He didn't just go through and then just hear the gospel and go, yeah, sure, I think I will carry that on. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:28.399 He was opposed to it, and then he encountered Jesus, and then his heart was changed, so it became his calling. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:42.159 But the funny thing is, Paul, who was super Jew, who was the Pharisee of Pharisees, then is given that testimony to preach Jesus among the Gentiles. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.159 Which is interesting. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:51.840 So everything about Paul's life is put in like it's like his little ant farm was shaken real hard. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.120 And God completely reworked everything with that. 00:13:55.279 --> 00:14:04.879 So this mystery, which we'll reveal in a second here, it was, but it was made known to Paul by revelation, as I've briefly written above. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.000 We'll talk about that in a second. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:08.559 But it was revealed directly from God. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:14.320 Verse 4, by reading this, you're able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.559 Again, put a pit in that. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:27.919 Verse 5, this was not made known to people in other generations, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:37.440 So this mystery, whatever that is, which we'll talk about in a second, it was not revealed throughout all of this time period. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.840 And then it was revealed to the apostles and prophets. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.360 How was it revealed? 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.960 By the Spirit. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:52.000 So it was revealed directly by one of the members of the Trinity to the Apostles and the prophets. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:59.600 We saw last week that these apostles and prophets were part of the foundation of the church, with Christ Jesus being the cornerstone. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:18.000 So best, easiest definition, understanding of how, uh of this mystery and the revelation of it, something that ready for this, wasn't known, was made known. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.279 That's it. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:32.240 It's not some big crazy, you know, you think of revelation, and it's like, oh, future thinking and apocalyptic things and all these different things and secret codes, and he's just like, it was something that was not revealed, and then it was revealed. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.720 And what was the determining factor between that? 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.600 The spirit. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:43.360 So that is the buildup of how was this given? 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:50.000 It was given, it was explained, it was made known to Paul directly by revelation, by the spirit. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:57.600 It was not revealed throughout history, and then it was through the person and work of Jesus by the Spirit. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.840 Okay, what is this mystery? 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:03.600 What does that even mean? 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.799 Verse 6, Paul spells it out. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:09.679 Just spells it out completely, and I love that. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.519 What is the mystery here? 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:25.360 The Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:39.759 The big mystery here that he was speaking of, that he also spoke of a lot in Romans and in Colossians, if you want to do some more digging on that, simply that the Gentiles are also co-heirs. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:50.240 Think about the surprise when they're reading the will, and the Gentiles have the same share as the Jews. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:51.679 It's that idea. 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.960 Co-heirs. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:17:02.159 They have the same inheritance, they are part of the same family, they are members of the same body. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:11.839 He goes over this in the 1 Corinthians, but like you may not like your left foot, it is still a part of you. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:21.759 And as long as it continues to be a part of you, you have to reconcile it is equally a part of your body as your right foot. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:27.359 And if you are so intent in your anger with your left foot that you tried to cut it off, you only hurt yourself. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.400 Don't do that. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:34.240 And so here, this mystery is that the Gentiles are co-equal heirs. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:40.720 They are members of the same body, they are partners, they share together in the promise. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:48.559 All the way back with Abraham Partners in this promise. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:53.920 Very key statement here in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:58.319 Because where uh pop quiz, where are the Ephesians living? 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:03.680 Ephesus! Yay! There you go, I'm just throwing softballs to start with here. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:09.279 So Ephesus, as we've talked about, is like idol central. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:20.000 And so Paul is specifically mentioning here that they are co-heirs, members of the same body, partners in the promise, only through Christ Jesus, only through the gospel. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:25.440 Faith and belief in Jesus as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:39.519 So, but that is the mystery here, which here in a Tascadero in 2025, assuming that most of us are most likely Gentiles, we're like, yeah. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.119 Uh-huh. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.079 I get it. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:45.920 But this was mind-blowing at the time. 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.799 We've lived out the fruits of that. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:52.160 But when it's happening in real time, it's a lot crazier with that. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:19:00.799 To the point that if you look in the book of Acts, people were really bent out of shape that the Gentiles were receiving salvation. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:05.519 That they were receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, that they were exercising spiritual gifts. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:15.119 They were literally, people were like, mmm, mmm, okay, but they need to become Jewish before it really works. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:20.880 And then who is the one who steps in and like causes a no-minor scene about that? 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.400 Paul is one of them who does that. 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:22.880 Yeah. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.960 And he uh, yeah, absolutely. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:33.759 So this was still revolutionary, and he's speaking not to a fully mixed group. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.519 It seems like this is the Ephesians here are predominantly Gentiles. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:42.240 You know, in Romans, when we went through that, we had some Jews, some Gentiles mixed together. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.680 He's addressing both sides. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:50.240 For those of you who are back there, we were running to this side of the room, and then we were running to this side of the room talking about uh the two different groups. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.880 Ephesians are predominantly Gentiles, it seems here. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:59.519 He's writing two predominantly Gentiles, so he's telling them that they are direct beneficiaries of the gospel. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:03.039 And that should be mind-blowing good news for them. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.720 That is the blessing of that. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.799 Because what we go, well, yeah, totally. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:10.880 We take for granted in a good way, in a glorious way. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:36.000 This is crazy that um the picture that we saw last week of the temple and the divisions in that was super helpful to see with that, and the different ways to where the Gentiles were excluded with that, and here, and that Paul is telling these Gentiles, you are not excluded, you are a part of the same body, you are co-equals, there is no hierarchy. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:52.799 And that is an amazing encouragement, and that's why he says here, as I've briefly written above, and by reading this, you're able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, because a whole chunk in chapter 2, he's talking to them about that mystery that they were made one body. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:57.039 The dividing wall was broken down, the middle wall of separation, that they were made one body here. 00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:08.079 So, again, as he continues through this uh God-inspired tangent, he's saying, God has stewarded to me. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:16.880 His grace given on behalf of the Gentiles to carry out this mystery, to proclaim this mystery. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:28.240 The mystery is that the Gentiles are equal parts of the body of Christ with Jews through faith in Jesus and only through faith in Jesus. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:32.160 As we look forward here, we're jumping into verse 7 here. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:40.720 I was made a servant of this gospel, the gospel we just mentioned in verse 6, in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:43.759 I was made a servant of this gospel. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:51.759 So here's the interesting thing with this is that I am conditioned to think when Paul says servant, he means bondservant. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.000 Because that's it's he called himself that throughout so much of the epistles. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:58.400 He says, Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:07.359 Somebody who is a Willing servant for life in a benevolent household in that sense. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.079 Here he doesn't actually use that word. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:14.720 He uses instead of doulos, he uses deakonas. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:20.960 And again, you're like, don't care, but deakonas is it's it's where we get the word deacon. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:24.079 It is a task executor. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:27.680 It's somebody who gets a job done. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:39.359 We saw this in Acts with the deacons who were charged initially to make sure that the widows were being taken care of, the Hellenistic widows. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:47.039 And so, with that in mind, it's not just a, hey, I've made myself at the service of God in general. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:51.519 He has a task from God. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:01.440 Not as a grudging obligation, but as a burden and as an exciting thing that is the basis of his life. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.240 Which makes sense. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:04.480 And that's what why am I making a big deal out of this? 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:11.359 Because at the beginning of this passage, we see that God stewarded or delegated something to Paul. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:16.400 And here Paul is saying, I have a task from God. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:18.000 He's on a mission from God. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:23.920 And that is for the purpose of what? 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.920 We'll talk about that in a second. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:34.880 But here he's made a sermon of the gospel by the gift of God's grace, same words as in verse 2, that was given to him by the working of his power. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:24:02.480 There is this mingling in Paul's words here, that he is, it seems that this gift of God's grace, this charge, this task, is this synonymous thing where his salvation, his conversion, and his turning to Christ is seen as this gift and therefore promotes a stewardship and a charge to proclaim that to the Gentiles. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:05.920 They're kind of one and the same and hard to pull apart here. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:11.920 So he was made a servant of this gospel by God, the gift of God's grace, given to me by the working of this power. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:17.279 And then in verse 8, the gift was given to him, the least of all the saints. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:21.839 Paul calls himself, we saw in a different epistle, that he calls himself the least of the apostles. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:25.599 Here he's saying the least of all of the followers of Jesus. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:31.119 He's not sitting there going like, see the badge? 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.039 I'm really important. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:38.720 Letting you know, you can call me Apostle Paul if you want. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:41.839 You don't have to, but you probably should. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:56.319 Probably a good idea just to call me that, and uh because I'm important, and God saw me as important, and therefore because I was so important, he plucked me out and gave me a super special important job. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.160 No, none of this, none of this at all. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:05.759 Paul calls himself the least of all of the saints, the least worthy of all of that. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:15.519 You look at his testimony, he has in full view the depth of not only his sin, but also his violence toward the kingdom of God. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:19.839 And he, as a result, is just happy to be in the room. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:21.279 Isn't that cool? 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:27.039 I think we can learn something from that, not as a corrective way, but as a continued stirring up. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:35.519 How amazing is it that we, as predominantly Gentile believers, get to be a part of God's family? 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.680 That is amazing. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:42.319 For no reason other than the fact that he loves us. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:48.720 So this grace was given to Paul, the least of the saints, to what? 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:54.559 To proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.880 How much is incalculable? 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:01.680 Again, we're throwing the throw we're throwing wiffle balls today. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.440 Umcalculable. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:07.759 You cannot fathom it, you can't count it, it is infinite. 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:11.039 The incalculable riches of Christ. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:15.599 Do you remember at the beginning, for those of you who have been with us throughout this whole time? 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:28.880 Riches, the wealth that we have in Christ Jesus, as heirs of Christ Jesus, as his children, we lack nothing. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:31.599 We have everything. 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:34.079 And just what an amazing blessing that is. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:38.880 And Paul's goal is to proclaim that good news to the Gentiles. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:42.880 Number one, to proclaim that to the Gentiles. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:53.200 We see this again, I'm jumping back in Galatians 2.9, when James, Cephas, and John, those recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:27:00.240 They gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:09.839 Paul is convinced that his calling, his reason for existence on earth, is to proclaim this good news to the Gentiles. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.599 He's not confused about this. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:18.079 Which will make sense in a moment why he's like, don't worry about me being in prison, guys. 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.440 All part of the plan. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:31.200 So number one, this gift, this charge, this stewardship was given to him to proclaim the incalculable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:34.480 Number two, to shed light. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:39.200 We saw that verse in that word in chapter one, to illuminate. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:41.599 Think for a second about Paul's testimony. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.960 What happened when he encountered Jesus bright light? 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.240 Bright light. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.759 Blinding. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:51.839 And then something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:28:07.680 I could see him being really interested in these words of shedding light, making known, making visible, shedding light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:13.920 Number one, his job is to preach to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, which is what he's doing here. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:27.039 Number two, his job is to shed light for everybody about this amazing calling, the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:39.039 Not only does he want the Gentiles to know that God loves them and wants them to be a part of his family through faith in Jesus, he wants everybody to know that the Gentiles are in also. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:50.400 This is from the foundation of the world, hidden for ages and it's been revealed. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:52.000 You are a part of God's family. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:29:00.720 But to those who are not Gentiles, he wants to tell them these guys are just as saved as you are. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.559 Which is so cool. 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:08.960 The mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:12.240 And then we get to see the end goal of this. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:15.759 These are things we may not think about often. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.720 Verse 10. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:26.640 This is so that God's multifaceted wisdom may be known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:31.200 So that God's multifaceted. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:37.839 Many different faces, many different aspects, more things and aspects than you can understand. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:40.880 You don't look at God's wisdom, it's not two-dimensional. 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:42.480 It's not like, okay, cool, that's it. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:44.160 I get it, I understand it. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:53.119 If we think that we understand the depths of God's wisdom, may I gently dissuade you from that delusion? 00:29:53.759 --> 00:30:00.000 We'll never grasp the depths of God's wisdom because we are not, in fact, God. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:07.599 God's multifaceted wisdom may now be known through whom? 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.480 The church. 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:14.000 Who is the church? 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.480 We are. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:20.240 The Ephesian believers are. 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:23.920 The Jews in Jerusalem are. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.759 The Gentiles are. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:38.960 God's wisdom, his multifaceted wisdom, is to be made known through us. 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:48.559 To the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:50.720 Okay, that's a curveball. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:31:16.960 What this is saying is that the revealed mystery that both Jew and Gentile have equal access to salvation through the blood of Jesus, that package lived out in the body of Christ, is educating spiritual rulers and authorities in the heavens. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:25.759 We see in different epistles that thing of like the glorious thing of the gospel being revealed, things that angels desire to look into. 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:35.759 There is only one entity in the history of the world unto eternity who is all-knowing, who is omniscient, and that is God. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:46.079 Angels, demons, Satan, all the above, they don't know everything. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:32:00.319 God has given us a unique charge and gift of educating spiritual authorities. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:25.519 By appropriately acting like the body of Christ, by breaking down those walls of separation, by actually having commonality on faith in Jesus, in Christ alone. 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:27.920 I think there's a song about that. 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:42.240 This is how God has chosen to demonstrate his wisdom to things we do not remotely know or understand or even see. 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:51.440 And yet he has chosen his body, the church, to educate by acting like the body. 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.880 That's pretty cool. 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:55.680 We went all the way back at the beginning of Ephesians. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:33:01.440 He talked about how Christ has been seated above all of these powers and principalities and authorities. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:11.680 And then we talked about how the church, as the body, connected to the head, who is Jesus, is also put in that position, provided that we remain attached to the head. 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:13.119 And what is the goal here? 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:18.079 To proclaim to the world how amazingly wise God is. 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.599 How do we do that? 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:22.960 By acting like Christians. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.359 How cool is that? 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:29.039 Super easy, super hard, sometimes at the same time. 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:32.160 But with that, so cool how that works. 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:38.559 And what he's talking about specifically in this passage is by the Gentiles walking in boldness and freedom. 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:40.160 We'll talk about in a moment with that. 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:44.799 And then also for the Jews not putting up walls between the two. 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:46.079 And then functioning together. 00:33:46.160 --> 00:33:51.440 And we'll get in a couple chapters later telling the Gentiles, hey, how about you stop sinning? 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.960 Could you do that too? 00:33:53.119 --> 00:34:01.759 So there's a lot going on with that, but ultimately, what an amazing, crazy thing that is, that God includes us in his plan. 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:08.320 According to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, God is not improvising. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:15.920 We didn't have the Garden of Eden, and he says, Hey, don't eat that, and walks off. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:21.199 And then they eat it, as any toddler does. 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:24.400 And then he goes, How did that happen? 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.760 What was going to happen? 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:27.119 Now what do I do? 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:27.760 Great. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:29.039 Now I gotta start over. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.760 He knows all. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:42.719 His eternal purpose from the beginning was reconciling, restoring his people under his family through Jesus. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:57.360 We see in 2 Timothy 1.9, he saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:59.440 Ephesians 1.4. 00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:05.760 He chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in love before him. 00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:13.039 So to Jew and Gentile believer alike, you were not a plan B. 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:22.320 You were not a, well, we ran out of the A stock, so now we're gonna let in some of the other guys. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:25.360 This was always God's plan. 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:28.480 Okay, so what? 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:30.159 What does that mean for us? 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.760 We look in verse 12. 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:39.039 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:42.800 There is a definition for boldness that I love. 00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:46.559 Cheerful confidence, cheerful courage. 00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:48.159 Isn't that cool? 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:52.960 You know, boldness, depending on your bent, depending on the day. 00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:59.679 Like people could think of boldness as like I'm not afraid to just randomly like, you know, start throwing punches and taking names. 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:05.519 Eh! Not exactly what we see as a part of the body of Christ. 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:11.280 Here we have boldness, we have cheerful courage, free and fearless confidence. 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:14.000 We also have confident access. 00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.639 Through what? 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:20.400 Faith in him. 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:22.800 Not by our works. 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:25.760 Our works have no part in this. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:29.599 Through faith in him, in him, in him. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:33.119 Another one of those key things that come up in Ephesians here. 00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:45.199 So, this is what's cool is that number one, Paul is saying, My life is about explaining that both Jew and Gentile together have access to God through faith in Jesus. 00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:53.440 And to the Gentiles, this is good news to you guys, and you should have boldness and confident access as a result. 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:55.039 Isn't that encouraging? 00:36:55.360 --> 00:37:01.199 He also says, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are for your glory. 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:04.320 Also, it seems the Ephesians are concerned that Paul's in prison. 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:08.079 He's like, guys, this I'm right where I need to be. 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:10.880 This is not a problem, because I am a prisoner of who? 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:12.079 Jesus. 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:18.719 If he wants me out, again, we see in the book of Acts, God has no problem breaking people out of prison despite best efforts. 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:25.599 And so, with that in mind, Paul's like, guys, relax and be encouraged and rejoice. 00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:28.559 This is a plan and part of his calling. 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:46.159 We see when the Lord is revealing to Ananias, who's going to speak to Saul at his conversion, in Acts 9, 15 and 16, the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:50.559 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.840 I don't really want to sign up for that. 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:56.800 That is a heck of a calling. 00:37:56.960 --> 00:38:00.960 But Paul seems excited about that in a strange way. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:05.360 He seems to not be deterred by that, which is really infuriating. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:13.119 Like it seems like the more that they beat him, the more he continues to proclaim Jesus, and that's really frustrating. 00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:27.599 So with that in mind, he's telling them number one, my Paul speaking, my ministry, my goal, the charge that God has given me is to proclaim to you that you belong to Jesus through faith in him. 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:33.199 Equal access, part of the same body, no terms and conditions apply. 00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:36.320 So don't worry about me being in prison. 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.199 That's fine. 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:46.960 But know that when Paul's speaking again, when I say previously that you guys are part of one body, there is no wall and separation, you lack nothing. 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:48.559 Isn't that encouraging? 00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:56.000 So a few things, just in closing here, as we are untangling this ball of twine, that is these 13 verses here. 00:38:56.239 --> 00:38:59.440 Number one, what an amazing miracle this mystery is for us. 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:11.360 Let us never become numb to the fact that we, through our sins, were on our way to eternal death, to hell. 00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:27.519 And through faith in Jesus, because he loved us so much that he shed his blood for us, the perfect sacrifice, to provide atonement, covering payment for our sins, we now, through faith in that, confession and belief in that, have access to God and are made right with him. 00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:32.239 May that never be something that we go, eh, okay. 00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:34.880 That's cool, but look at that shiny thing over there. 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:37.119 May that always be the core of us. 00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:41.679 Also, is we talked about Paul's conversion. 00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:47.440 Is Paul being snatched out of hell any less miraculous than you? 00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:49.360 No. 00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:53.760 Is his conversion superior to yours? 00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:55.039 No. 00:39:55.519 --> 00:40:00.559 Is his calling better than yours? 00:40:04.079 --> 00:40:12.000 You are a member of Jesus, part of his body through faith in him. 00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:18.480 May we also have boldness and confident access through faith in him. 00:40:18.800 --> 00:40:31.840 And finally, when we opened up this uh going through Ephesians, we talked about there are going to be things in this book that are immensely encouraging, and there are things in this book that will cause us to want to grow. 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:35.039 Something, this is called planting a seed. 00:40:35.840 --> 00:40:37.679 Just planting a seed here. 00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:47.280 Paul's conversion is an unconditional free gift. 00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:50.079 No strings attached. 00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:53.440 There is nothing that makes him more saved, correct? 00:40:54.719 --> 00:41:00.320 He was also given a charge, a stewardship. 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:05.440 He considers himself a Diaconos and Deacon and Errand runner. 00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:10.800