Prisoner of Christ
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Call to Worship
Call to Worship
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Prayer
Prayer
Adoration: Rock of our Salvation = Power; Made us into a temple = grace and wisdom
Confession: We follow other gods… we desecrate
Thanksgiving: The blood of your Son cleanses us and makes us fit for your presence
Supplication: that we might live out our identity as Your holy temple; against divisions/prejudice in the church; against racism + CRT; health for members (Brian?); Laurelwood Baptist
Family Matters: Christmas Eve service 6:30 pm; Christmas service 11:00 (no SS, shorter, simplified service)
Benediction
Benediction
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Sermon
Sermon
(read 3:1-13)
Intro
Intro
Are you discouraged about the way things are going?
As believers, we’re living through a strange time in our nation’s history => Christianity used to be dominant force in our culture. That’s the history we are used to.
Now, say that Bible is true/gospel is only way/biblical ethics are the right way to live = you will probably be labeled a bigot (if said in public)
We, believers, now relegated to the margins of society—at least, if we dare to speak the truth.
=> And we must speak the truth—especially the truth that salvation can be found in no one but Christ.
At first glance, it is kind of logical for us to be discouraged.
And in this area, we have our own discouragement: (don’t want to exaggerate—could be much worse) Portland has recently taken a step closer to being hell on earth.
Don’t think for a moment that we are the first believers to go through something like this!
Paul:
Wrote Ephesians from prison—probably in Rome
Owns it:
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
Paul was on margins of society // often unjustly silenced, i.e. Thess.
But also, understands his imprisonment could => disappointment for the Ephesians:
Didn’t Paul tell us that all things are summed up in Christ?
Didn’t Paul say that Christ is enthroned in heaven, far above all powers?
If Jesus reigns, why is Paul in prison?
Paul senses difficulty => rabbit trail 2-13 to address their discouragement
Servant of a Great Revelation
Servant of a Great Revelation
Paul: Grace + Revelation => Apostle to the Gentiles
Paul: Grace + Revelation => Apostle to the Gentiles
assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
Saying: “Why a prisoner? => Remember my origin story?
meant by “assuming that you have heard”
For Paul, conversion + road to Apostleship closely intertwined.
Had been a persecutor of the Church => brought suffering on them; when God called Paul to faith, said about him:
Acts 9:15-16 “…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.””
So: Paul went from persecutor/causing suffering/trying to stop gospel => suffering for the name/gospel
meant by “stewardship” (v. 2) => Paul a steward of the grace which God had given him
Grace given to Paul => salvation (enemy => son), but also
Grace given to Paul => transform him from persecutor to a missionary, eventually to Gentiles…
So Paul says:
Grace was given to for you (end v. 2)
I was saved so that I might bring the gospel to you
I was saved so that I might be a prisoner for your sakes
Not just grace // also revelation
Specifically: a mystery made known, i.e. revealed by God (v. 3)
Paul = a unique steward because this mystery was revealed to him by the Spirit.
BTW: Paul’s apostleship unique // witnessed ascended Christ vs. pre/post Resurrection, etc.]
Talking about the mystery, the gospel he preached:
For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Not received from other apostles, but direct revelation
Same gospel, but different channel of revelation
Talking about himself:
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
Conclusion: Paul had received saving grace and a unique revelation of the mystery of the gospel => in order to make him Apostle to Gentiles
What mystery? “as I have written briefly” (end v. 3) = what I just wrote above // everything we’ve been hearing from Eph., but especially the way it all leads to the fact that Gentiles have been included in God’s family as fellow inheritors
vs 4: “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ” => ‘my imprisonment does not mean that my apostleship has failed—just read what I wrote, and you will sense the glory of its truth’
[but still hasn’t answered question yet about how he can be the servant of the Christ who reigns from heaven, and yet get placed in prison… ]
Mystery of Christ: Hidden, Revealed, Glorious!
Mystery of Christ: Hidden, Revealed, Glorious!
This Mystery—
Ephesians 3:5 “…was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”
Point: …greatness of the mystery/revelation…
Not known to previous generations… hinted at, not known—
“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord.
Says in the New Creation, ‘all flesh’ = all people, will worship… but does not say that all flesh will be fellow, equal heirs with Israel
Mystery of Christ/full+equal inclusion of Gentiles = not out of step w/ OT, but still new.
Now, revealed to NT apostles + prophets, by HS
=> BTW: HS source of Paul’s own revelation
So then, a mystery that => takes ‘glory of God’s saving grace’ => heights not yet known in OT—
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Seen ‘fellow heirs’ and ‘one body’ before, but here also:
‘co-partakers of the promise’ = promise given to:
Eve (child to crush satan/evil)
Abraham (child to bless the nations)
Isaac, Jacob, Judah
To David (eternal king)
Echos in Balaam’s Oracles, Hannah’s Song
Proclaimed by Isaiah, Micah, Malachi
Received with joy by Simeon and Anna
The hope of the OT saints of Israel…
Now, the hope of the Gentiles!!!
Paul: a Servant of this Revelation by God’s Grace and Power
Paul: a Servant of this Revelation by God’s Grace and Power
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
Minister = servant (lowly) =>> Paul’s identity: humble servant of a glorious gospel
Remember: Paul = former persecutor, politically powerful hater of the gospel =>> by God’s grace and power, became humble, imprisoned servant of gospel for the Gentiles
Application: much the same for us--
Not Apostles…
Still: all believers receive God’s grace as a gift by the working of God’s power.
Not imprisoned...
Still: all… lowly servants of gospel…
Unworthy Preacher of Unsearchable Glory
Unworthy Preacher of Unsearchable Glory
The Least Among the Saints Given Grace to Preach the Gospel…
The Least Among the Saints Given Grace to Preach the Gospel…
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Paul had not hinted at sins of his past to this point… now: “I am the very least of all the saints” = past containing wretched sin… (attacking Christ through attacking Christ’s people)
In spite of this sin “grace was given”
Result: preaching to Gentiles “unsearchable riches of Christ”
Immeasurable contrast: B.C. = evil hater of God’s people; A.C. = given the privilege to be a royal herald for Christ, proclaiming a gospel so glorious…
BTW: us, same pattern…
It’s as though Paul were saying: how can you even ask, “Why are you in prison if your Lord reigns from heaven?” Don’t you see? I was blind to the glories of Christ—an enemy of God! Then, by his power he opened my eyes to the wisdom of the cross, and made me his own royal herald to the nations!
But why suffering? Why imprisonment?
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
And so...
and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
“everyone” = every kind = sufficient salvation…
…That God’s Glorious Wisdom be Made Known to the Angels…
…That God’s Glorious Wisdom be Made Known to the Angels…
hidden for ages in God // now announced through Paul/others… with what purpose?
so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Say what?
Rulers and authorities = angelic beings/unseen realm
Through the church = universal church =>> but boots-on-ground shape of U church = local church… one place where can see fellowship and love, based on the blood of Christ, between Jew and Gentile/different kinds of people ( + other different kinds) + all brought together into the holy of holies by blood of Christ
Treasure in jars of clay!
What does this do to heavenly beings?
God’s angels: 1 Peter 1:12 [gospel things are] “things into which angels long to look.”
response = worship
Demonic powers: Colossians 2:15 [God, in Christ’s death forgiving sins and thus creating the Church] “…disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
demons behold ‘unsearchable riches of Christ’ in the Church, response = terror
want to shake the kingdom of darkness? gather, pray, sing, hear, practice love!
This was God’s plan all along:
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
…In Christ, Our Access to the Father
…In Christ, Our Access to the Father
And how was this possible? In Christ
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Temple language again: in Christ we have access to the holy of holies…
Remember:
Union w/ his blood—forgiveness of sins (1:7), cleaned from guilt, shame, freed from fear, brought near (2:13)
Union w/ his resurrection—given new life from spiritual death, made clean, brought near… (2:6)
These things are ‘unsearchable riches’—
not timid
bold access w/ confidence! (not flippant/casual)
=>> based on faith in promises fulfilled in Christ // the very thing Paul heralded
If you have not trusted in this promise of God to redeem you in Christ, you do not have this access… TRUST!
My Suffering = Your Glory
My Suffering = Your Glory
Paul’s Plea
Paul’s Plea
based on all of this—
So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Paul’s sufferings were for their glory
What Kind of Glory?
What Kind of Glory?
Glory of being the Church, through which God’s unsearchable wisdom//cross of Christ, made known to powers of unseen realm
Glory of access to God’s holy, intimate presence…
Glory of being served by one—Paul—whose service was copy of Jesus’
Paul: minister = servant, prisoner = sufferer ==>> ‘suffering servant’ for the salvation of the Gentiles… imitation of Christ, a glory for both Paul and the Gentiles
Pattern of ‘suffering service’ not limited to Paul
=> we also suffer in imitation of Christ
=> persecution + other, while living for the gospel
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Conclusion: Do Not Be Discouraged!
Conclusion: Do Not Be Discouraged!
Paul’s whole purpose for writing all this? “I ask you, do not lose heart.” I beg you, let the Word of God ask the same thing from you: do not lose heart. Paul’s situation, and the situation of the whole early church for the first several centuries, was pretty much the manifestation of all of the fears that I hear from believers this days:
‘we’re being marginalized’—they were marginalized
‘persecution is coming’—they were persecuted
‘we’re being slandered’—they were slandered
…and more…
But Paul said, don’t lose heart just because I’m in prison. Why? Because if you lose heart, you’ve forgotten the unsearchable riches of Christ—the power of God in Christ to bring us near, and to make us one new body in Christ, and to give himself to us as our Father forever. This is the only power worth trusting, and it is as sufficient for us today as it has ever been throughout all the gracious history of God redeeming a people for glory of his name.
Don’t lose heart because of what you see happening in society around us—the madness of it. Don’t lose heart when Christians suffer, or are slandered or persecuted. Don’t lose heart! Remember the unsearchable riches of the power of the gospel of Christ, and let this be your hope—and let us take this gospel to our neighbors, prepared to be suffering servants, as lights in the darkness.
Prayer
Prayer
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.