The Gospel Mystery Revealed
ONE With Christ, ONE With Each Other ~ Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsEmbracing Who We Are in Christ and the Responsibility It Bears
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Introduction
Introduction
Many of us enjoy mystery stories - novels or television shows that tell a “who dunnit” story.
We watch the main characters as they solve a crime or figure out a secret.
But, this of course is all on a human level.
The mystery of our passage / the mystery of God / of the gospel goes beyond our human level.
The original word used refers to something beyond natural knowledge and understanding.
We would never figure this out on our own; it must be revealed to us.
It must
The mystery of the gospel had been revealed … and now the NT church was figuring what it all meant and how to now live it out.
The gospel includes everyone; it is sufficient for all and all are invited.
It is available to both genders, all races and backgrounds, those from within every kind of sin.
All people are called to Christ, and we are called to be the doorway by which they find Him.
This passage not only celebrates who we are in Christ.
It also calls us to the privilege and responsibility of carrying the gospel to all those it is for.
May the mystery of the gospel come ever more clear to us.
Let us embrace its reality in our lives but also the task it bears.
Let us welcome all to Christ, reaching out even to those we feel are unlikely to come.
A Mystery Made Known ~ the Gospel Is For All (1-6)
A Mystery Made Known ~ the Gospel Is For All (1-6)
Read vv.1-6.
Sometimes it can be challenging to figure out that final step or ingredient to make something work.
When you are cooking something new, or fixing your car, or building something.
Tackling a new project sometimes requires learning a “trick of the trade” (I often ask others with more experience for tips or watch how-to videos).
That final detail can bring completion.
The OT can leave us feeling unfinished … there must be something more.
Now, in the NT, it is revealed.
That “something more” is Christ … and that He is available to all.
The Gospel Is For All.
Not only Jews, not only those raised in Christian homes, not only those who are like us.
The Gospel Is For All.
Consider the magnitude of this reality.
Since creation it had only been for the Jews.
Everything had focused around the nation of Israel as the people of God.
God very clearly focused on Israel.
The 1st c. Jews had lost true sight of God, missing Christ as their Messiah, making religion instead of relationship.
They were harsh and judgmental to others.
They treated the Gentiles as unsavable and unlovable.
But God turned this on its head.
Christ opened the door to the Gentiles.
Non-Jews were coming to Christ.
How would you have responded?
I often observe 2nd generation immigrants feeling so at home that they judge and criticize 1st gen. immigrants.
How quickly we forget our own coming in story.
How quickly we judge instead of welcome.
We are now like the Jews, having been Christians and a church for quite some time.
We have established norms and patterns and preferences.
Who are the Gentiles to us? Visitors? Those who have left our church? Those we have disagreed with? Mormans? Homosexuals? Transgender people?
Too often we push people away from Christ instead of inviting them to Him.
The mystery is that the most unlikely person is just as welcome as we are.
The mystery of the gospel is that it is offered to all - one only needs to receive it.
ONE Person (1-3)
ONE Person (1-3)
The reality is revealed to each of us as we respond to Christ’s invitation.
Think of your journey to Christ … what are the specific details that helped you realize the call of Christ?
For me, there was a consistent call during my teen years … I knew I needed Him but I did not want to commit to Him.
It was at 16 I committed myself to Christ and baptized at 17.
My baptism represents my salvation and commitment to me.
For Paul, it took a blinding experience / the voice of God on the road to Damascus (in ).
The gospel was revealed / given / offered even to Paul.
What a change in Paul!
What is your journey with Christ?
We each encounter the mystery of the gospel personally.
Each of us as Gentiles are invited and welcomed in.
None of us measure up.
None of us are deserving.
None of us are automatic.
What is our response to the gospel and its mystery?
Do we invite others in as we were invited?
How do we view ourselves now? Are we deserving?
Are we welcoming others to Christ … or do we tend to hold ourselves apart?
Paul often reminds his readers of his personal conversion experience / of who he used to be.
His humility is clear.
His recognition of the voice of God and the miracle of his salvation is clear.
He speaks clearly to each of us … listen for His voice, heed His word, allow Him in.
ONE Spirit (4-5)
ONE Spirit (4-5)
A part of the gospel we cannot deny is the corporate aspect.
It is very personal but also very corporate.
It is for each of us but also us together as families and churches.
Ephesians is very clear on this.
We are ONE with Christ but also ONE with One Another.
We come to faith individually but live it out corporately.
EE-Taow, Transformations
The gospel mystery is revealed to communities just the same as individuals.
The Spirit is at the centre of this revelation being the agent of communication.
OT followers of God had prophetic glimpses of the Messiah, but it is the age of the Holy Spirit that has revealed a much fuller reality of the gospel.
More is to come in eternity future.
But the Spirit reveals and guides us in this NT era … bringing deeper understanding and holding us together.
Too often we ignore or minimize the Spirit of God.
But He is the One who reveals truth to us.
He is the One who instills knowledge and wisdom.
He is the One who guides us to truth.
ONE Family (6)
ONE Family (6)
“that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (, ESV)
We are to proclaim the gospel to those who have not heard or accepted.
We do this so they might find forgiveness … but also so it binds together those who have received it.
This builds a fellowship with one another but also with the Father and the Son.
There is a double union.
Jew with Gentile … and also with Christ.
This gospel mystery had been inconceivable up until this point in history.
Family can illustrate this … many of us have family members whom we struggle to like and appreciate - but they are still family.
Our passage emphasizes the new family aspect between Jew and Gentile.
Race was no longer a barrier or difference.
In Christ they became one.
There were barriers to overcome but they were now family.
Later in the NT it is demonstrated by gifts being collected by the Gentile churches and delivered by Paul to the Jewish congregations; this demonstrated their unity in Christ and acceptance of one another in the family of God.
All must be accepted into the church; when one comes to faith, we must build them into our church family.
Racist / colonial missionaries.
Building multi-ethnic / multicultural congregations.
The sins that go on giving … divorce, addiction, sexual.
Mental health.
Accepting and integrating new people into our community and church.
Paul uses terms like “fellow heir,” “same body,” and “sharers of the promise”.
He emphasizes our unity in Christ.
Is this how we see one another?
When we look around the room, do we fully see one another as family?
When we look across the churches of Vanderhoof, do we see one another as family?
The Gospel Is For All
It is available to all ...
… applied to all who believe.
A Mystery Made Known ~ We Are the Tools (7-13)
A Mystery Made Known ~ We Are the Tools (7-13)
Read vv.7-13.
There are times we are excited about something but then realize the work required of us.
We are energized and excited by coming to Christ.
However, it is important we realize it requires effort too.
It is not a utopian experience.
Sanctification and service are rewarded but they require effort.
This reality needs to be built into our evangelism so people know what they are coming to.
This gospel mystery is not only that we are all invited but that in coming God also seeks to work through us.
Individually (7-9)
Individually (7-9)
This is the community-serving part of our NCC identity.
That we serve as well as enjoy Christ … serving one another, our community as a whole, and globally.
That we do the work of the gospel alongside receiving it.
We are God’s tools.
We looked at 2.8-10 three weeks ago, recognizing how much we like to focus on these verses.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (, ESV)
We are His workmanship, created for good works.
Certain roles and tasks have been formed with each of us in mind.
The Holy Spirit enables us for these tasks through giving us spiritual gifts.
These are specific strengths we each have for doing the work of the Church.
Each of contributes with our unique talents and abilities.
How have you been enabled and gifted to serve? What have other people affirmed in you?
Paul has a very distinctive calling.
He recognizes how unworthy he is for serving God (, ).
He has a profound understanding of his past sinful life.
It does not hold him back from serving; instead it deepens his understanding of God’s grace … deepening impact.
He celebrates the ministry of the mystery.
Many of us have distinct callings to a particular role or ministry within our church family.
How are we listening and preparing?
How are we encouraging those called to missions, mercy, wisdom, pastoral, leadership, teaching?
As individuals we are called to minister the gospel.
Corporately (10)
Corporately (10)
We are to “bring to light” the plan and mystery of the gospel so that we as the Church might demonstrate this perfect wisdom of God.
God’s work in and through the Church promotes worship in heaven.
We demonstrate God at work.
As a team’s play demonstrates its coach’s ability.
As an orchestra displays its conductor (Janzen) or composer (Bach).
We demonstrate God at work.
How do we reflect our Saviour?
How do our words, actions, attitude, work ethic, practices demonstrate God’s work in us and through us?
The ways in which we serve … do we serve inwardly or outwardly? Are we community-serving or self-serving?
What v.10 speaks of here is not so much demonstrating redemption but relationship.
The unifying relationship between Jews and Gentiles.
That Christ brings us together … first nations and white, strong and weak, those battling sin and those victorious, those hurting and those rejoicing, those mature and those young in their faith.
Are we corporately living out this “gospel for all” mystery?
Confidently (11-13)
Confidently (11-13)
We can also reveal the gospel confidently.
Many of us face fear and doubt as a regular part of life.
We question our ability … “can God really use us?”
We doubt ourselves … “are we really good enough?”
We see ourselves through our sin instead of our new life … but there is no need for this!
God fully believes in us.
He has made us with purpose.
He has saved us for His service.
He has filled us with the Holy Spirit to enable and strengthen us.
Each believer and each church family has been gifted and called in specific ways to further the Kingdom of God.
May we as NCC move forward confidently … diligently seeking the open doors of ministry God has for us!
May we see what God can accomplish through us rather than allowing pieces from our past to hold us back!
Conclusion
Conclusion
It is easy to feel like this Jew / Gentile issue is something of the past and no longer affects us, but in so many ways we are just as guilty and untrusting as the Jews were in 1st c.
Who is it we have written off as “unsavable”?
Which people do we judge extra harshly because of the sin they battle?
We say our church is open to all … but do they really feel it when they join us?
This gospel mystery should be absolutely astounding to us!
Christ has made a way for even us to come into the family of God.
Our heavenly Father loves us so much that He has not only called and adopted us but also wants to partner with us in purpose and task.
Let us grasp onto and personalize who we are in Christ and the responsibility we bear because of it.
May we be ONE With Christ and ONE With Each Other.
May we integrate others into the family of God.