49-17 The Mystery of Christ, Part 3
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Ephesians 3:10-13
Ephesians 3:10-13
William Phelps taught English literature at Yale for forty-one years until his retirement in 1933. One year as he was grading exams before Christmas, he came across a note a student returned with the exam: "God only knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas." Phelps returned the paper with this note: "God gets an A. You get an F. Happy New Year."
We know from Scripture that there are things God only knows the answer to. These are the “secret things” which He has chosen not to reveal to anyone.
Before Paul begins his 2nd prayer on behalf of Eph. believers, he takes one more opportunity to describe/emphasize the wonderful truth that the body of Christ/church has been made up of saved individuals from both Jewish and Gentile groups.
The truth of the church was not revealed in OT but has been made plain as Paul was given this revelation and then passed these truths on to others.
Now, the question that may be in your minds at this point is “Why did God keep His secret about the church hidden for so many centuries?” That is, why didn’t God hand Adam a book saying, “this is my word—read it b/c there will be a test on it”? On one hand Dt 29:29. on the other hand—partly God’s purpose is to disclose Himself and His dealings in progressive stages and had He given it all at once—it would have been disregarded in its fulness. Adam had difficulty with 1 command (related to human nature to rebel).
It is important to recognize the progressive nature of revelation and one feature of it are “mysteries” unrevealed in OT but revealed in NT—one being “Mystery of Christ.”
So we have been studying this mystery and 5 features that are unfolded by Paul in Eph 3:
1) Its Messenger
1) Its Messenger
2) Its Meaning
2) Its Meaning
3) Its Ministry
3) Its Ministry
4) Its Mission
4) Its Mission
Why did God choose to keep hidden this truth regarding the church? Why would God not reveal His plan of bringing Jews and Gentiles together and making one new entity which we call the church/body of Christ to those in OT?
The answer is found in part in vv 10-11
“so that” (Gk hina) introduces us to the purpose for which this mystery was hidden—so that manifold wisdom of God…
Look for a moment at this designation “the rulers & the authorities…”
There are several different interpretations as to who this refers to—let me show you why I believe this is a clear reference to angels both good and evil:
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
Colossian heresy included numerous errors, among which was the worship of angels. Paul writes this church to show them why Christ must be their object of worship since He alone is the One who created the spiritual beings they were currently worshiping. Rule and authority is a reference to these angelic beings.
Angels are spoken of in these terms in Eph 1:21.
Eph 6:12—evil angels are clearly in view and described by the same terms.
“rulers” has in view the primacy of power (leader, ruler) and “authorities” denotes those who have freedom to act, the right to act (authority). 10x in NT the 2 terms are put together to refer to human or angelic leaders. they are both plural and further described as “in the heavenly places”. Paul is referring then to angelic beings.
The purpose of God creating the church is so He could manifest the vastness of His wisdom before the angels, both holy and unholy.
The emphasis in Scripture is upon the holy angels and their concern for the church:
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
But we should consider that the unholy angels can also see what God is doing in the church though they have no desire or capacity to praise God for His wisdom.
Paul continues to say vs 11 “this was in accordance…”
Everything God does, He does for the ultimate purpose of giving glory to Himself—eternal purpose.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Why did God create the universe? Ps 19:1 “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands”
Why did God send J.C. to the cross? Is 53 “Lord was pleased to crush Him” b/c what it accomplished
Why does God save sinners? Eph 1:6,12,14
Why did God call into existence the church? Not only to save souls—but to glorify Himself by proclaiming His wisdom to the angels.
God’s eternal purpose cannot be thwarted! The purpose of the universe including the church is to give glory to God.
God has preserved the holy angels as creatures who will forever give glory to God (Ps 148:2; Heb 1:6). We have, in some sense, the ability to enhance their praise of God as we manifest God’s wisdom.
Even the unholy angels will glorify God—even though they don’t intend to. Their very rejection of His glory, seeking their own (resulting in their fall from heaven) will ultimately amount to God receiving glory as He directs His holy wrath toward them in judgment—hell is prepared for devil and his demons (Mt 25:41; Rev 12:9)
What do the angels see? They are created beings not omniscient:
The power of God in creation (Job 38:7)
long-suffering of God at Sinai (Acts 7:53; Heb 2:2)
love and grace of God at calvary--
1 Peter 1:10-12; Luke 15:10
above all these they see the manifold wisdom… (only time in NT—lit “much variegated, having a great variety of forms, many-sided, multi-colored, different in a number of ways”) The angels see the intricate beauty of God’s wisdom which is a glorious pattern of thousands of diverse threads.
Now, God did not choose to tell the angels directly, but He desires the angels to learn of His wisdom by observing the unity of the church and watching the interaction of God’s people.
They see God bringing together Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, male and female—the very ones who murdered His Son & are worthy only of hell, and He makes them into one spiritual body.
They see Christ breaking down the barrier of the dividing wall, removing the hindrances that keep His children from experiencing fellowship and unity.
The angels are interested in God’s activity with mankind. Salvation is something they do not experience and cannot understand. The angels are watching the unfolding of the drama of human redemption to understand it more fully.
Mt 18:10—they stand ready to carry out any mission the Father commands.
John Calvin--“Paul's meaning is this: “The church, composed both of Jews and Gentiles, is a mirror, in which angels behold the astonishing wisdom of God displayed in a manner unknown to them before. They see a work which is new to them, and the reason of which was hid in God. In this manner, and not by learning anything from the lips of men, do they make progress.”
The angels glorify God as He reveals the mission of keeping the church a mystery until NT times when He finally unfolds the mystery to show His wisdom to angels.
5) Its Manifestation
5) Its Manifestation
This mystery that affords a great benefit upon all who would come to have faith in J.C.
How is the mystery manifest? “boldness and …”
Boldness is a term that express “freedom of speech” and as the word developed it came to have the nuance of having a lack of fear, shame, and nothing to conceal.
Access means “entrance or introduction”—both words taken together carry idea that we have total freedom to approach God at anytime and do so without fear or shame. It becomes a great privilege to those who are made participants of this great mystery.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We have confidence knowing God cannot reject us since we come to Him thru faith in Christ (High Priest).
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
Scripture teaches that J.C. is the only way to heaven. That message is being blurred today by many who suppose that there are many roads that lead to heaven. As a result there ise so much confusion over the means of obtaining favor with God. Scripture is very clear—Jn 14:6.
Man-made theology, tradition and rituals have buried the truth of God’s Word.
God entrusted Paul with this mystery of Christ (the church—the gospel). Paul was diligent to pass these truths on to others.
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—
It is ours now. We must boldly proclaim that the only means of pleasing God is thru the sacrifice of His Son, J.C. You can’t please Him on your own. You certainly cannot come to a knowledge or discovery of truth outside of Scripture. This is what has been entrusted to us to proclaim to this generation.
That was Paul’s calling, this is what the Lord calls each one of us to do. And we cannot shrink from this mammoth task that lay in front of us.
This truth manifests itself in the freedom we have to approach God, with an open, honest heart—knowing that He will not reject us b/c we come thru faith in His Son.
It is in light of this tremendous privilege Paul says vs 13…
Paul knew that these Gentile believers might become discouraged & disheartened b/c of what he was going thru—namely his chains, imprisonment & sufferings which he calls “tribulations.”
Even though these things were endured for their sake—they should not be viewed as a cause for shame but Paul says “they are your glory.” Paul counted it an honor to be Christ’s prisoner. Instead of being bewildered, it should produce a joy that can only come from seeing God at work in circumstances.
God works in and thru your circumstances to bring about His glorious purpose in you.
Our circumstances, just like Paul’s are used by God to minister His goodness, blessing and glory in this world as He advances His kingdom. And know that times of persecution may be rapidly coming upon those who desire to live godly (2 Tim 3:12).
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 4320 Wesley’s Expectation of Persecution
4320 Wesley’s Expectation Of Persecution
John Wesley was riding along a road one day when it dawned on him that three whole days had passed in which he had suffered no persecution. Not a brick or an egg had been thrown at him for three days.
Alarmed, he stopped his horse, and exclaimed, “Can it be that I have sinned, and am backslidden?”
Slipping from his horse, Wesley went down on his knees and began interceding with God to show him where, if any, there had been a fault.
A rough fellow, on the other side of the hedge, hearing the prayer, looked across and recognized the preacher. “I’ll fix that Methodist preacher,” he said, picking up a brick and tossing it over at him. It missed its mark, and fell harmlessly beside John. Whereupon Wesley leaped to his feet joyfully exclaiming, “Thank God, it’s all right. I still have His presence.”
—J. G. Morrison
Take part in the glorious program of God by faithfully proclaiming the gospel of J.C.